Leave it to Cleveland Plain Dealer columnist Terry Pluto to provide another captivating editorial, this time regarding center LeCharles Bentley. If you're sick of hearing about Bentley, don't worry -- I can almost guarantee you'll enjoy reading this. I will highlight one of Pluto's points, which was brought up by a few of my readers several days ago:

So fans wondered why the Browns didn't try to trade him. Missing two full seasons and with his medical history, he has little value. Rather than hold up Bentley or limit him finding the right situation, they believed the fairest approach was the release. Some of the best, most cordial meetings, between Bentley and the Browns came during his final few days because it was now clear: Both parties had moved past each other.

The general vibe that Pluto presents is that the Browns didn't want a discontent player in camp. The staff now has the time to focus their attention on more important issues, like how we're going to move forward at the cornerback position. Also, consider the following if you're an opposing team:

• Teams still covet draft picks, and the Browns were the only team that had a clear view of Bentley's progression. How do other teams know that he won't suffer another serious injury the first time he takes part in team drills?
• Yes, players are always required to pass a physical before a trade is complete. For an injury that was as serious as Bentley's was, it's hard to say whether or not that assessment could be made in such a short period of time.
• When Bentley clearly told the Browns "it's over", that pretty much signified we were going to release him at some point. Teams would then have the opportunity to bring him in for more tests, interviews, etc.
  
• Chances are, Bentley's not going to want a bare-minimum contract if he's publicly stating that he's a definite starter. In a trade, I'd have to believe that he would've wanted his contract restructured. That process could take awhile -- did the Browns really want to be worried about that?
• The backlash from the fans surely would've been more extensive if we kept Bentley on our roster until we found a suitor in a trade. Knowing that Bentley sounded quite arrogant, the discussion for several weeks amongst fans after his meeting with Phil Savage would've been comparable to when everyone was asking "when are we going to ditch Kenny Wright already?" Now, it's blown over, and we can focus exclusively on upcoming training camp competition.

Pluto also provided some interesting statistics regarding quarterback accuracy in mini-camp:

A year ago in the OTAs and minicamp, Anderson and Quinn were completing 60-65 percent of their passes in drills, etc. Ken Dorsey was tops in the low 70s. They all struggled to learn the new offense. Now, Anderson is in the high 70s, Quinn approaching 75 percent along with Dorsey.

This shouldn't be too surprising, because familiarity with anything should pay dividends over time. On the same note, I'd be curious to see Charlie Frye's progression numbers from the Maurice Carthon days. Would they have improved 10-15% like Anderson's (or Quinn's) did?

A little personal (and football) note here: I'm currently working on developing a PHP script that will allow users to record their picks for the upcoming NFL season, complete with standings and such. I've used a paid provider for my PFCritics contest the past several years, but as programming becomes more familiar to me, I figured I might as well make my own.

I have the fundamental database sections completed, as well as the user registration and picks sections. I still have a lot of admin interface and template work to focus on, but if anyone is interested in helping me as a beta tester (voluntary) whenever I get to that point, send me your email address and I'll contact you at that point.

Boy, are the Browns great when it comes to plotting public relations or what? The LeCharles Bentley situation was handled in a fairly calm manner -- despite the initial shock from the fans, I don't think anyone puts the organization at fault. On top of that, two stories can overshadow Bentley's departure: the official return of Gary Baxter, and  positive statements from Joe Jurevicius himself.

Reports came out a few days ago that hinted towards the fact that Jurevicius' season could be over due to the several surgeries he had during the offseason. And, a staph infection didn't help. For the first time at mini-camp yesterday, Jurevicius made it clear that he'll be ready for not only the first game of the season, but for training camp too:

 "The problem that I did have is now gone, and my rehab has probably gone better than expected. I have exceeded what the trainers had planned for me. I'm ready to get ready for training camp."

On top of Jurevicius' optimism heading into this season, he also provided some positive light for the future, referring to the fact that he could actually stick around for two more seasons instead of one:

"The biggest thing is I want to be part of something exciting here," he said. "Physically, if the wear and tear of an NFL season really takes its toll on me, then I'll have to sit down and make a decision. If I feel good, then I'll make a decision on that route."

