Keep Odell

[schnarfer]

I know everyone hates odell for what he did to our team this year, but there is no doubting the man's skill. Maybe he learned his lesson, maybe he hasn't but if we let him go , he WILL be picked up immediatly and WILL be an impact MLB at some point in his career. He is young and stupid and honestly, does not know better. Give the guy a shot and if he messes up again, shame on me, but I think he may have learned his lesson and can move on in a positve direction and become an elite MLB in the NFL.

[Thurmanation]

I know everyone hates odell for what he did to our team this year, but there is no doubting the man's skill. Maybe he learned his lesson, maybe he hasn't but if we let him go , he WILL be picked up immediatly and WILL be an impact MLB at some point in his career. He is young and stupid and honestly, does not know better. Give the guy a shot and if he messes up again, shame on me, but I think he may have learned his lesson and can move on in a positve direction and become an elite MLB in the NFL.

Amen to that.

[Kazkal]

Though Odell missed more time,I'd still more bothered by what chris henry did "shrug"....with that being said if odell can keep his nose clean between now training camp I think he has another shot but if he gets in any more trouble...he'll be cut on a cut down date.

[kybengalsfan]

I know everyone hates odell for what he did to our team this year, but there is no doubting the man's skill. Maybe he learned his lesson, maybe he hasn't but if we let him go , he WILL be picked up immediatly and WILL be an impact MLB at some point in his career. He is young and stupid and honestly, does not know better. Give the guy a shot and if he messes up again, shame on me, but I think he may have learned his lesson and can move on in a positve direction and become an elite MLB in the NFL.

I take issue to your remark "...(he)...does not know better." Are you serious? Do you think they suspended him for only one violation? Try more than that. I'm thinking at least three offenses. What is there not to know better after one offense? The guy is a selfish young man who thought not about his teammates, but only about himself and his personal pleasures.

[Section 310]

Who is Marvin kidding? He is not going to cut Odell anymore than he is going to put a foot in Chad's ass or crack down on the other problem children. Of all the guys who screwed up this year who really got called to task by the team? They cut a fat, lazy underachieving Askew, but allowed Chris Henry to skate by deactivating him for a game. Then they sign Berryman.

Face it...Marvin recognizes talent and is willing to put up with nonsense to keep these guys on his roster. Even if he did decide to be hard-nosed, what can he do? The CBA does not allow a player to be dismissed for off the field conduct. He will continue to pay lip service to the media and give guys like Rucker, Berryman, Henry, Odell and McNeal every chance to succeed....or enough rope to hang themselves.

I just hope that in this year's draft they can find more guys like Willie, Levi, Madieu, and Carson to balance out the dirtbags. Don't let the "cancer corner" resurface.

[GregCook]

Ahmad Brooks was drafted to replace Odell last summer. Obviously Marvin and company had enough of Odell back then. But the players union will have a say, with a grievance, should the Bengals cut him soley because of his behavior. Not allowed to do that in the NFL. This is one reason why I expect the Bengals to draft a LB in round 1 or 2 or go after a FA. Then they'll be able to say Odell just wasn't good enough. Odell is history.

[Kazkal]

a foot in Chad's ass or crack down on the other problem children.

how was chad a problem child this season?

Ahmad Brooks was drafted to replace Odell last summer.

Before pollack broke his neck,now brooks may play SLB where hes better suited for passing the rusher...even if we drafted patrick willis I could still see odell be given a last chance.

I expect the Bengals to draft a LB in round 1 or 2 or go after a FA. Then they'll be able to say Odell just wasn't good enough. Odell is history.

If Odell is kept on till cut down dates,I'm sure he will get chance if he stays out of trouble.If bengals diden't sign Berryman then I would mybe beleive Odell is history but after signing a guy who spent 300 days in jail I doubt it.

[TJJackson]

If bengals diden't sign Berryman then I would mybe beleive Odell is history but after signing a guy who spent 300 days in jail I doubt it.

I understand the logic here, but I believe it is off the mark on the basic assumption....I believe Odell broke a promise to Marvin, and ergo lost Marvin's trust. Berryman may be every bit as much of a problem child legally, maybe more, but he hasn't lost Marvin's trust - he has a clean slate in that regard.

