CLEVELAND -- The Cleveland Browns say they have reached an out-of-court settlement with former offensive lineman LeCharles Bentley, who had sued them over a career-ending staph infection.
Bentley filed a lawsuit in 2010 claiming the NFL team had failed to warn him about previous players contracting staph in their facility. Bentley signed a six-year, $36 million free agent contract with the club in 2006, but never played for the Browns after suffering a knee injury on the first play from scrimmage in training camp. He then attracted the infection while rehabbing.
A Browns spokesman confirmed the confidential settlement between the club and Bentley, who said he met with owner Randy Lerner in June and came to "an agreement that was fair."
Bentley said the infection became so severe he nearly had his leg amputated.
Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press