The OBR also had some really nice details regarding Jurevicius. Their story focuses more so on the additional rest that skipping OTAs provides him with as he continues to get older.

And then, there was Baxter. For the first time since suffering a double pateller tendon injury against the Denver Broncos in 2006, the veteran defensive back participated in team drills, rather than individual drills. That is a major sign of progression for a guy who has persisted in his efforts to become the first player in NFL history to return from such an injury.

"Now that this day has come, it's a great joy," Baxter said. We've got seven to eight weeks before training camp, and when I come in, I'm going to be full tilt and ready to go."

After the Bentley situation settles down a little more, I expect there to be a lot of media coverage surrounding Baxter's comeback, and deservedly so. I think everyone will be more than appreciative on opening day if they see he's able to take a step on the field again.

Here are some other tidbits regarding Wednesday's minicamp from around the web:

• Undrafted rookie offensive lineman Nate Bennett got a name mention -- not for outstanding efforts, but for throwing punches in a minicamp fight against Antwan Peek. None of the punches actually landed, according to reports.
• No negatives for Travis Wilson, who continues to see extensive playing time with Jurevicius and Donte Stallworth being absent.
• While Brandon McDonald was away, veteran Terry Cousin filled in for him. It's already clear that Cousin is our third cornerback -- and I'm fairly certain that he'll be better than Ralph Brown and Kenny Wright.
• The OBR reports that Braylon Edwards and Jerome Harrison each had nifty catches from quarterback Derek Anderson.

Here is a big link collection for you today:

Charlie Frye believes he'll start again (Canadian Press)

Jones still growing, aiming high (Official Site)

Bentley: "Browns weren't the right fit anymore" (Cleveland Plain Dealer)

Entire LeCharles Bentley Timeline (Cleveland Plain Dealer)

Berea Report: Jurevicius says he'll be ready (OBR)

Bentley's decision is just business (Cleveland Plain Dealer)

Browns Team Report [note: nice tidbits here] (Sporting News)

Be sure to stay tuned to Dawgs By Nature soon. I know some of my SB Nation colleagues like to do their position previews months in advance to training camp, but I like to do mine towards the end of June. If I would've previewed the offensive line awhile ago, it wouldn't have been as current with Ryan Tucker's injury and Bentley's departure.

Odell Thurman, via yahoo.com

Last week, I was excited to see Kenny Wright removed from the Browns' roster. As a fan, I couldn't justify Wright's actions in any way, shape, or form. Some NFL players are far from saints, but when they do something while they are on your roster, it's time to dispose of them.

That's part of the reason "problem" players have not lasted with teams they originated from. Pacman Jones, Terrell Owens, and Antonio Bryant all had some form of a character issue, with other teams taking a significant flier on them. In the Browns' case, we were the team to take a shot on Bryant. Although we weren't crazy about him, the investment as a short-term option wasn't too bad.

That brings us to a very interesting case in Bengals linebacker Odell Thurman. I should call him "former" Bengals linebacker, because he was released yesterday after taking too long to return to the voluntary OTA practices due to the death of his grandmother. Thurman had a week to mourn her death and did not return to the team fast enough, apparently representing the final straw.

Thurman has not played the past two seasons for violating the league's substance abuse and conduct policies. That means that Thurman -- drafted in the second round of the 2005 draft -- has only played one season in the NFL. That season was a memorable one though.

16 games.
1.5 sacks.
106 tackles.
5 interceptions.
5 fumbles forced.

In two combined games against the Browns, Thurman was in on 16 tackles, had half of a sack, and had an interception. He wasn't a hit-or-miss player as a rookie either -- he was, in my opinion, the only young defensive player that has had a solid impact as a rookie for Cincinnati in several years.

"The NFL provided Odell the opportunity to earn his way back onto our team, but we have not seen the right steps taken by him," head coach Marvin Lewis said in a statement. "With our offseason work in progress and new talent added at our linebacker position, we've determined it's best to keep moving in a direction that does not include Odell."

