CLEVELAND (AP) -LeCharles Bentley's career with his hometown Browns amounted to nothing more than a couple incomplete practice sessions.
The center asked for and received his release from the Cleveland Browns on Wednesday, nearly two years after he suffered a major knee injury at the start of his first training camp with the team.
Bentley wants to resume his career somewhere he'll have the opportunity to play, said his agent, Jonathan Feinsod. The Plain Dealer first reported Bentley's release on its Web site.
"At this point in LeCharles' career, he is not ready to be just an insurance policy," Feinsod said. "To come back from what basically amounts to a near-death experience and now be healthy again is an inspiration to anybody. He's ready to continue his Pro Bowl and hopefully Hall of Fame career."
Browns general manager Phil Savage wished Bentley well.
"This is a chapter that finally comes to an end," Savage said. "We've got some closure to it and we can go our separate ways in a positive manner."
Bentley practiced with the Browns on Tuesday for the first time since he underwent knee injury and survived a life-threatening infection.
The 28-year-old passed a physical and a running test Monday and was cleared to practice with the team during their three-day minicamp this week. He predicted Tuesday that he would be starting in 2008 whether for the Browns or another NFL team.
"When he came to the Browns two years ago, their situation was entirely different and they didn't know if and when he was going to recover from this injury," Feinsod said. "They had to do certain things to help their team, which they did."
The Browns improved their offensive line in Bentley's absence and that helped them transform an inept offense into one of the league's powerhouses.
"We feel like the landscape of our team has changed from July 2006 to where we are in June 2008," Savage said.
Feinsod characterized the parting as amicable.
"This is no fault of the Cleveland Browns," he said.
jeremijkane 
