Thurman eats at Subway, says he will practice

GEORGETOWN, Ky. -- In the "I'm-never-off-the-clock" category: I filed my main story for the Tuesday Enquirer print edition from the Toyota Stadium press box about 3:45 this afternoon and drove to the Subway restaurant inside the Shell station at Cherry Blossom Way and Outlet Center Drive for wrap and a salad. Walking in, I ran into Chad Johnson walking out. T.J. Houshmandzadeh was finishing his order. He left with Johnson in Johnson's truck. Then in walked receivers Chris Henry and I believe Glenn Holt (a rookie free agent from UK). They were followed closely by linebacker Odell Thurman, who had just arrived in camp this afternoon. Henry and Thurman are friends. I talked briefly with Thurman, who said he would practice tonight. It was clear he didn't want to say more and was relatively uncomfortable running into me outside of a controlled environment, such as the locker room or a press conference. His comments tonight will be brief. "I'll have a little something for you then," he said. I understand that reaction. I left with my dinner and shook his hand on the way out. I don't personally wish the kid ill, as some readers have emailed me since I broke the story July 13 about his four-game NFL suspension. I like Thurman. He's an outgoing, friendly young guy who faces family pressures in his life I can't imagine. Both of his parents are dead. Not that I'm making excuses for his behavior; a second failed drug test led to his NFL suspension. I'm just trying to understand where he's coming from. Oh, by the way, those Web site rumors that Odell had shrunk to 190 pounds because of alleged crystal meth use, not true. He is 240-245 pounds, easy, 10-15 pounds over his playing weight from 2005.