Randall Posted April 21, 2008 Share Posted April 21, 2008 According to the Bengals website. The Bengals announced Monday that NFL commissioner Roger Goodell informed the club middle linebacker Odell Thurman has been reinstated after a two-year exile for violating the league's substance abuse policy. "Odell has met the NFL's conditions for reinstatement and has been added to our offseason roster," said Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis in a press release. "It is now up to Odell to continue to meet all NFL guidelines, and to maintain a standard of personal responsibility that will allow him the chance to compete for a spot on our team." It means Thurman will be on the field for the spring camps in May and June for the first time since Goodell suspended him for four games in July of 2006 for violations of the substance abuse policy. Goodell turned it into the entire year two months later when Thurman was arrested Sept. 25 on a DUI. Then for reasons he didn't make public because of the policy's privacy guidelies, Goodell didn't reinstate him for the 2007 season. Late this January, Thurman, 24, was allowed back into Paul Brown Stadium to work out. But he hasn't played in a game since 2005, when he emerged as a leading Defensive Rookie of the Year candidate with a team-high 148 tackles and four forced fumbles to go with five interceptions that led all rookies. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
piratesownninjas Posted April 21, 2008 Share Posted April 21, 2008 Wait... Positive news for the Bungles? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Wolf Posted April 21, 2008 Share Posted April 21, 2008 Hope he makes the most of this chance...not many people receive another after messing up the first time. Good luck, Odell. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randall Posted April 21, 2008 Author Share Posted April 21, 2008 Wait... Positive news for the Bungles? If he screws up now they'll really be If they can get a DT in in this draft their LB could improve greatly if Brooks can stay healthy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Irish Doggy Posted April 22, 2008 Share Posted April 22, 2008 In related news, 1st round pick OLB/DE David Pollack, will retire due to his neck injury. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteelBunz Posted April 22, 2008 Share Posted April 22, 2008 In related news, 1st round pick OLB/DE David Pollack, will retire due to his neck injury. Wow...talented kid, but this was a smart move on his part. How is he doing, Doggy? Any specific news? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Avernus Posted April 22, 2008 Share Posted April 22, 2008 sheesh...it was only crystal meth... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Irish Doggy Posted April 22, 2008 Share Posted April 22, 2008 Wow...talented kid, but this was a smart move on his part. How is he doing, Doggy? Any specific news? He's been working out towards the goal of returning to football for quite a while now. He has full movement. Over the last few months, the team was talking about moving him to DE to reduce the chance of high-velocity impacts. However, he has discussed the risk of playing football and further injury with his doctors and come down on the side of retirement. The injury was pretty tricky to begin with from what I gathered, so I'm not surprised. The good news is he appears to be a pretty bright guy and will probably move on to something else with success. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seahawks21 Posted April 23, 2008 Share Posted April 23, 2008 Thurman is talented enough to be a cornerstone of a defense. He still needs compliments, but this news could potentially be a pretty big deal if he can stay clean. Most of the things I've read actually make him out to be a decent character guy that had some things that just didn't go his way. The jury will remain in deliberation on this, but on the field a few years ago I thought this kid was on his way to becoming special. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Irish Doggy Posted April 23, 2008 Share Posted April 23, 2008 Thurman is talented enough to be a cornerstone of a defense. He still needs compliments, but this news could potentially be a pretty big deal if he can stay clean. Most of the things I've read actually make him out to be a decent character guy that had some things that just didn't go his way. The jury will remain in deliberation on this, but on the field a few years ago I thought this kid was on his way to becoming special. When Odell got pulled over for DUI, Chris Henry was in the car. Make no mistake, Odell made bad choices regarding lawful conduct and personal associations. He didn't luck his way into that car. Yes, on the field he was an up-and-coming star. Marvin Lewis compared his potential to Ray Lewis. Perhaps two years off and seeing his boy, Chris Henry out of the league - on the way to the pokey, will snap him out of his ill behavior. But some people are just self destructive, so I won't be surprised if he screws it all up again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randall Posted April 23, 2008 Author Share Posted April 23, 2008 When Odell got pulled over for DUI, Chris Henry was in the car. Make no mistake, Odell made bad choices regarding lawful conduct and personal associations. He didn't luck his way into that car. Yes, on the field he was an up-and-coming star. Marvin Lewis compared his potential to Ray Lewis. Perhaps two years off and seeing his boy, Chris Henry out of the league - on the way to the pokey, will snap him out of his ill behavior. But some people are just self destructive, so I won't be surprised if he screws it all up again. I wonder how much he's influenced by others and how much he influences them. Is he the problem or does he hang around the wrong people(maybe his family)? We'll see. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.