Mike Brown: Bengals share character concerns

By Mark Curnutte
Enquirer staff writer

Bengals president Mike Brown has heard concerns expressed by the team’s fans regarding off-field conduct by some of the players.

"We want our fans to know that we share their concerns regarding the recent off-field conduct of several Bengals players," Brown said this afternoon in a statement released by the club's media relations department.

"We expect our players to be good citizens, as most are, and we hold them accountable for their conduct under team and league rules."

Bengals wide receiver Chris Henry was arrested four times in a seven-month span. Rookie linebacker A.J. Nicholson and rookie defensive end Frostee Rucker are facing court dates for theft and domestic violence charges, respectively.

"We are closely monitoring these matters," Brown said. "All are currently pending and they will be addressed in accordance with the NFL Collective Bargaining Agreement, including possible disciplinary action."

On Thursday, the Bengals selected former Virginia linebacker Ahmad Brooks in the league’s supplemental draft. He was dismissed from the college team and has failed drug tests.

"Regarding this week’s selection of Ahmad Brooks in the supplemental draft, we are aware of no pending allegations of any kind against Ahmad," Brown said. "The club’s judgment is that any past transgressions were insufficient to deny him an opportunity to prove himself as a responsible NFL player."

The Bengals have yet to receive word from the NFL that middle linebacker Odell Thurman will be suspended for four games for a second violation of the league’s substance abuse policy. A source told the Enquirer on Thursday that Thurman would be suspended by the NFL within the next two weeks.

The Bengals will hold their annual pre-training camp luncheon July 26 at Paul Brown Stadium. Brown said he and coach Marvin Lewis would address further questions about player character and conduct at that time.

The Bengals will open training camp July 29 at Georgetown College.
E-mail mcurnutte@enquirer.com