LB Thurman cited for DUI; Henry in vehicle
By Mark Curnutte
Enquirer staff writer
Bngals second-year linebacker Odell Thurman was cited at 3:05 a.m. today and charged with driving under the influence of alcohol.
Thurman was picked up in the 3800 block of Kellogg Avenue in the East End after a Cincinnati Police officer saw him drive on the left side of a double yellow line. He was brought to a checkpoint operated by the Cincinnati Police and Ohio State Patrol and submitted to a breath test.
Thurman blew a .17, which is considered a high-tier reading, said Officer Stephen Lawson of the Cincinnati Police Traffic Section. The .17 is more than double Ohio’s legal blood-alcohol limit of .08.
Thurman was released to a sober driver, Lawson said.
Thurman was one of at least three players in a 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe. The vehicle is owned by Bengals rookie wide receiver Reggie McNeal, who was a passenger, said a source at the scene. Bengals wide receiver Chris Henry was a passenger and threw up out a window of the vehicle. Neither McNeal nor Henry was cited or charged with any type of violation.
Thurman, 23, was the only occupant charged with OVI, Operating a Vehicle while Intoxicated (OVI). He is to appear in Hamilton County DUI Court on Monday, Oct. 2.
Thurman is currently serving a four-game suspension for a second violation of the NFL substance abuse policy, stemming from a failed test which was believed to be a missed test.
He is eligible to come off the suspended list and return to practice Oct. 2, one week from today. The Bengals played their third game Sunday, a 28-20 victory at Pittsburgh, to improve to 3-0.
Thurman, under terms of his suspension, is not allowed to be in the stadium on game day. The team flew home on a charter flight immediately after the game, and Thurman was believed to have hooked up with some teammates to celebrate the victory.
The Bengals’ standing policy is to not comment on players’ legal issues until they are resolved in the court system.
If convicted, Thurman would be subject to additional NFL discipline, including a fine or longer suspension.
E-mail mcurnutte@enquirer.com
posted by Mark at 7:30 AM
16 Comments:
at 9/25/2006 10:12 AM 
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Post a Comment*Just how stupid are these quys?
Like watching a train wreck ... four times over. Looks like he's facing at least a year's suspension. He should have declined to take the sobriety test. Now that he blew, he has just about a ZERO chance of getting out of this one. Of course, even if he did, his next foul up would still be just a matter of time. It's embarrassing.
Mark,
Is a 3rd substance abuse violation a mandatory year suspension or is it up to the discrestion of the commissioner?
Are Odell's days as a Bengal numbered or will the team continue to take the "wait until the legal process plays its course" stance and hope that the court case is continued until the offseason?
MO in Price Hill
Just a quick thought, and I am not sure if this story is 100% true, but I will take your word for it. You have been in the biz long enough and I am sure you have some excellent sources. However, Chris Henry threw up out one of the windows? Isn't Henry on probation? I thought one section of his probation was not drinking for 2 years. So did Henry have a stomach virus at 3am last night?
Don't these players understand what they are doing? Any fan would be willing to drive them all over town if they wanted to party all night after a game. They are jeapordizing the team and they are on the verge of ruining their careers. If they don't wise up quickly, their going to be out of the game and maybe worse, they might be dead by the time they reach 28 yrs old.
The off-field conduct of the Cincinnati Bengals , or more to the point , a select group of Bengals players is no longer an embarrassment to the fans it is an absolute insult ! The fact that this conduct continues clearly illustrates the depth of the problem . There is more to being an elite organization in the NFL than a winning record . The measure of a great team is its character , not being able to buy your way out of trouble by hiring the right attorney . If these players were ordinary citizens rather than athletes they would be in jail , period . I find the continuing ‘ wait and see what the league does ‘ strategy employed by the Bengals front office to be reprehensible , this conduct continues because it is allowed to continue . Would Mike Brown’s response be the same if the players invloved were less talented ? I doubt it . Would Paul Brown have allowed this team’s character to be called into question by the actions of several players ? I guarantee that he would not . We want a winning team , but not by casting aside the tradition and principles the organization was founded on . Be the Bengals not the Ravens .
