Posts tagged OdellThurman at FanHouse - AOL Sports Blog

... Marinelli had stressed to him numerous times following the draft and during rookie minicamps that he must stay out of trouble. Some teams red-flagged Smith as having a character question during the draft-evaluation process after Smith reportedly missed or chose to skip one team's scheduled private workout with him. Expect Marinelli's message for his rookies - to stay out of trouble - to be echoed throughout training camp.

Former Bengals linebacker Odell Thurman is facing an indefinite suspension after violating the league's substance abuse policy, a source with knowledge of the situation said today.

Odell Thurman

Even though at 6-foot, 235 pounds, Thurman is similar in stature to Morrison and Howard, he is versatile enough to play anywhere. He played in the middle in Cincinnati, even though some consider the weak side to be the best place for him. If Thurman returns to something approximating his 2005 form at age 25, he is an upgrade whether he moves to the middle, with Morrison moving to the strong side, or plays the strong side himself.

The Raiders didn't hesitate in drafting running back Darren McFadden just because they had good running backs, so it makes no sense to pass on Thurman because you've already got two linebackers approximately the same size.

Head coach Marvin Lewis passed out t-shirts to his Bengals team with the word NOW plastered across the back. It is the latest in a line of slogans Lewis' brings out to try to unite his team. I'm not as giddy about these things as the next guy, but I do like the sentiment.

However, to even attempt to deal with the NOW, you must remember the THEN because, of course, it is greatly affecting the NOW.

THEN: Chad Johnson's spring of chatting his way out of Cincinnati has been a blackest cloud over the organization. He's threatened not to show up to anything and has spent his time being a horrible teammate. NOW: Well, he is eating up a lot of cap space, is a huge part of what the Bengals want to do on offense and will be a huge distraction if he is or isn't in camp.

THEN: TJ Houshmandzadeh tied for the NFL lead in receptions last season. NOW: He wants to get paid like it. This story goes almost hand-in-hand with the Chad Johnson one. Housh deserves to get his raise ... but how much? And will it drive a bigger wedge between the team and Ocho Cinco?

Q: Why did you waive Odell?
Lewis: "We made the statement, and Odell is no longer on this football team."

Q: The agent (Safarrah Lawson) said you told him that Odell had not been around enough. True?
Lewis: "That's not true."

Q: If that is not the truth, what is the truth?
Lewis: "I kind of said in the statement we're going without him. He has not played football in two years. And we have people who will be better for our football team."

Q: His representative (Lawson) told us that he wasn't around enough. Is that correct?
Lewis: "Not true."

Q: Lawson said he was disappointed that the Bengals waived Thurman right after his grandmother died.
Lewis: "His grandmother's been buried for quite a while. Don't get into his whole family structure. We've been patient enough with Odell, and he's no longer here. No big deal."

Just over one year ago, I wrote this about the horrible Bengals draft of 2005. In 2008, the Bengals have tried their best to wash their hands of that weekend ... and have seen five of the seven picks leave this season for various reasons. Two were flat out released; one retired due to injury; two were not tendered contracts.

Combined, these seven guys have played just 140 (out of a possible 448) games in the orange and black ... with Chris Henry (35) and Eric Ghiaciuc (32) the only ones to top twenty games. None played in all 16 games this past season -- only two played more than half the year. Three didn't suit up at all.

1st Round [#17]-David Pollack, LB, Georgia: Pollack had an unfortunate neck injury in Week 2 against the Browns in 2006. Despite trying to attempt a comeback, he retired earlier this year. He's played in just 16 games since being drafted. Status: Retired

2nd Round [#48]-Odell Thurman, LB, Georgia: Thurman was to be the focal point of the Bengals defense, before he was suspended for the first four games of the 2006 season for violating the league's substance abuse policy. A few weeks into the season, he was charged with OVI [operating a vehicle while impared]. Two days later, the league suspended him for the remainder of the season (the suspension would continue through 2007). He's played in just 16 games since being drafted and was released yesterday. Status: Released.

3rd Round [#83]-Chris Henry, WR, West Virginia: Look, we all know the deal here. He's a very productive player but can't stay out of his own way. He was suspended for Bengals' first 8 games of the 2007 season and could face a stiffer penalty if some recent off-field issues come back to bite him. He had played in 35 games for the Bengals before being released this offseason. Status: Released.

Even though the timing was suspect, linebacker Odell Thurman's agent told Cincinnati radio 1530 Homer's Mo Egger that they won't file a grievance with the union after the team cut him on Monday.

"Marvin Lewis and Mike Brown have been very supportive of Odell throughout his ... um ... suspension and his fight to get back. Um, and we're disappointed and I'm disappointed with the decision. But, ya know, with the generosity they've shown him I don't feel like it's our place to try and file a grievance or even complain. Because I can't say that's the only reason that he was terminated ... because he wasn't there for voluntary OTAs."

(PFT is saying that Thurman isn't ruling out filing a grievance).

It is interesting, to say the least. Local talk radio has been buzzing to why Thurman's representation would not file a grievance. He missed voluntary workouts (meaning he didn't have to be there) due to the passing of his grandmother; a woman who raised him since he was 10 years old. He's not the only Bengal player to not show up to these workouts ... and the only one who is dealing with the death of a family member.

Granted, a grievance wouldn't accomplish much. He would eventually be released anyway and now he can start looking for a new team.