LeCharles Bentley Out

LeCharles Bentley first season with the Cleveland Browns ended before it began.

Bentley, a two-time Pro Bowl center and one of the team's prized free agent signings this winter, sustained a season-ending injury to his left knee on the first 11-on-11 drill of training camp July 27 -- a crushing blow for a club seemingly cursed by major injuries the past few seasons.

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

Technorati Tag(s): Cleveland Browns, LeCharles Bentley

TV Station Sues Browns

A TV station sued the Cleveland Browns after the team said it would break the station's contract to broadcast preseason games and other programming.

The Browns are upset because the station aired a 911 call involving the team owner's relatives.

WOIO-TV aired the call placed by owner Randy Lerner's sister, Nancy Fisher, after she found her 6-year-old daughter drowned in a creek on family property July 9.

Recordings of 911 calls are public records and are routinely made available to the media. One of the city's three other TV stations also aired a portion of the recording.

Browns vice president Michael Keenan sent a letter to Bill Applegate, WOIO's vice president and general manager, on July 13 informing him the team was terminating the contract, citing what he called irresponsible journalism.

"The recent coverage of the Lerner family tragedy is but the latest, albeit the most shocking and insensitive example of this destructive behavior," Keenan wrote.

Technorati Tag(s): Cleveland Browns, Randy Lerner, Michael Keenan

Browns Ink Minter and Oshinowo

The Cleveland Browns inked defensive back Demario Minter and defensive tackle Babatunde Oshinowo on Wednesday. Both contracts are reported to be for four years.

The Brown currently have four out of 10 of their draft picks signed. Fullback Lawrence Vickers and safety Justin Hamilton have also signed.

Technorati Tag(s): Cleveland Browns, Demario Minter, Lawrence Vickers