NFL Wire Notes | Surgeries can't stop Browns' Bentley

BEREA, Ohio — LeCharles Bentley walked onto the Cleveland Browns' practice field Tuesday after two years in virtual oblivion.

The former Pro Bowl center's left knee was encased in a brace. His body, especially his massive arms, looked in game shape.

But even as the 28-year-old Bentley began what could be an amazing comeback from a torn patellar tendon and three more surgeries for a life- and limb-threatening staph infection, there was an underlying uncertainty. Not about Bentley playing football again, but whether it will be for his hometown Browns.

"My heart is always going to be here," he said. "But one thing I've been shown on several occasions, sometimes business people have to make business decisions."

Hank Fraley seems established at center after being acquired in a trade from Philadelphia in 2006.

Bentley said he has "zero doubt, absolutely I will be playing somewhere" in the league this season.

Bentley participated in individual drills and wasn't involved in contact.

He admitted he has been through a grueling emotional journey.

"I went from not expecting to have a leg, not expecting to live. ... You're not even thinking about football," he said. "Then I go from that to, 'You're never going to play again. You'll be lucky to walk normal.' Now you're looking at quality of life. There were so many times I wanted to quit, but I just couldn't quit."

Bentley's priorities have changed.

"The rest of my time as a football player, it's not about me being the best or going to Pro Bowls," he said. "I'm trying to show people if you believe in something, you pray hard, you work hard, you stay steadfast in your faith, anything can happen."

49ers sign ex-Husky Toledo

The San Francisco 49ers signed offensive tackle Joe Toledo, 25, a former Washington Husky who has been hampered by a knee injury since being drafted in the fourth round by the Miami Dolphins in 2006.

Toledo was on injured reserve for the 2006 season and spent last season on the Physically Unable to Perform list.

Toledo was waived by the Dolphins in February and signed with the Green Bay Packers that month. The Packers waived Toledo last week.

Notes

• Cleveland tight end Kellen Winslow, 24, who wants to redo his contract, reported to minicamp after skipping voluntary organized team activities last month.

• Defensive end Michael Strahan, 36, who told the champion New York Giants on Monday that he was retiring, held a farewell news conference.

Strahan, who is No. 5 on the league career sacks list (the stat became official in 1982), said, "At some point you have to realize that you've done all you can do, all you need to do. It's over."

Shortly after the Giants upset New England in this year's Super Bowl, Strahan considered returning for another season. "Then reality set in, and I asked myself, 'Do I really want to be committed to working out and training?' " he said. "I said no. Physically, I'm fine. But it takes so much to play this game. This isn't a game where you can take a farewell tour."

• Quarterback Donovan McNabb, 31, sat out Philadelphia's passing camp because of shoulder tendinitis.