Remember how Odell promised everyone in the article from last summer that all his troubles were behind him, and he had learned his lesson, or something like that. I am sure he made similar assurances to Marvin. Then the DUI occurred on the east side, just days after he had made such promises to both Marvin and (most likely) to the Commissioner himself, probably with Marvin present. Marvin may even have been asked to vouch for the guy, who knows. Imagine how betrayed and embarrassed you'd feel if you were in his shoes. Think about whether you'd give such a fellow his 4th or 5th (keep in Mind that Marvin knew at the very least about the first and second drug test failures well prior to this) chance.

I can't prove any of this - it's just my guess based on what I have seen and heard from Marvin re: Odell.

[DC_Bengals_Fan]

Christ, just bleeping forget about Odell. Does this look like a guy who has the ability to stay clean in the NFL? At the rate he's currently at, he will never play in the NFL again. He can't stay clean. Guess who that sounds like? Ricky Williams. It's just not worth the crap trying to get the guy clean, planning around him only to have him get suspended. Again.

Every day it seems, somebody starts another Odell thread. He's not playing for the Bengals again. He very well may not play in the league again at all. Looks like there was a reason the other 31 teams passed on him. He's not good enough to justify the crap.

[cincyhokie]

Talent or not, he has to go. If Marvin is anywhere close to serious about "tightening" down, you have to start here.

Cut him loose, maybe he'll get another shot elsewhere and be an impact player. He wins and the Bengals win for not having to carry baggage and gamble on another roster spot in 2007.

Seriously, it has to be distracting as a head coach if you're not sure that your starters can make it through the year for disciplinary reasons.

Let him move on.

[hayburmill]

"now brooks may play SLB where hes better suited for passing the rusher"

I thought this was one of our problems in the first place.............

[HoosierCat]

[i understand the logic here, but I believe it is off the mark on the basic assumption....I believe Odell broke a promise to Marvin, and ergo lost Marvin's trust.

Clearly, something along those lines happened. My own WAG (wild-a$$ed guess) is that the whole DUI bit with McNeal in the car and Cheech blowing chunks out the window was the final straw. Odell wants to screw up his own life, fine, but when he's drunk behind the wheel with two other Bengals in the car, now he's screwing with Marvin's job. A little bad luck with a concrete skid wall or 100-year-old oak ad you have not one, not two, but three Bengals in the hospital...or the morgue.

I know to take everything that comes out of Marvin's mouth with a sizeable grain of salt, but I completely believe him when he says he wants nothing more to do with Odell.

[ShulaSteakhouse]

Yeah I don't think it's a question of making a statement or morality. I think it's a case of a player who is badly out of shape, looked terrible in preseason, has a drug/alcohol problem, and still hasn't dealt with it.

Sure the Bengals' will take him back if he straightens up, but at this point, that's a big "if." And "when" is a better question.

[Thurmanation]

Mannnn you guys act like hes doing heroine and cocaine like Tony Montana, the guy missed a drug test and was caught DUI, THATS ALL WE KNOW...so stop with the saying hes got drug addictions, untill he says on espn that he has issues with drugs, it doesnt matter what rumours you hear.

[Whur CHad At?]

I think the only reason you miss a drug test is because you are doing drugs. Drug tests are important to every player, that isn't something you just forget.

[DC_Bengals_Fan]

Mannnn you guys act like hes doing heroine and cocaine like Tony Montana, the guy missed a drug test and was caught DUI, THATS ALL WE KNOW...so stop with the saying hes got drug addictions, untill he says on espn that he has issues with drugs, it doesnt matter what rumours you hear.

Hey genius, why do you think he was taking regular tests in the first place? Because he was in the NFL's substance abuse program at that time, meaning the missed test wasn't his first offense. In fact, since it earned him a 4-game suspension, it was probably his THIRD. The DUI was his FOURTH. At the beginning of his second freaking year.

So in fact, he was probably doing more coke than Tony Montana. Although if the rumors of his growing waistline are to be believed, he's definitely not a H junkie, I have to give you that.

In any event, if you screw up 4 times in 16 months, you DEFINITELY do have a substance abuse problem, and I don't need rumors for that. That's fact.

Oh, and if he screws up one more time - which is likely - he's banned until the NFL decides to let him back in, and at the rate he's screwing up, that wouldn't likely be for a while. So unless Odell quickly turns into a choir boy, he will likely never play football in the NFL again.

[kingwilly]

I know this will sound lame but....

NODELL!

I've had it with character F-ing up this team....

