LeCharles Bentley LeCharles Vernon Bentley ( born November 7 , 1979 ) is a former American college and professional football player who was a center in the National Football League ( NFL ) for six seasons . He played college football for Ohio State University , earned All - American honors , and was recognized as the best center in the country . The New Orleans Saints selected him in the second round of the 2002 NFL Draft , and he played professionally for the Saints and Cleveland Browns of the NFL . Bentley was a two - time Pro Bowl selection with the Saints . He retired , after a knee injury . Early years . Bentley was born in Cleveland , Ohio . He played high school football at St . Ignatius High School in Cleveland . He was a two - year starter and was a three - year letterman , earning All - Ohio honors as a senior in 1997 . College career . Bentley attended Ohio State University , where he was a four - year letterman for the Ohio State Buckeyes football team from 1998 to 2001 , first for head coach John Cooper , then for Jim Tressel during his senior year . As a senior in 2001 , he won the Rimington Trophy as college football ' s best center , received first - team All - Big Ten Conference honors , and was recognized as a consensus first - team All - American . He was a human development and family science major . Professional career . New Orleans Saints . Bentley was drafted in the second round ( 44th overall ) in the 2002 NFL Draft by the New Orleans Saints and was signed to a four - year deal worth $ 2 . 95 million . He excelled at the guard position and started in 14 games . He was named " Sports Illustrated " ' s Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2002 and Pro Football Weekly All - Rookie Team . He made his NFL debut at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on September 8 . Bentley started in 13 games and earned a spot in the 2003 Pro Bowl . In the 2004 season he moved back to his original center position and started in all 16 games , he went on to be voted as an alternate to the 2004 Pro Bowl at that position . Bentley started 14 games at center in 2005 and was voted to the Pro Bowl again . He left the Saints saying he would rather sit out the season than play with them again . Cleveland Browns . After backing out of an unofficial agreement with the Philadelphia Eagles , Bentley signed with the Cleveland Browns in 2006 , and was regarded by ESPN as the top - rated free agent . Bentley suffered a serious knee injury in training camp on July 27 , 2006 , during the first play on the first 11 on 11 training camp session . He tore his patellar tendon , an injury that kept him out for the entire 2006 season . Bentley revealed that he had undergone four operations since getting hurt , the final two to clean out a staph infection that ate away at his tendon and a virus that became so severe that doctors considered amputating his leg . On July 23 , 2007 , ESPN reported that Bentley had been cleared to play by his physician and would be reporting to training camp . Bentley said that his knee was about ' 70 percent ' and thought it would be 90 percent when the season started . Bentley started the season on the physically unable to play list . In December , the Browns shortened Bentley ' s $ 36 million contract from six years to three , with 2008 set to be his last year under contract with the Browns . His salary was reduced to the NFL minimum $ 605 , 000 with incentives to reach $ 4 million . On June 10 , 2008 , The Plain Dealer reported that Bentley had rejoined his team on the practice field after passing his physical and being cleared to practice with the team . " I feel really blessed , " Bentley said after partaking in his first Browns practice in 682 days . " The Lord ' s been really good to me . There ' s nothing more I can ask for . " On June 11 , LeCharles Bentley ' s agent , Jonathan Feinsod , reported that Bentley asked for and was granted his release from the Cleveland Browns . Retirement . Upon his release , teams such as Buffalo , Cincinnati , Miami , Oakland , Pittsburgh , St . Louis , San Francisco and Seattle expressed varying degrees of interest in Bentley . However , he was not signed to a team for the 2008 season . After spending the 2008 season out of football , Bentley announced in January 2009 that he was no longer attempting to return to the NFL , and would start a career in Cleveland media . He co - hosted a nightly program on WKNR AM 850 from 2009 - 2011 , and has also served as a camp coach . On July 22 , 2010 ESPN . com reported that Bentley was suing the Cleveland Browns for having him rehab in training facilities where other members of the Cleveland Browns had gotten staph infections . The staph infection did not allow his left patella tendon to heal . Bentley is reportedly suing for at least $ 25 , 000 . In July 2011 , the Ohio Court of Appeals allowed the suit to go forward over the Browns ' s objection . In February 2012 , the Browns asked the United States Supreme Court to review that call , but in April 2012 , the Court declined to hear the case . Bentley and the Browns reached a confidential settlement in 2012 . Personal . On December 20 , 2006 , Bentley presented his alma mater , St . Ignatius High School , with a check for $ 100 , 000 . The money was to be used for a scholarship fund named in honor of his mother , Verneda . In May 2007 , it was revealed that Bentley ' s mother has been accused of using money intended for the education of poor children to buy herself furniture . Federal agents are investigated Verneda Bentley for a fire that caused more than $ 1 million in damage at the nonprofit she runs . Bentley lives in Cleveland , and owns the L . Bentley O - Line Academy in Avon , Ohio . It is a facility that takes a comprehensive approach to teaching offensive line skills .