Dear Anyone who is still mad at the Cincinnati Bengals for releasing Odell Thurman,

Shut up.  Just stop it. 

Let's not forget that Odell Thurman was a huge reason that we did not make the playoffs in 2006.  That year, we were a bad snap and a missed field goal away from making the playoffs for the second straight year.  We sure could have used Odell Thurman in some of our close games that season (Tampa Bay, Atlanta, Baltimore, Denver, Pittsburgh...all games decided by 6 or less points).  But Odell Thurman was useless to us as he was suspended for the whole season.  At first it was just 4 games for violating the league's substance abuse policy (failing a drug test or failing to take a drug test).  But rather than learn from this mistake, his suspension was extended for the whole season after being arrested for a DUI.  This wasn't just any DUI though. In this DUI, Odell was driving Reggie McNeal's car while Chris Henry was puking out the side door of it (two players that have also since been let go).  Still, even after this, the Bengals stuck with Odell.  Odell's suspension was then extended through the 2007 season because, according to the NFL, he was not proceeding how he needed to in order to get reinstated.  Whether this was correct for the NFL to do or not, it sure doesn't seem like Odell was proactive to get his life back on track and back on the football field.

How can you criticize the Bengals continued selection of problem children and then, at the same time, get mad at them for releasing one after we've stuck with him for two years and gave him every chance to resurrect his career?  What is criticizable is our 2005 NFL draft where we took Odell and Chris Henry...a draft that would receive a grade of F minus minus.  What is criticizable is the addition of more questionable character guys such as Jason Shirley, Maurice Purify and Kyries Hebert. But getting rid of one of them sounds proper to me.

Odell has continually proved that he can't be relied on and he has continually disappointed us.  And although it's not done on WDR that much, I think we should stand by their decision.  After all of Odell's history, if we felt that he hasn't matured and wasn't dedicating himself to our team, then we absolutely should let him go. 

Let's also not forget that Odell Thurman has been out of football for TWO YEARS.  Meanwhile, we have drafted Keith Rivers and have a handful of other linebackers on our roster.  Yes, we had linebacker trouble last year but Odell contributed to that and it is not certain that he would return in a meaningful way after such a long hiatus.  People should stop pointing the finger at the Bengals' front office for his release (doing so for drafting him is fine). There is one person to blame for his release...Odell Thurman.

As for the questioning of his release for missing voluntary workouts after his grandmother's funeral, please read between the lines.  Odell has been eligible to work out at PBS since January.  Someone in his shoes should've been doing everything he could to get back on the field.  Obviously, the Bengals didn't get that sense and did not think he could dedicate himself to be the type of football player that he needed to be to make our team.

Sincerely,

Reason

Comments

[raindogzilla]

I'm not ultimately questioning the decision, just the timing. If- and we can have the debate on whether they should have or not- but if you're gonna stick by the guy throughout his suspension, shouldn't you at least give that investment of time and money a chance to produce, at least at Georgetown? If he's not cutting it then, fine, sayonara but given the state of our defense the past two years and, like Carson said, that Odell's the most talented athlete to come through here, he should have at least got a shot at camp.

And, for the record, I'm not one of the ones whining about the selection of Thurman or Henry or even Jason Shirley- though I will admit to questions over picking up Purify but that's because I just don't think he's that talented. You shouldn't have to be Jimmy freaking Carter off the field- building Habitat houses and negotiating peace in the middle east- to play in the NFL. It's football, not diplomacy, not charm school. To paraphrase Sir Charles; They're not our damn role models and, if they are for your kids, that's your fault for not teaching them the difference between a hero and an athlete.

Sorry to rant but I'm just a little tired of what are essentially youthful shenanigans being categorized as thuggery- I'm talking here of the DUIs, the drunk and disorderlies, the getting kicked out of clubs, the failing piss tests for marijuana(and not the Tank Johnson/Pacman/Chris Henry/Rae Carruth real crime). They're kids, just out of college, with a buttload of money in their pockets. Christ, put a car service on retainer if you're the team. Make them turn in their car keys before heading out- it's got to be cooler to roll up to the club in a stretch than driving yourself.

So long as I can commit any of the above listed infractions and still keep my job- assuming that there isn't a pattern and jail time isn't required, then they should be able to as well. Alright, so they don't check urine at my job...

[Nick]

But he also has failed to show up to work out in Cincinnati since he got off suspension. He is not committed to helping the Cincinnati Bengals win football games. Odell's number one priority is making money for Odell Thurman.

[raindogzilla]

I think they should have let Odell at least go to camp. That way, if he's not in game shape and out of practice, it shows and he goes. Conversely, maybe he's been working out by himself and comes in like gangbusters. This decision will come back to haunt us.

[Michael Pellegrino]

Whether you think these guys should or should not get penalized for DUI's and smoking weed, the NFL suspends people for these actions. Nobody is saying they have to be Jimmy Carter. The NFL says they have to avoid violating the substance abuse policy numerous times or they will be suspended. It's not whether or not these crimes are an enormous deal (which they may or may not be). It's whether they can stay on the field by not being freaking idiots. Odell could not. Then he came back and he must have showed the same lack of dedication and commitment.

I do not understand how people can be forgiving of this guy after what he did to us in the 2006 season. He missed the entire season. We missed the playoffs by the narrowest of margins. It's not hard to see that his presence would've gotten us there. But his failed drug test (or missed drug test) and his DUI did not allow it. Whether or not you think those crimes were a big deal, that is what kept him off the field and kept us from back-to-back playoffs.

[raindogzilla]

Alright, last time I'll push it. Jared Allen was only suspended 4 games for repeat violations of league substance abuse policy. Tank Johnson got only 8 games for gun offenses resulting in 60 days in jail.

Odell should and would have been back on the field mid-2006- and presumably all of 2007(what a difference that would have made). So, while Odell obviously deserves some of the grief, Goodell went way overboard in punishing him, like he had something against him. Hell, Chris Henry's rap sheet warranted more of a suspension than Odell's.

If you want to heap all the blame for the last two seasons on one guy who was only partially responsible for being missing, you're more of an imperialist capitalist running dog than a revolutionary.

[Michael Pellegrino]

OK...there is some sort of compromise here. I'm not saying that the NFL didn't overreact with Odell's 2 year suspension. 2 years is extreme. Pacman Jones is on the verge of being re-instated...although that may get nixed because of his latest possible felony. Odell is clearly not in the same league as Pacman Jones.

But...he has gotten in trouble multiple times and seems to have shown a lack of dedication to do what he needs to do to return to the NFL. I (and I think many Bengals fans) hold a grudge for what happened in 2006. He ran afoul of the substance abuse policy twice, which leads to suspension. Suspension has killed this team in the form of Henry, Odell and even Jon Joseph for 2 games. For repeat offenders like Odell and Henry, if they are not showing the dedication we need them to after all of their past actions, to me, it's time to cut the ties.