[delhole]

This might be a little extreme but just hear me out. I'm thinking maybe a.....wait for it.......wait for it......a BRAIN TRANSPLANT! It's a possibilty! Just find any average person with some football knowledge, some playing experience, a clean sheet, and just swap bodies with odell! I will personally offer myself up to do the switch! It's BRILLIANT and almost as likely to happen as odell getting his act together

[BengalPimp]

Mannnn you guys act like hes doing heroine and cocaine like Tony Montana, the guy missed a drug test and was caught DUI, THATS ALL WE KNOW...so stop with the saying hes got drug addictions, untill he says on espn that he has issues with drugs, it doesnt matter what rumours you hear.

Odell we know its you, stop trying to act like your a fan defending him. YOU ARE ODELL ARENT YOU ?

You say "the guy missed a drug test and was caught DUI,THATS ALL WE KNOW"----BULLCHIT, we know a lot more than that.

We know that he did miss the test and when they(Lewis included) tried to contact him, his cell phone was disconnected, and the only lame-a$$ excuse he could come up with is some "drama" with his lady, blah blah blah.

We know that he was suspended, we(he did too) knew the team needed LB's with injuries taking their toll on the position.

We know that he didnt give a rat's a$$ about his team needing him back, If he did then his stupid a$$ wouldnt have been drinking and driving, let alone when he's only 1 more game away from coming back from suspension.

We know that he not only didnt give a rat's a$$ about his teammates on the field, but he didnt care about them off the field either. If he did, he wouldnt have jeopardized the safety(and life) by driving the car when he is OVER TWICE THE LEGAL LIMIT. If he were close to the limit, you can(maybe) say that he still thought he could drive safely, but when you are OVER TWICE THE LEGAL LIMIT, there is now way in hell that idiot could have "reasonably" thought he was able to drive safely.

We know that the NFL has Counseling available to players anytime, for any reason, personal,financial,physical, anything, because of the difficulties that an NFL player may experience. HIS STUPID A$$ obviously didnt want to take advantage of that.

We know that when in violation, a person is then entered ino the NFL's drug-treatment program, which at that time INCLUDES the counseling he never thought to seek beforehand. Obviously it all fell on deaf ears.

AND MOST OF ALL, WE KNOW that he obviously has not to this point, done enough to make anyone believe he will change his behavior, or even done anything to make JUST 1 PERSON say some encouraging words about how he is coming along. I dont see anyone saying anything like "Odell has some demons he's dealing with, but were proud of the progress he's making, he's working very hard, etc" THERE IS NOBODY, REPEAT NOBODY SAYING ANYTHING EVEN REMOTELY ENCOURAGING ABOUT HOW WELL OR HOW HARD HE IS WORKING TO BETTER HIMSELF !!!!!!! NOBODY

[skyline]

Marvin has shown that he's willing to put up with a lot of crap from players who can play the game. The fact that he's been so impatient with Odell leads me to believe that there's more to this than meets the eye. On the surface, I can't for the life of me understand why he's more upset with Odell than Henry.

For whatever reason, Marvin wants nothing to do with him. Maybe that will change, but I'd say it's highly unlikely.

[agreen_112]

O-Dawg will be back. We're paying him too little to just let him go. He'll be back but my guess is that he will not be a starter week 1. Give it until week 3 or 4 and he'll have his job back...

[DC_Bengals_Fan]

Marvin has shown that he's willing to put up with a lot of crap from players who can play the game. The fact that he's been so impatient with Odell leads me to believe that there's more to this than meets the eye. On the surface, I can't for the life of me understand why he's more upset with Odell than Henry.

For whatever reason, Marvin wants nothing to do with him. Maybe that will change, but I'd say it's highly unlikely.

I think you answered your own question. Odell's mistakes have caused him to miss many more games than Henry's. Like you said, Marvin puts up with a lot from players who can play the game. But Odell can't play the game if he can't get on the field.

Agreen: Odell won't have his job back by week 4 unless he doesn't miss/fail another drug test between now and then, and I don't like his chances.

[Bengalhead]

Christ, just bleeping forget about Odell. Does this look like a guy who has the ability to stay clean in the NFL? At the rate he's currently at, he will never play in the NFL again. He can't stay clean. Guess who that sounds like? Ricky Williams. It's just not worth the crap trying to get the guy clean, planning around him only to have him get suspended. Again.

Every day it seems, somebody starts another Odell thread. He's not playing for the Bengals again. He very well may not play in the league again at all. Looks like there was a reason the other 31 teams passed on him. He's not good enough to justify the crap.

