Odell?

by G54Eton on May 19, 2008 11:32 AM EDT

What is the back story with the cutting of Odell Thurman? I just don't get it.

After sticking with Odell Thurman through a two-year NFL suspension, the Bengals will announce by the end of business today that they are waiving the second-year linebacker.

Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis called Safarrah Lawson, one of Thurman’s Atlanta-based representatives, and told him that the team has cut ties with Thurman, Lawson told The Enquirer this morning.

Thurman was in his native Monticello, Ga., last week to attend his grandmother’s funeral and take care of family matters, Lawson said. Thurman’s parents are dead, and the woman brought up Thurman, Lawson said Thurman missed three voluntary on-field practices. Lawson said Lewis told him that the Bengals needed Thurman in the building, that he wasn’t in the building and that they were going in a different direction.

“The support he got from the fans, from the people of Cincinnati, from Marvin Lewis and (team president) Mike Brown, this comes as a surprise,” Lawson told The Enquirer in a phone interview.

Thurman missed the past two seasons because of a league suspension for repeated violations of its substance abuse policy. He was suspended for all of the 2006 seasons following a September DUI arrest in the East End.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell then extended Thurman’s sentence to an entire season. The league then denied his application for reinstatement last July and said he could re-apply following the 2007 season. Thurman was allowed to begin working out with the Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium in January and was reinstated this spring.

The Bengals had no immediate comment on Thurman, public relations director Jack Brennan said.

The Bengals earlier this spring, on April 3, released wide receiver Chris Henry following his fifth arrest in 28 months.

Thurman led the Bengals with 148 total tackles as a rookie in 2005 and tied a franchise rookie record with five interceptions. He started 15 of 16 regular season games and the team's wildcard playoff loss to the Steelers -- which would be the last game he would play in a Bengals uniform."

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of Cincy Jungle's writers or editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan though, which is as important as the views of Cincy Jungle's writers or editors.

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ODELLTHURMAN

I just do not get this move. i felt that having Odell in the rotation with the linebackers and even starting possibly would give us a lot of depth at the position. I beleve that Odell would start in the middle with Keith Rivers and Dhani Jones on the outside. It seems like he was cut just cause he didnt atten unvoluntary practices after his grandmother died. Furthermore, I was never fully convinced on Brooks ability becuase he hasnt shown us anything near the potential that Odell had in the 2005 season. Overall, I have to hope that some how Marvin and the coaching staff no more than me and have made the right decision. If not they may not be making these type of decisions too much longer.

by diehard fan on May 19, 2008 8:47 PM EDT reply actions

I agree, especially considering the Bengals had announced that Odell wouldn’t be at the OTA- because of the death of his grandmother, prior to the OTA itself. Then, to go and cut him, leaves me shaking my head. How do they know he’s not ready until he steps onto the field and does some full speed drills with the first team? He was apparently in good shape and at game weight when he was first allowed back into the facilities. Even still, could they not have held on to Odell at least until whatever happens with Ahmad’s legal problem happens?

Then again, looking for logic in Mike Brown’s decision making is a lot like looking for leprechauns or bigfoot. Granted, at this moment, Odell is an unknown quantity in terms of being prepared after two years out of the game but we know the kid’s a tremendous athlete and with a single training camp behind him in ‘05, he was well on his way to being one of the premier backers in the league. Decidedly worth at least a trip to camp for chrissakes. But, no, they cut him, even as they allow a flesh-eating staph infection in the form of Chad Johnson to fester on the roster and in everybody’s mind- all in the name of some ridiculous lesson that Chad- and any other Drew Rosenhaus client- won’t ever learn.

by IgnatiusJReilly on May 20, 2008 11:14 AM EDT reply actions