Thurman says our D's the best

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http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/art...0367/1066/SPT02

Sunday, April 24, 2005

Thurman declares Bengals' defense best

By Kevin Kelly

Enquirer staff writer

With their first two picks of the NFL draft, the Bengals grabbed the best defensive players in the land Saturday.

Just ask Odell Thurman.

"I can honestly say that I feel Cincinnati has the best defense in the NFL right now," the former Georgia linebacker said. "Two of the best defensive players in the draft, and (the Bengals) got 'em. I'm trying to tell you, (the Bengals) got the biggest steals of the whole draft."

Cincinnati drafted the former middle linebacker with the 16th pick in the second round. One of Thurman's teammates at Georgia was David Pollack, the outside linebacker selected 17th overall by the Bengals earlier in the day.

"I'm very happy not because we got the first two picks, but because they're good football players," Bengals linebackers coach Ricky Hunley said. "You're going to be excited when you see the things an Odell Thurman can do, and a David Pollack can do."

But Thurman, who registered 65 total tackles and three sacks in nine games last season, has baggage that likely affected where the two-time, All-SEC pick was taken.

"It's always a concern," Bengals coach Marvin Lewis said. "So we do everything we can to check things out.

"When coach (Mark) Richt got there at Georgia he had to deal with him. So he had to go the hard way a little bit. I think he learned some lessons."

Thurman was dismissed from Georgia's team before his freshman season for academic and disciplinary reasons, and subsequently enrolled at Georgia Military Academy.

Thurman returned to Athens for the 2003 season, but in August of that year was pulled over and arrested on five misdemeanor charges, according to the Athens Banner-Herald. He was fined for two of the charges.

And last season, Thurman was held out of the first three games.

"The kid has overcome some things in his life and really gone through some tough times," Bengals defensive coordinator Chuck Bresnahan said. "He's risen to the top. The way he's handled himself throughout this whole process of doing the background checks is commendable as well.

"He's a true talent. We're really lucky to get him here."

Raised by his paternal grandmother - his mother died in an automobile accident when he was 10, and his father died from liver and kidney failure in 2003 - Thurman excelled when he was on the field.

"I'm a run-stopper, man," Thurman said. "You put them in front of me, I'm going to win."

Last season, Thurman was a semifinalist for the Butkus Award that annually goes to the nation's best linebacker.

Thurman will contribute on special teams and likely challenge first-string middle linebacker Landon Johnson for playing time.

"I came back two years ago and I just feel like I've been on a trail ever since to get back to the top," Thurman said. "I'm with Cincinnati now. So, you know, I'm trying to steal the spotlight from Chad Johnson a little bit."