It may seem like hypocrisy for me to say that I'd encourage the Browns to take a flier on Thurman, considering my strong attitude against Wright. While I certainly don't condone Thurman's actions, I am more inclined to take a chance on a young player that could be shaped into a better person overall with the right team leaders and coaching staff around him. The Bengals have been a breeding ground for players committing inexcusable actions -- another reason to believe Thurman could take advantage of a fresh start.

I was carousing the OBR forums, and I wasn't the least bit surprised by the 50/50 split of maliciousness/take-a-flier debate that was going back and forth.

Half of the fans don't think he'll ever change -- that he had character issues from his college days, and that there were other "no-no's" that Thurman was doing even after he was reinstated by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell last month. Here's a comment from the OBR that sums this viewpoint up pretty well:

"Bengals fans have to be loving this. After giving them crap for the past two years about their arrests record, we want to sign Odell Thurman? I mean, two threads talking about signing this drug addict? Unbelievable."

The other half of the fans say "why not"? Thurman isn't going to get a large contract from anybody -- if he wants to play football still, he has to earn his contract through being on a short leash in terms of character and producing on the field. Also, Thurman might be intrigued to play for an AFC North team so that he can get his crack at the Bengals. Thurman is a middle linebacker, and would be the type of guy to give Andra Davis a run for his money more so than Beau Bell, if he stays consistent with his rookie form. Here's a comment from the OBR that sums this viewpoint up pretty well:

"I really hate to say it, but my eyes popped a bit when I saw the stats from his rookie season on ESPN. Based on the substance abuse and drunk driving charges, I'd say he's more of a knucklehead than a thug. Apparently the straw that broke the camel's back was a funeral he went to instead of OTA's...

I'm for a short-leash "one-mistake-and-you're-gone" contract. He's potentially a beast compared to what we have on the inside."

Granted, 30 other teams could be more interested in signing Thurman than the Browns are. Or, nobody may even want to give Thurman a shot until later in the offseason, forcing him to be an automatic backup/special teams player for a year. Either way, I'm interested in what your take is on the thought of signing him.

It's Day 2 of OTAs, and with it being a Wednesday, media sources such as the Cleveland Plain Dealer, the Orange and Brown Report, and the people at the team's official website were able to provide the a dozen doses of gossip for the first time in the 2008-2009 campaign. Reports are always more detailed in the first of everything (first OTA, first mini-camp, and first training camp), so soak everything in for what it's worth:

1. Players Missing: First, let's end the drama regarding who wasn't there. For the second day in a row, OL LeCharles Bentley and TE Kellen Winslow were missing from the facility. DB Kenny Wright wasn't there for personal reasons. Perhaps the fact that he was cut after practice had something to do with that. LB D'Qwell Jackson was absent because he was on his honeymoon.
2. Baxter Rehabbing: Although Gary Baxter was in Berea, he was rehabbing along with WR Joe Jurevicius and TE Steve Heiden. I'm slightly disappointed that Baxter is still "rehabbing", though again, we don't know the extent of the rehab or whether or not the team is just taking cautionary measures.
3. Tucker Starting: With four of the five offensive line positions pretty much locked up, there were some questions as to who of five people would fill the right guard position. On Wednesday, Ryan Tucker was lined up at that position, and Romeo Crennel confirmed that he is currently the starter. However, the competition is FAR from over. To recap, the first-unit line was:
   <<Joe Thomas -- Eric Steinbach -- Hank Fraley -- Ryan Tucker -- Kevin Shaffer>>
4. Second-Unit O-Line: It's very interesting to note that seldom-used Isaac Sowells was the left tackle with the second unit. The rest of the line was LG Lennie Friedman, C Seth McKinney, RG Rex Hadnot, and RT Cliff Lewis.
5. No Rookies: Apparently, league rules state that the Browns' rookie class is not allowed to participate in OTAs until this Friday. We'll have to wait to hear some tidbits on TE Martin Tucker and LB Beau Bell.

