Bentley Lost For the Season

The Cleveland Browns suffered a huge blow on the first day of training camp when All-Pro center LeCharles Bentley suffered a season-ending knee injury.

Bentley was the top free agent acquisition by the Browns in the offseason. He signed a six-year, $36 million dollar contract back in March with $12.5 million of that guaranteed.

"He was the face of our free-agent class," general manager Phil Savage told NFL.com. "We feel terrible for LeCharles, but life goes on."

Savage said Bentley tore his patellar tendon and will undergo surgery as early as tomorrow. Savage declined to say if Bentley's tear was partial or complete and would not speculate on a timeframe for recovery.

Bob Hallen will move into the starting role at center, while the club will look to the waiver wire or find an unsigned free agent for depth.

Bentley, who played at Cleveland's St. Ignatius High School and Ohio State, took over as the Saints center in training camp two years ago. He started all 16 games in 2004 and was named a Pro Bowl alternate. Last year, he made 14 starts before missing the final two games with an elbow injury. In the end, the chance to return home and play was too strong an urge to resist and he signed with Cleveland in the offseason.

"He probably wanted to play for the Cleveland Browns as much as anyone we have," Savage said. "We feel real bad for him."


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