Browns' Bentley deals with disappointments by giving

CLEVELAND -- Even without snapping a football or making a block, LeCharles Bentley is making an impact for the Browns.

The former Pro Bowl center, who had his first NFL season in Cleveland ended by a serious knee injury in training camp, donated $100,000 for a scholarship named in his mother's honor at St. Ignatius High School, his alma mater, on Wednesday.

It was just the latest charitable act by Bentley, who signed a $36 million free agent contract in March with Cleveland, the biggest acquisition by the struggling franchise since 1999.

Last month, he provided Thanksgiving dinners for 500 needy area residents. In May, Bentley paid for the funerals of five children killed in a house fire. In addition, he is furnishing the home and paying one year's rent for a local woman whose 3-year-old child was abused.

On a lighter note, Bentley is picking up the tab for two fans to attend Ohio State's Jan. 8 national championship game in Arizona.

He plans to do more. To Bentley, giving is all that matters.

"It always feels good to make other people feel good," he said. "I'm just happy to be able to do something right now."

Bentley's football future remains cloudy.

He tore his right patellar tendon on the first full-contact play of training camp in July and underwent surgery at the Cleveland Clinic. He subsequently suffered a staph infection -- one of four Browns players stricken with the virulent bacteria in the past two years -- and spent several weeks in the hospital.

Bentley, who is still receiving antibiotics, reportedly underwent a second operation on his tendon, compromising his chances of playing in 2007.

However, the 27-year-old declined to clarify his status.

"I can't really talk about that," he said. "A lot of people are speculating about a lot of different things. There are so many other important things going on in the world. I'm getting better. We'll see what happens."

Will he play again?