Thurman No More

By Shane Bulcher

After a tumultuous couple of months filled with trade demands and of course the release of Chris Henry; a few weeks with no news proved to be refreshing, until today when news broke that the Bengals decided to part ways with troubled linebacker Odell Thurman. Just months after being reinstated by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, the Bengals cut ties with another troubled player from the 2004 draft.

Initially, I was shocked by the move, considering the fact the Bengals had stuck with Thurman through two suspended seasons. It appears that the last straw may have been his no show for last weeks training camp. The word was Thurman was back home in Georgia for his Grandmother’s funeral.; which the loss of a close family member would seem to provide enough reason to miss practice, especially sense it wasn’t a mandatory camp. But, I am sure there’s more to the story, in fact there has to be. Thurman’s story has always had more questions than answers. It’s still unclear why his suspension carried over two seasons. Bengal officials and Thurman have stated that the reason for the first suspension was that he missed a drug test. Then came his DUI just prior to his reinstatement. Goodall then increased the suspension from four games to a full season. Following the season, Goodall denied Odell’s reinstatement, thus suspending Thurman for two full seasons. It didn’t make sense, how does Thurman get more or less kicked out of the league for two years? Sure he got in trouble, but so did Chris Henry and many others (I personally think Henry was more deserving of a longer suspension). It’s sad to say, but DUI’s and failed drug tests occur all the time in the NFL, and generally they’re met with a four to six game suspension. Odell was forced to miss the entire season. Why was he suspended for so long? I think his violations must have been much more severe than reported, and I hope we eventually get the whole story.

I am sure all Bengal fans are disappointed by the release of Thurman. He was a young, extremely talented playmaker who seemed to be the emerging leader of a defense that lacked one. He had the ability to play sideline to sideline, and he seemed to be everywhere. When the team needed a big play, he generally came through. His excellent play as a rookie will now leave us to ponder “what if”? What if he stayed out of trouble? What if he worked hard and embraced a leadership role? Instead we’ll remember him first and foremost for his suspensions and DUI (the video was all over the news). As good as Chris Henry was on offense, Odell was just as good on defense, and now they have both been released within weeks of each other. Both had all the talent in the world, but they lacked the maturity and responsibility to be a professional athlete. It’s a shame, but both sides will move on. And in today’s league, I am sure we’ll see both players in a uniform in the not too distant future.