Sun, Jul 05 2009
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Published June 11, 2008 01:57 am - BEREA — It should have been an uplifting moment when the door to the Cleveland Browns’ weight room opened at 10:30 a.m. EDT on Tuesday and LeCharles Bentley sauntered onto the practice field after two years in oblivion. Bentley’s back After life-threatening injuries, Browns lineman optimistic about playing again MARLA RIDENOUR Akron Beacon Journal BEREA — It should have been an uplifting moment when the door to the Cleveland Browns’ weight room opened at 10:30 a.m. EDT on Tuesday and LeCharles Bentley sauntered onto the practice field after two years in oblivion.
The former Pro Bowl center’s left knee was encased in a brace, but his body, especially his massive arms, looked in game shape. “I’m shopping off the rack,” he joked later. But even as Bentley began what could be an amazing comeback from a torn patellar tendon and three more surgeries for a life- and limb-threatening staph infection, there was an underlying uncertainty. Not about Bentley, 28, playing football again, but whether it will be for his hometown Browns. “Being a Brown is always going to be special to me,” Bentley said Tuesday. “I’ve been a diehard fan my entire life; that will never change. But if there’s one thing I’ve realized these last two years, there’s a business aspect to all of this. “I actually took less money to play here. I came here because this was where my heart was. My heart is always going to be here. But one thing I’ve been shown on several occasions, sometimes business people have to make business decisions. We’ll see what happens.” That said, he remains confident about what he’ll be doing on Week 1 in September. “Oh, no doubt in my mind,” he said. “Zero doubt, absolutely I will be playing somewhere, starting in ’09.” Pressed on the slip in dates, Bentley said, “’08, sorry. You know what I meant.” Presumably, the decision Bentley foresees would not be about money. Signing a six-year, $36 million free-agent contract with the Browns after spending his first four years with the New Orleans Saints, the former Ohio State star already has made about $16 million from the Browns. He was hurt on the first play of his first full-pad practice in training camp in July 2006. His contract has been restructured, making him a free agent after this season. His base salary in 2008 is $605,000, but incentives could earn him up to $4 million. Bentley could have been referring to bad blood that prompted him to train in Phoenix. He said he would be headed back there when the Browns’ mandatory minicamp concludes Thursday. There is also the dilemma of where Bentley would play. Hank Fraley seems established at center after being acquired in a trade from the Philadelphia Eagles in September 2006. Right guard might be an option, especially since Bentley spent his first two years there with the Saints and Ryan Tucker underwent hip surgery last month. Newly acquired Rex Hadnot is filling in. “Well, I came here as a center. I would like to stay there,” Bentley said. “But whatever happens as far as getting the best five guys on the field doesn’t really matter to me.” On Monday night, Bentley passed the Browns’ physical and a running test, which consisted of a series of 40-yard dashes. One Browns’ official gave the thumbs-up sign after Bentley made it through the first 10 sprints. 
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