Chaos_Not@Home
05-19-2008, 06:06 PM
(damn)
The Bengals released middle linebacker Odell Thurman on Monday, ending
his brief and tantalizing career in which he was suspended for two of
his three seasons.
Safarrah Lawson, one of Thurman's representatives, confirmed the story
that appeared on profootballtalk.com Monday morning. The Bengals
followed with a statement in which head coach Marvin Lewis indicated
Thurman has not fulfilled his expectations since being reinstated
April 21 by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell after a pair of one-year
suspensions for violations of the league's substance abuse policy.
"The NFL provided Odell the opportunity to earn his way back onto our
team, but we have not seen the right steps taken by him," Lewis said
in the statement. "With our offseason work in progress and new talent
added at our linebacker position, we've determined it's best to keep
moving in a direction that does not include Odell."
Lawson said he was grateful to Lewis and Bengals president Mike Brown
for their efforts to get Thurman's career and life back on track. But
Lawson also said he was surprised at the timing, a week after the
funeral of Thurman's grandmother in Monticello, Ga.
Thurman didn't return to Cincinnati for workouts last week and
apparently wasn't back Monday. Indications are that the Bengals
weren't pleased with his attendance in the offseason workout program
that also includes the installation of a new defense with a new
linebackers coach.
"He's still in Monticello taking care of things with his family,"
Lawson said. "Mike and Marvin have been great to him. That's why this
is shocking. This is really his last parent that has died. We're
appreciative of what the team has done for him."
Betty Thurman, 80, raised Odell after his mother was killed in a car
accident when he was 10. His father died while he was in college.
Thurman, 24, was seen once working out on the field since camps began
May 2. During the last day of the rookie minicamp he was running and
going through drills with head strength coach Chip Morton. Lawson said
he's not sure if last week's absences are why the move was made.
Thurman, a finalist for NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year when several
of his game-changing plays helped the Bengals to the 2005 AFC North
title, never got back on the field after that season. After not
reinstating him for the '07 season for reasons never explained by the
NFL, Goodell allowed him back into Paul Brown Stadium in late
January.
The Bengals are set to line up with Dhani Jones in the middle, but it
has never been his primary position during eight NFL seasons. Ahmad
Brooks has just been switched from the middle to SAM backer. Corey
Mays, a third-year player with 20 NFL games who made one start at SAM
last season, may also be able to play the middle.
The Bengals released middle linebacker Odell Thurman on Monday, ending
his brief and tantalizing career in which he was suspended for two of
his three seasons.
Safarrah Lawson, one of Thurman's representatives, confirmed the story
that appeared on profootballtalk.com Monday morning. The Bengals
followed with a statement in which head coach Marvin Lewis indicated
Thurman has not fulfilled his expectations since being reinstated
April 21 by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell after a pair of one-year
suspensions for violations of the league's substance abuse policy.
"The NFL provided Odell the opportunity to earn his way back onto our
team, but we have not seen the right steps taken by him," Lewis said
in the statement. "With our offseason work in progress and new talent
added at our linebacker position, we've determined it's best to keep
moving in a direction that does not include Odell."
Lawson said he was grateful to Lewis and Bengals president Mike Brown
for their efforts to get Thurman's career and life back on track. But
Lawson also said he was surprised at the timing, a week after the
funeral of Thurman's grandmother in Monticello, Ga.
Thurman didn't return to Cincinnati for workouts last week and
apparently wasn't back Monday. Indications are that the Bengals
weren't pleased with his attendance in the offseason workout program
that also includes the installation of a new defense with a new
linebackers coach.
"He's still in Monticello taking care of things with his family,"
Lawson said. "Mike and Marvin have been great to him. That's why this
is shocking. This is really his last parent that has died. We're
appreciative of what the team has done for him."
Betty Thurman, 80, raised Odell after his mother was killed in a car
accident when he was 10. His father died while he was in college.
Thurman, 24, was seen once working out on the field since camps began
May 2. During the last day of the rookie minicamp he was running and
going through drills with head strength coach Chip Morton. Lawson said
he's not sure if last week's absences are why the move was made.
Thurman, a finalist for NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year when several
of his game-changing plays helped the Bengals to the 2005 AFC North
title, never got back on the field after that season. After not
reinstating him for the '07 season for reasons never explained by the
NFL, Goodell allowed him back into Paul Brown Stadium in late
January.
The Bengals are set to line up with Dhani Jones in the middle, but it
has never been his primary position during eight NFL seasons. Ahmad
Brooks has just been switched from the middle to SAM backer. Corey
Mays, a third-year player with 20 NFL games who made one start at SAM
last season, may also be able to play the middle.