Odell Thurman with the UFL's Florida Tuskers

There was a point in time when many of us believed the duo of Odell Thurman and David Pollack would be the start of a fantastic defensive foundation. Thurman finished the season ranked high among finalists for defensive player of the year that eventually went to Shawne Merriman. Thurman was that guy Marvin Lewis had sought all along to man the middle linebacker spot; a defensive leader for many seasons. Pollack's transition from defensive end to outside linebacker was slow, but he was coming along nicely towards the end of the season.

Then, it all unraveled. Pollack suffered a neck injury against the Browns in the second week of the 2006 season. He never played again. Thurman's problems began when he violated the substance abuse policy during the 2006 offseason. Eventually he was suspended for an entire season, in an effort by Roger Goodell to set an example to the league that he meant business with the new Personal Conduct Policy. He wasn't reinstated in 2007. After that, he fell off the NFL radar.

However, he's appeared on the UFL radar, writes Chris Hays of the Orlando Sentinel.

The Florida Tuskers have signed former Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Michael Pittman, for Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Koren Robinson, and former Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Odell Thurman, according to Tuskers' coach Jim Haslett.