NFL says no to Thurman

GEORGETOWN, Ky. -- The Bengals announced this morning that Odell Thurman's application for reinstatement was denied by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell.

Thurman can apply again for reinstatement after the the 2007 season.

He was suspended for one year following a DUI arrest on Sept. 25, which was his third violation of the league's substance abuse policy.

Bengals players are reporting today to training camp at Georgetown College. The deadline for reporting is 3 p.m.

Thurman was not listed with the 11 linebackers on the team's first depth chart, released Tuesday in the 2007 Bengals media guide.

The announcement comes as a surprise. People in Thurman's camp were optimistic.

A phone message left for Safarrah Lawson, Thurman's Atlanta-based representative, was not immediately returned this morning.

“He has done everything he was supposed to,” Lawson, told The Enquirer last week. Thurman's third violation of the NFL substance abuse policy mandated the one-year suspension.

The linebacker completed a four-month alcohol rehabilitation stay in April in South Carolina and a subsequent one-month out-patient program.

Bengals coach Marvin Lewis was not available for comment this morning but had left open the door for Thurman’s return to the team.Lewis had been in contact with Thurman through his rehab. Lewis, linebackers coach Ricky Hunley and assistant strength and conditioning coach Ray Oliver all visited Thurman in South Carolina.

Thurman started 15 games and played in all 16 as a rookie at middle linebacker in 2005, leading the defense with 148 tackles.

The Bengals drafted Ahmad Brooks in the supplemental draft a year ago, and after an up-and-down rookie season, Brooks had an impressive offseason and staked claim to the starting job in the middle.

Thurman, who still has three years remaining on his rookie contract, could have a future as an outside linebacker if he is reinstated after the season.Thurman had a minor scrape with the law in June in his hometown of Monticello, Ga., and it is unclear at this time whether the incident played into Goodell's decision to deny Thurman's application.

Two Monticello men filed a pre-warrant hearing application following an alleged altercation at a house party overnight June 2 and 3.But the two men who made the complaint against Thurman withdrew it late the day before a magistrate in Jasper County, Ga., was scheduled to hear it.

No criminal charges were ever filed.

Two men alleged in the complaint that Thurman had committed acts of criminal trespass, aggravated assault and pointing a gun in the early morning hours Sunday at a house party in Monticello.