6. Starting Defense: According to the Plain Dealer, the starting defensive line on the first play featured Corey Williams, Shaun Smith, and Robaire Smith. Shaun Rogers stated that he was "going through a learning period at both nose table and end in the Browns' 3-4 system" (Grossi). Grossi feels that with an early look though, Rogers looks a lot better than he did in Detroit last season. The inside linebackers were Andra Davis and Leon Williams. The cornerbacks were Eric Wright and Daven Holly.
7. Anderson Comfortable: Browns QB Derek Anderson has the look of a confident quarterback this season in comparison to last year, when he had to compete with Charlie Frye for the starting role. The OBR reports that Anderson has been throwing the ball with newly-acquired receiver Donte Stallworth for 4-5 weeks already. That sounds like the type of dedication we've been hoping for in a tandem. Grossi reports that among what Anderson has been working on is his "ability to throw to the left with more accuracy in general".
8. Daily Wilson: Remember the "Daily Wilson's" from training camp last year? They've made a quick return this season, with mixed results yet again. Grossi reports that while he made a nice catch from QB Brady Quinn between Holly and S Brodney Pool on the left sideline, he had two drops later on. Maybe people are over-scrutinizing him due to his history of drops though, because I'm sure there were other receivers that dropped some balls in practice too.
9. Dinkins' Day: With Winslow, Rucker, and Heiden all not available, it was definitely Darnell Dinkins' time to seize the opportunity. "The last few days were real fun," Dinkins said, regarding the extended playing time. "I'm just really excited about the opportunity that's presented."
10. Tucker Leaves: Numerous sources reported that Ryan Tucker walked off early in practice and did not return. Early reports indicate that Tucker felt discomfort in his hip.

Wednesday's Sources
Plain Dealer: Cleveland Browns OTAs are off and running
The OBR: OTA Report: Stallworth to Stretch the Field
Official Site: Notebook: O-line Depth Apparent

Overall, it was somewhat uneventful considering our rookies were absent. The highlights to me, personally, are the fact that Tucker started off as the starting right guard and that Anderson had been working with Stallworth for several weeks already. Who knows is it was the same type of chemistry buildup that Peyton Manning and Marvin Harrison have during the offseason, or a simple couple of pitch-and-catch sessions. Either way, the continuity in our offense will be sensational this year.

Due to the restricted access on Day 1 of OTAs, there wasn't a lot of news floating around the Internet and local newspapers around Northeastern Ohio. However, here are a few bread crumbs that you can feed off until later tonight or tomorrow morning (media sources will have attended Wednesday's OTAs):

1. LeCharles Bentley: On Day 1, former Pro Bowl center LeCharles Bentley was again absent, although this shouldn't be taken as any sort of setback. According to the Plain Dealer, Bentley's agent, Jonathan Feinsod, guaranteed that Bentley will play football in 2008. Granted, that could be a long ways away -- such as December 2008 -- but chances are Bentley will be on the field much sooner than that. If he's not, I'd expect Bentley's uneventful, yet rather long stay with the Browns, to be a short one (awkward way to phrase it, I know).
2. Kellen Winslow: Winslow was the other person who didn't show up to Tuesday's OTA, according to the Plain Dealer. Of course this wasn't a surprise, as it has been reported for about a week or so that this would be rookie Martin Rucker's chance to shine.
3. Where's Baxter: No sources have come out yet and directly stated whether or not Gary Baxter was on the field, so technically that should mean he was participating. We'll probably receive a confirmation after today's practice.

In slightly related news, the Akron Beacon Journal reported yesterday that when defensive back Kenny Wright was arrested last month, it wasn't the first time he had a post-season run-in with the law:

Brazoria County (Texas) district attorney Jeri Yenne said Tuesday that Wright already had a marijuana possession charge pending when he was picked up last month in Pearland, a Houston suburb.

I'll spare you the misery of seeing Wright's picture again, but this outlines another issue that will hopefully work itself out in the coming weeks: finding another Leigh Bodden. If you remember, Bodden was an undrafted free agent several years ago when he first joined the Browns who started catching everyone's eyes in training camp. If the Browns are fortunate enough to stumble upon a similar player this offseason, we can comfortably cut ties with K. Wright pronto.

EDIT (5:10 PM): The Browns have parted ways with Wright soon after he was not at Wednesday's OTAs due to "personal" reasons. Good riddance.