After a motorcycle accident left Marcus Benard out for the season with a broken hand, his status with the Cleveland Browns was up in the air. Browns Head Coach Pat Shurmur made it very clear that off-field incidents like reckless driving were not tolerated, and Benard was placed on IR.
It was mentioned Thursday that Benard would be released from the hospital, good news for the lineman whose accident was "devastating for the young man," according to Browns Defensive Coordinator Dick Jauron, via Tom Withers of the AP. Despite his mistake and poor judgment, the Browns are still committed to giving Benard another chance. Said Mary Kay Cabot of the Plain Dealer,
The #Browns will pay Marcus Benard the rest of his 2011 salary ($370K)despite fact he's on nonfootball injury list, league source told PD.
It has been a tumultuous bye week for the Browns, who have seen CB Joe Haden hobbled with a sprain, C Alex Mack sent to the hospital for an emergency appendectomy and Benard’s motorcycle crash.
At 2-2 and last place in the AFC North, the Browns will have to put it all behind them out west if they hope to put forth their best effort against an extremely talented Oakland Raiders team.