BEREA: The latest chapter in Cleveland's woeful tale of What Might Have Been ended at midday Wednesday, when LeCharles Bentley walked out the front door of Browns headquarters pulling a wheeled suitcase filled with souvenirs.

Waiting for his mother to pick him up, he sat on a bench and checked his cell phone. A member of the Browns' broadcasting staff ran out to hug him and say goodbye. Then he spied a familiar face and waved, smiling. Willing to chat off the record, there was no hint of regret or sadness in his voice. He seemed happy, relieved that two trying years were past and he was moving on.

When his mother arrived in a white luxury coupe, he climbed in the passenger seat. He told a fan waiting near the entrance for autographs, ''I'm leaving and I'm not coming back.''

In March 2006, the two-time Pro Bowl center from New Orleans had been the Browns' prized free-agent signing. It seemed like a perfect match, the St. Ignatius product and Ohio State star playing for his hometown team. But Bentley tore his left patellar tendon on his first day of training camp and contracted a life-and-limb threatening staph infection that resulted in three more surgeries.

The team cut ties with Bentley Wednesday, when he asked to be released from his contract and the Browns granted his request. He was to be paid $605,000 in 2008, the final year of his restructured contract, but could have made up to $4 million with incentives.

After passing the team's physical and a running test consisting of 20 40-yard dashes Monday night and practicing sparingly in the first of two minicamp practices Tuesday, Bentley did not report to a Wednesday morning meeting. During a Tuesday news conference, Bentley said he had let go of his dream of playing for the Browns.

In explaining the decision to accommodate Bentley's request, General Manager Phil Savage said: ''We feel like the landscape of our team has changed from July of 2006. As far as the Browns and LeCharles, I think it's a chapter that finally comes to an end. We've got some closure to it now and we can go our separate ways in a positive manner.

''It's a big disappointment for everybody, but particularly him. He's got great pride in the kind of player he had been prior to getting here and he's got expectations and goals of trying to reach that level again. He feels like he can play and only time will tell.''

Savage didn't say how he felt about that possibility.

''He's been cleared by two different doctors, our medical team and his off-site doctor,'' Savage said, referring to Bentley's physician in New York.

Browns coach Romeo Crennel said Bentley felt good about what he was doing.

''I think he's at peace with himself about his decision,'' Crennel said. ''I told him I want the best for him. I think he's a strong young man and he'll do well, whether it's in or out of football.''

Bentley, 28, has been paid about $16 million from the Browns, including a $12 million signing bonus. Bentley's agent, Jonathan Feinsod, said Bentley asked to be released because he believes he can still play and the Browns had made commitments to other offensive linemen acquired after he was injured.

''This is nobody's fault,'' Feinsod said. ''The Browns had to make moves because they didn't know if he was going to be back. They made moves that have changed the situation. Then on Monday when he came back and he was so unbelievable they were like, 'Wow.' They weren't ready to have him on their charts. So they allowed him to pursue his hall of fame career. He's excited about his plans.''

Feinsod would not comment on whether he'd been in contact with other teams. Two AFC North rivals, Pittsburgh and Cincinnati, could use help on their offensive lines. Bentley played both center and guard during his four years with the New Orleans Saints.

Savage wasn't sure if bad blood might have played a part in the parting. Bentley trained in Phoenix, near his home in Chandler, Ariz. The Browns still have a player on their roster, safety Gary Baxter, trying to come back after tearing both patellar tendons in October 2006.

''I don't know, he hadn't been here a lot over this period of time,'' Savage said of Bentley. ''We had given him some room to operate, we had proceeded on with the team in certain areas.''

Crennel didn't sound worried that Bentley might get back to the Pro Bowl with another team.

''If that's what he chooses to do and he becomes the player he was before, more power to him,'' Crennel said.

Jurevicius: 'I will be back'

Browns receiver Joe Jurevicius confirmed he contracted a staph infection following offseason knee surgery and said he has had three operations since January.

''I will be back, not only for the home opener, but for training camp,'' said Jurevicius, a 10-year veteran and Cleveland native. ''The problem that I did have is now gone. My rehab has probably gone better than expected. At this point in my career, it might be a blessing that I'm out of the OTAs and minicamp. It's given me a little more time to rehab, get my body ready.''

Brownies

Baxter participated in team drills for the first time since undergoing another knee procedure in 2007. . . . Tight end Kellen Winslow (offseason knee surgery) also participated in team workouts after being limited to individual work Tuesday and was the star of the afternoon red-zone session. After he let one pass slip through his hands, he dropped to the ground and did push-ups. . . . Receiver Travis Wilson showed a connection with backup quarterback Brady Quinn. . . . Receiver Joshua Cribbs caught everything thrown his way after three drops Tuesday.