Mark, was it really necessary to disclose that Chris Henry was in the vehicle. I mean the man has a bad rep already and yes he doesn't always make the best decisions but he did nothing wrong in this case other than getting in the car with someone else who was drunk. People will see or hear his name and automatically associate him as the bad guy in this as well. It's not fair to him as a human being. I know you have a job to do and I respect you and I love reading your articles. I just wish there was someway that Chris Henry's name could be left out of the negativity that doesn't involve him. Thanks Mark!
When Chris Henry has his DUI hearing, that was infact part of his stipulations and probation. He was not allowed to drink or be around alcohol for 2 years. Also he was told the same thing when he was in Kenton County court for buying alcohol for minors. I guess he will be in trouble for probation violations? Or maybe the court will probably look the other way since he is a popular football player with talent. He is a good player, but to me, off the field is as important as on. I think TJ or Chad need to adopt him and keep watch on Henry 24/7. If you act immature and like a teen, you should be treated as one.
Chris Henry is involved. He violated his probation by not only being drunk but also being around a drunk person driving. I know that he had drinking problems in college. Now I'm not sure it was worth the draft pick. If the Bengals end up having a disappointing season which was supposed to be filled with promise, I think most of the blame can be put on these 6 players who couldn't find something better with their millions than getting in trouble with the law.
Derrick: It's not Mark's fault Chris Henry was in the vehicle. He's an adult and he knows the odds. It's a shame that reporters catch the grief because public figures do stupid things.
What worries me is not that Henry was in the vehicle, but that Reggie McNeal was in the vehicle (in fact, he owned the vehicle). Young players associating with team elements that get them into trouble will decay the team spirit and the depth that Marvin has tried to create. Reggie: want to stay in this league? Find better friends to celebrate with.
Just because Thurman is eligible to be activated after next week doesn't mean he has to be. Let him sit for a few more weeks, maybe the rest of the season.
We proabably shouldn't rush to judgement on Henry...They were picked up really close to the river, Henry was probably just sea sick from being out on an Ohio River cruise with Eric "Captain Morgan" Steinbach.
Anyone else find it funny that people and some media types (lance Mccallister), will rip Thurman and other players for getting in troulble but will yell from the highest hill that "Pete Rose is a role model and deserves the respect of baseball and the fans"? Sounds like a media HYPOCRITE to me.
It is ashame that such athletically talented individuals get in so much trouble.
I hope they wake up before it's too late.
Sounds like Kelley Washington will be getting some more playing time...
Just heard on a sports station that Chris Henry is looking at a 2 year suspension from the NFL and jailtime for probation violation. Anyone else hear that?
Also, couldn't they hire someone sober to drive them home if not a cab? They have millions.
Thurman's girlfriend, who is a WNBA player was arrested at the same checkpong for OVI 3 hours before he was. You would think they would have communicated not to go home that way because there was a checkpoint. Guess that is over their heads.
I find it amusing the bloggers who keep bringing up Henry's probation violation. Okay common sense says he was drinking. However he was not charged with any citation such as public intox. So there is no proof that he violated probation other than hearsay. Any good lawyer would be able to keep Hnry from being charged with violating probation. That's just way it is from legal point. With regards to the arrest. I am not in Cincy but from story the sobriety checkpoint was on Kellogg avenue down the street from the club. There are all kinds of legalities regarding sobriety check points. It seems to me this sobriety checkpoint borders on entrapment. I will use an example. I live in Indianapolis. Some years ago police set up a sobriety checkpoint north of downtown Indy. It was near the Colts Dome stadium. A game was played that night and an affluent fan was arressted for DUI. This person won case and sued based on entrapment. I am not defending the players and am no lawyer. But a good attorney would no doubt argue the legality of sobriety checkpoint. That's why cops don't sit outside bars waiting for people to leave. It's entrapment.
What a waste of TIME TALENT and of LIFE.Not only does this behavior hurt them it hurts their families and all that belive in them.
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