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BENGALS TO DUMP ODELL FOR MISSING VOLUNTARY WORKOUTS

Posted by Mike Florio on May 19, 2008, 10:22 a.m.

A league source tells us that the Bengals plan to release linebacker Odell Thurman on Monday.

But we’re told that the move isn’t the result of any relapse of substance abuse or renewed misconduct by the talented-but-troubled defender, who missed most of the past two NFL seasons due to a suspension. Instead, the Bengals allegedly are cutting Thurman for missing voluntary workouts last week.

Thurman participated in a rookie minicamp. After his grandmother recently died, he had to travel to Georgia for the funeral. Betty Thurman raised Odell, whose mother died in 1993 and father died five years ago. Betty Thurman was seriously ill when Odell was reinstated last month by Commissioner Roger Goodell.

The Bengals, per the source, told Thurman to come back to town for so-called Organized Team Activities one day after his grandmother’s funeral. When he got to Georgia, however, Thurman realized that he couldn’t leave so quickly.

Advised that he couldn’t make it back, the Bengals said that he either had to return for the OTAs, or he’d be released. We’re told that his locker was cleaned out on Tuesday, May 13.

Calls to two members of the Bengals’ P.R. department were not answered, and messages left have not yet been returned. (In fairness, however, it’s been only 20 minutes or so since I called them.)

If the contention regarding the reason for the release is accurate, the move would be a clear violation of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, since the workouts were voluntary in nature. Over the past several years, a chronic failure by the NFL Players Association to enforce this rule has contributed to an atmosphere in which teams often think that they can treat attendance at the voluntary drills as mandatory — and thus they often do.

It’s presently unknown whether Thurman will file a grievance due to the decision to cut him. His better move might be to try to latch on with another team, and continue his attempt to fulfill the promise that he showed as a rookie in 2005.

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Man, I dogged Odell for blowing tests and driving drunk and all, but for God's sake if you stick with him through that, give him some time for a damned funeral. Christ almighty, it's May. Sure he could really use being at camp, but when someone that important to you dies, you stick with your family.

If Marvin really cuts him for this, it's a total d*ck move.

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Something doesn't smell right here. This just does not sound like something Marvin Lewis would do. It is either untrue or there is way more to the story. I cannot buy this story as-is.

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My guess is the condition for his return was 100% following what the team wanted. Period.

It is a position he put himself in with his problems over the last three years. Unfortunate, but the reality.

Frankly, I am somewhat relieved at not having to wonder about the team putting eggs in his basket again and then he runs into problems in August and is back on suspension.

Time to close the book on this one and move on.

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Bengals press release says Thurman has been released, quoting Marvin as saying they have not seen the right steps from Odell to reestablish his career. Not sure what's going on, but given our shortage at the position, something must be going on that we haven't heard about.

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Time to sign Takeo Spikes. Blackstock might not be that good but atleast he can make it on the field unlike some other lb from UVA.

So that's something to be excited about because he can make it on the field? I'm sorry I like a little upside when they are on the field -_-

Unbelievable. I wonder what issues have happened now that caused this move?

Would seem because Odell didn't rush back the day after his grandma was buried,god forbid him taking care of family stuff.

PS, :cheers: heres for getting Rey Maualuga in 2009.

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The guy who couldn't cut it for Arizona's mighty defense?

Errr.......he backs up a player you may have heard of. a very, very good player. One we should have drafted instead of Chrissy Perry.

Karlos Dansby

You may have heard of him :-) If not, search for "franchise tag" and "arizona" and "Pro bowl".

Steve Young backed up Joe Montana for a while, guess that means Steve Young couldn't cut it either, eh?

anyway, back to Odell

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Would hope there is more to this than cutting him because of OTA's.

Anyway, with Henry, Chad and now Odell, this team is rapidly running out of good karma for a decent season. I'll think a few times before ponying out the DirecTV fee to watch them out here in Cali.

You guys realize Eric GuyCheck & Fanene are the only remaining players from the 2005 draft now that Odell is history?

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