How the hell do you know they weren't willing to let him compete for a starting position?
Bentley was arguably one of the best centers in the NFL when healthy, and he didn't want to remain in Cleveland as a backup. Says to me that the Browns did not offer a cometition for the position.
As for your earlier comments about this "happening all the time," please show me an example of someone who made $16 million and didn't play once in two years?
The amount of 16 million doesn't matter to the Browns or the player, they obviously bargined that figure, my point is that players get hurt and get paid in all kinds of situations in Pro sports.
Jimbo