DaytonDailyNews.com

BEREA — LeCharles Bentley plans to resume his NFL career one way or another, one place or another. If not with his hometown Cleveland Browns, so be it.

"I'm just looking for an opportunity to compete, be it here or somewhere else, to show what I can do at an extremely high level," Bentley said Tuesday, June 10, after being cleared to practice with the Browns for the first time in nearly two years.

Bentley, who has missed two seasons due to a torn left knee ligament, four surgeries and a life-threatening staph infection, went through drills with fellow linemen on the first day of a three-day minicamp after passing his physical and a running test.

"I'm as good as I'm going to get," the former Ohio State standout said afterward. "I'm ready to go. Sky's the limit right now for me. I'm going to end up being a better player behind all this. I feel stronger, more explosive than I've ever been. As far as my playing ability, I'm not worried about that at all."

Bentley has been working with a trainer in Arizona and plans to return there after minicamp. As for where he fits with the Browns, whether at guard or center or on the roster at all, there are still no guarantees.

"We'll take it day-to-day," head coach Romeo Crennel said. "I'm sure he's doing the same thing. Any player coming back from injury has to prove himself all over again. That's the nature of the business."

Bentley next needs to withstand the rigors of training camp, which begins in late July.

"I'm just trying to show people that, you know what, this can be done," he said. "Anything can be done. Pray, work, stay steadfast in faith and anything can happen."

Even starting again? Predicted Bentley, "I will be playing somewhere, starting, in '08."

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2408

or smcclelland@DaytonDailyNews.com.

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