Browns’ Hallen Decides to Retire

Veteran offensive lineman Bob Hallen, who was being counted on by the Cleveland Browns to replace the injured LeCharles Bentley at center, informed the club Friday that he has retired.

Hallen, who left the team earlier this week, sent a letter to the Browns saying he was done with pro football because of a medical situation and the best interest of his family.

“This is stunning to all of us because it was so abrupt,” Browns General Manager Phil Savage said.

Hallen’s retirement couldn’t have come at a worse time for the Browns, who lost Bentley, a two-time Pro Bowl selection and their prized free-agent signing, to a season-ending injury on the first 11-on-11 play of training camp.

Bentley was supposed to protect second-year quarterback Charlie Frye, improve the running game and anchor an offensive line without right tackle Ryan Tucker, who recently underwent knee surgery.

The 31-year-old Hallen, who played the previous four seasons with San Diego, left camp unexcused Monday, citing back problems.

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Wide receiver Steve Smith and safety Mike Minter will not play in the Carolina Panthers’ exhibition opener tonight against Buffalo.

Smith has a strained left hamstring. Minter is not expected to rejoin the team until next week because of the death of his mother Thursday.

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Washington Redskins rookie offensive tackle Kili Lefotu was released from the hospital, two days after becoming ill and losing consciousness in his room.

Lefotu, 22, a seventh-round draft pick from Arizona, visited Redskins Park after being released from Virginia Hospital Center in Arlington.

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Jay Feely kicked a 29-yard field goal as time expired, giving the New York Giants a 17-16 exhibition victory over the host Baltimore Ravens.... Rookie Bruce Gradkowski threw second-half touchdown passes of 11 yards to Paris Warren and two yards to Maurice Stovall in Tampa Bay’s 16-3 victory over the visiting New York Jets.

Michael Koenen kicked four long field goals, including a 40-yarder as time ran out, to give the host Atlanta Falcons a 26-23 victory over the New England Patriots.... Rookie Jay Cutler completed 16 of 22 for 192 yards and a touchdown, but the visiting Denver Broncos lost to the Detroit Lions, 20-13.... Alex Smith passed for 137 yards and led the San Francisco 49ers to a 17-0 lead in their 28-14 win over the visiting Chicago Bears.

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The arraignment of former USC defensive end Frostee Rucker was pushed to Sept. 22 after attorneys requested more time to research discovery evidence.

Rucker, a third-round pick of the Cincinnati Bengals, was charged with two misdemeanor counts of spousal battery and two misdemeanor counts of vandalism in connection with an alleged altercation last August.

Gary Klein