CLEVELAND (AP) The Cleveland Browns say they have reached an out-of-court settlement with former offensive lineman LeCharles Bentley, who had sued them over a career-ending staph infection.

Bentley filed a lawsuit in 2010 claiming the NFL team had failed to warn about previous players contracting staph in their facility. Bentley signed a six-year, $36 million free agent contract with the club in 2006, but never played for the Browns after suffering a knee injury on the first play from scrimmage in training camp. He then attracted the infection while rehabbing.

A Browns spokesman confirmed the confidential settlement between the club and Bentley, who said he met with owner Randy Lerner in June and came to ``an agreement that was fair.''

Bentley said the infection became so severe he nearly had his leg amputated.