Thurman decision by mid-April

By Mark Curnutte
mcurnutte@enquirer.com

PALM BEACH, Fla. – The Bengals, as expected, gained four additional picks -- compensation for free agents lost in 2007 -- in the draft later this month, but team president Mike Brown doesn’t anticipate a trade of original picks to move up from the No. 9 spot in the first round.

And after playing in a prime-time, national-TV game on opening weekend last year, the Bengals will probably play in the standard slot of 1 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 7.

The league made several announcements today at its annual league meeting. And Commissioner Roger Goodell held a news conference in which he said Bengals linebacker Odell Thurman – suspended for the past two years for repeated violations of the league substance abuse policy – remained on a timetable to learn before training camp whether he could be re-instated.

Bengals president Mike Brown, in a dinner-hour interview tonight, said the club has been told that they would learn of Thurman’s fate by mid-April.

The Bengals were awarded with the 97th overall pick, the 34th of the third round. They also will have an additional sixth-round pick (No. 207 overall) and two more in the seventh round (Nos. 244 and 246 overall).

"It helps. We were picked over both last year and this year in free agency some," Brown said. "We’ll bring in some young guys. I don’t know if they’ll step in right away, but check back in a year or so and you’ll find they’re contributors, I’m sure."

The Bengals could trade their original picks but not the compensatory ones. The draft is April 26 and 27.

Would they trade up?

"Until somebody presents us with some overwhelmingly attractive deal, we’re just content to have the picks," Brown said.

The Bengals and fellow AFC North division rival Baltimore each received four additional picks – the most in the league of the 32 total awarded to 15 teams. The allotment brings to 11 the number of compensatory picks the Bengals have received since the program started in 1994.

The additional picks were determined by the NFL Management Council.

The Bengals currently have 10 total selections in the 2008 draft. Prior to the compensatory pick announcement the Bengals had one selection each in Rounds 1 through 6. The Bengals traded their original pick in round 7 to St. Louis in September for backup quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick.

Compensatory picks are awarded by the League for net player losses in unrestricted free agency for the previous year. The formula for determining additional picks involves player movement, salary, playing time and post-season honors.

In 2007, the Bengals lost these free agents: safety Kevin Kaesviharn (Saints; guard Eric Steinbach, Browns; tight end Tony Stewart, Raiders; wide receiver Kelley Washington, Patriots; and quarterback Anthony Wright, Giants. The Bengals gained defensive tackle Michael Myers, formerly of the Broncos.

The Bengals already had six original picks, including the No. 9 overall. They traded a seventh-round pick to St. Louis in September for quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick.

The Bengals expect to spread their picks among many positions, and they think that tight end, running back and offensive tackle are especially strong positions in the 2008 class.

Still, their greatest needs remain on defense, especially at tackle, where attempts early in the free agency period in March to trade with the Lions for Shaun Rogers and Jets for Dewayne Robertson didn’t pan out. The Bengals backed out of the deal for Robertson – though they had agreed to terms on a new five-year contract – because of the health of the former Kentucky star’s knees.

The Bengals, who opened the 2007 with a marquee Monday night game on opening weekend, will not have a prime-time game on the first week this season.

The NFL earlier this afternoon announced the remaining three games of its national TV schedule for opening weekend, which starts with Washington at the Giants on Thursday night, Sept. 4. Kickoff is 7 p.m. The Sunday night game, also on NBC, will be Chicago at Indianapolis at 8:15 p.m. The Monday night double-header on ESPN will be Minnesota at Green Bay (7 p.m.) and Denver at Oakland (10:15 p.m.) in the late game.

During his news conference, Goodell was asked about Thurman’s status.

"I haven't gotten any update in a couple of weeks," Goodell said when asked about Thurman. "He is going through the (offseason strength) program. I am encouraged."

Goodell denied Thurman’s application in July, which was a surprise to the Bengals who expected to have him back.

"It was the rules he came back under," Brown said of Thurman. "And as far as we know he is adhering to the restrictions, and if he keeps at it, he’ll be restored to the roster. And that’s what our goal is."