NFL allows Thurman to train with team
Linebacker Odell Thurman has been cleared by the NFL to train and work out at the Bengals' Paul Brown Stadium facilities while he pursues possible reinstatement from an NFL suspension.
Thurman was not on the Bengals roster in 2006 or 2007, due to a suspension for violations of the league’s substance abuse policy.
"Odell remains on the league's suspended list, and it remains to be seen whether he will be able to meet the conditions for reinstatement," Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis said in a statement released this afternoon by the club. "If he is reinstated, he will then have to earn the confidence of our management and coaching staff that he is ready to compete for a roster spot as an active member of our team. In the meantime, he is allowed to work out with our strength and conditioning and our training staffs."
Thurman reported to Paul Brown Stadium late this past week to check in with Bengals staff, and he will be working at the facility in days to come. Per team policy regarding players on suspension, he is not cleared to do interviews with news media.
On Dec. 30, one of Thurman's representatives told The Enquirer that Thurman expects to learn after the Super Bowl whether he will be reinstated. He had applied in December.
Permission to workout is a strong signal that Thurman will be allowed back by the NFL.
posted by Mark at 4:08 PM
12 Comments:
at 1/26/2008 4:35 PM 
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at 1/27/2008 3:37 AM 
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at 1/27/2008 2:45 PM 
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at 1/27/2008 5:21 PM 
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at 1/28/2008 9:36 AM 
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at 1/30/2008 7:13 AM 
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Post a Comment*One can only hope that his troubled past is behind him.
One word: STUD! He has done his time, and hopefully is ready to be a man. He was and still will be one of the top LB in the NFL. Watching him play his rookie year, he has better instincts earlier in his career than Ray Lewis and Junior Seau did. Obviously they became the best at their position by hard work, but if Thurman develops he has better natural skills....
YES Thurman !!!
Welcome Back... With Pollack, this week sounds good for Cincy.
How do you feel Carson ?
Real better ?
me too
One Word: WASTE of time and effort for the Bengals. Three years into his contract and with a new defense. As soon as he gets back his previous level of performance his contract is up. Time should be spent developing young players not Big Question Marks. Trade or just release him. Along with Chris Perry too much time wasted waiting for these guys.
Thurman is not getting traded or cut.
Ray: You sound like a good judge of talent, you probably should call Mike Brown and get a job. I am not defending his actions off the field, and I admit it is time to grow up and be a man. He is young, and was stupid, and he has paid the price, now it is time to move on. But, if a 23 yr. old who is making under $700k, who is under contract for the next two years, and is one of the most talented LB to come into the NFL in 20 years is a WASTE, well I guess its time to sale the whole team then!
Thurman is under contract for 3 or 4 more years. He signed a 4 or5 year deal after the draft, hes only played 1 year of it. Under the current rules if suspended with out pay you down count those years as contract years.
You bet hes comming back, we are so shallow at LB we need him more than he needs us
Firefly, I didn't say he was not talented, just a waste of time and effort for the Bengals. He will only use the next two years to launch his NFL career. He will be too expensive for the Bengals to keep. Spend the time developing a player who might help the team for 4-5 years before moving on. Cincinnati is almost like a college team, you can only expect the players to stay here for their original contracts. Yeah, Yeah there are exception, but few. I wish I were wrong, but reality sucks the Bengals (and Reds) are minor league teams.
Mark - now that we know he CAN work out and etc with the team, the next question is - is he here? Is he working out? What do the trainers think of his current condition? I think we can get a clear signal on what his value (if any) will be for 2008 from these early signs: effort, committment, physical condition and conditioning - or the lackthereof.
So please....give us the inside scoop on these things.
I think most Bengals fans will be happy to give him a second chance here --IF-- he demonstrates effort and committment.
Ray, are you serious? We've had, what, 2 players in the last 15 years that were really good as Bengals and left after their rookie contracts were up - Alfred Williams and Steinbach, and Steinbach would have been happy to stay if we matched his $45 mil. deal with Cleveland. Who are you talking about?
And how would he be too expensive for us? This isn't baseball. Anyway, if he's going to play so well for two years that he's too expensive to keep, don't we want him for those 2 years with a cheap salary?
Your post just doesn't make sense.
Thurman can do nothing but improve this team. He will cost virtually nothing, has a chip on his shoulder, is young with something to prove. Very little downside, all the upside in the world.
If he blows up/goes back on crack then he's gone and will cost no more than a undrafted FA. Everyone knows that his margin for error on those lines is absolute zero.
I hope for him/his family sake that he has figured out not to piss away his second chance - most people don't even get a first chance.
Only in Cincinnati with this backwards ownership would such a talented player get run off.
Greg
Thurman is a pro athelete. If he is in any kind of shape at all he can make it back with no problem. In an NFL lifting and conditioning program getting into shape should never be a problem. My biggest concern with Thurman is has he maintained his size. He has always struggled to be NFL middle linebacker sizeed. 220lbs is not going to cut it in a 3-4 with a 300 lb lineman uncovered and lined up directly in front of you.
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