The lawsuit alleges the Browns' training facility in suburban Berea has been portrayed to players and player prospects "as a world-class facility at which `state-of-the-art' physical training, medical care and treatment and other rehabilitative services are provided."

Bentley's repaired knee became swollen and he was diagnosed with staph infection within weeks of beginning rehabilitation at the facility in July 2006, according to the lawsuit. The lawsuit also says the Browns failed to sanitize equipment.

The Browns had at least six players stricken with some sort of staph infection in recent years, including former receiver Joe Jurevicius, who settled a similar lawsuit with the team in June. Terms of the settlement were not disclosed.