Thank you!! Man, I wish everyone would just let this go. He's not coming back. The sooner everyone accepts that, the better off we'll be!

[Jonboat]

Christ, just bleeping forget about Odell. Does this look like a guy who has the ability to stay clean in the NFL? At the rate he's currently at, he will never play in the NFL again. He can't stay clean. Guess who that sounds like? Ricky Williams. It's just not worth the crap trying to get the guy clean, planning around him only to have him get suspended. Again.

Every day it seems, somebody starts another Odell thread. He's not playing for the Bengals again. He very well may not play in the league again at all. Looks like there was a reason the other 31 teams passed on him. He's not good enough to justify the crap.

Thank you!! Man, I wish everyone would just let this go. He's not coming back. The sooner everyone accepts that, the better off we'll be!

Maybe... maybe not, the fact is we don't know now & won't until next season. I wouldn't put much stock in ML comments about Odell not being part of the team because he's not... he was suspended all year & you know ML isn't going to give info to the media until he has to & esp. so soon after a disappointing season I'm sure Odell is the last thing on his mind.

I also wouldn't put much stock into Laps comments about him being chunkier it wouldn't be unusual for someone getting clean to gain weight. How do you know he's not clean now? Dont they step up the testing with each violation & continue testing during the suspensions? wouldn't another failed test been reported already?

I have to disagree that he's not good enough, the man is a playmaker & was considered for the DROY exactly what this D needed this year.

I'm a little surprised we have'nt heard anything from the media about him during his suspension but that may be a good thing @ least he hasn't been arrested .Maybe we have'nt heard nothing because he has been in a treatment center then again maybe he's laying in a gutter in Georgia some damn where! That's alot of speculation huh? The fact is I don't know... you don't know & WE won't know until they have to make a decision. Personally, I think they don't have much to lose by keeping him if he screws up again he's out of the league right?

[Bengalhead]

Christ, just bleeping forget about Odell. Does this look like a guy who has the ability to stay clean in the NFL? At the rate he's currently at, he will never play in the NFL again. He can't stay clean. Guess who that sounds like? Ricky Williams. It's just not worth the crap trying to get the guy clean, planning around him only to have him get suspended. Again.

Every day it seems, somebody starts another Odell thread. He's not playing for the Bengals again. He very well may not play in the league again at all. Looks like there was a reason the other 31 teams passed on him. He's not good enough to justify the crap.

Thank you!! Man, I wish everyone would just let this go. He's not coming back. The sooner everyone accepts that, the better off we'll be!

Maybe... maybe not, the fact is we don't know now & won't until next season. I wouldn't put much stock in ML comments about Odell not being part of the team because he's not... he was suspended all year & you know ML isn't going to give info to the media until he has to & esp. so soon after a disappointing season I'm sure Odell is the last thing on his mind.

I also wouldn't put much stock into Laps comments about him being chunkier it wouldn't be unusual for someone getting clean to gain weight. How do you know he's not clean now? Dont they step up the testing with each violation & continue testing during the suspensions? wouldn't another failed test been reported already?

I have to disagree that he's not good enough, the man is a playmaker & was considered for the DROY exactly what this D needed this year.

I'm a little surprised we have'nt heard anything from the media about him during his suspension but that may be a good thing @ least he hasn't been arrested .Maybe we have'nt heard nothing because he has been in a treatment center then again maybe he's laying in a gutter in Georgia some damn where! That's alot of speculation huh? The fact is I don't know... you don't know & WE won't know until they have to make a decision. Personally, I think they don't have much to lose by keeping him if he screws up again he's out of the league right?

See this is the kind of thing that we need to get away from. I agree that it is a good thing that he hasn't been arrested. But for crying out loud, why isn't that a given instead of a pleasant surprise???? I'm beyond sick of hearing about every one of these rich spoiled brats getting themselves in trouble and putting themselves (and us) in danger.

So I guess if Odell goes another month without getting arrested, that we should extend his contract then. Right? Heck, if he goes until next season without getting arrested, why don't we give him a lifetime guaranteed contract!

God. Just go away. I don't care how much talent that piece of crap has. Unfortunately for him, he had the world by the nuts and totally effed it up.

I'm particularly angry about this right now because of all the time that we've spent trying to make excuses and defend these players who have every reason in the world to simply not get arrested. Makes me sick