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Linebacker Odell Thurman believes that he has been released by the Bengals because he missed voluntary workouts following the death of his grandmother.
In a press release announcing the move, Bengals coach Marvin Lewis did not refute the allegation.
“The NFL provided Odell the opportunity to earn his way back onto our team, but we have not seen the right steps taken by him,” Lewis said. “With our offseason work in progress and new talent added at our linebacker position, we’ve determined it’s best to keep moving in a direction that does not include Odell.”
So what “right steps” needed to be taken? If it’s anything other than attending all voluntary workouts, the Bengals have violated the CBA. The only remaining question is whether Thurman will pursue a grievance.
The better move, given Thurman’s history, might be to try to land elsewhere and move forward.
May 19th, 2008 at 11:30 am
I don’t understand this. Could it be that attending voluntary OTAs was part of his deal with the Bengals after his reinstatement or something?
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Rating: 3 / 5 with 2 rating(s)
May 19th, 2008 at 11:30 am
For those of you keeping track at home: DUI’s are okay with the Bengals, attending funerals and missing voluntary practices are not. Got that?
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Rating: 4 / 5 with 12 rating(s)
May 19th, 2008 at 11:44 am
I had hoped PFT was wrong on this one. Kudos to y’all for being on top of this. My best guess is one of Mike Brown’s G-men followed Thurman around and didn’t like what he was seeing at the after party.
Welcome back to the MIKE, Ahmad Brooks.
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Rating: 3.65 / 5 with 3 rating(s)
May 19th, 2008 at 12:02 pm
Thank you for telling the whole story, Florio. ESPN just threw something up that didn’t include the details about the Grandmother’s funeral. What a bunch of garbage. You’d think they’d jump at the opportunity to exploit the situation, like they normally do.
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Rating: 4 / 5 with 4 rating(s)
May 19th, 2008 at 12:07 pm
An unfortunate turn of events. Thurman is a beast and would be an asset to a defense in desperate need of some assets. That said, he seems to have a long history of being unreliable/not showing up when he says he will. If he told the team/media he would be here last week and didn’t show up (which he did) — regardless of whether he planned on participating in OTAs — he went back on his word again and I could maybe see the team’s justification for taking this action.
But this does seem like a pretty cold move for Mike Brown. Say what you want about the man but he is extremely loyal. Why else would the team have stuck by Thurman this long? It just doesn’t add up.
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Rating: 4.65 / 5 with 6 rating(s)
May 19th, 2008 at 12:07 pm
Thurman’s agent was just on the radio and he said that Odell will *not* be filing a grievance.
It blows my mind how the Bengals can give Chris Henry chance after chance after chance, and they cut Thurman for going to a funeral.
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Rating: 3.5 / 5 with 8 rating(s)
May 19th, 2008 at 12:13 pm
The Cincinnati Bengals are by far and away the biggest disgrace in the NFL. Top to bottom and out on the field it’s just a joke. Al Davis thinks these guys need to be sold.
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Rating: 3 / 5 with 4 rating(s)
May 19th, 2008 at 12:13 pm
4 posts on Odell? How many flushes does it take for this one to go down?
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Rating: 2.9 / 5 with 8 rating(s)
May 19th, 2008 at 12:15 pm
My guess is there is more to this story than is being said if hs agent claims ther will not be a grievance filed. Maybe being back in Cincinnati required him to pee in a cup, which he did not want to do after just visiting Georgia. I agree, Mike Brown is very loyal, so there must be more to the story.
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Rating: 5 / 5 with 6 rating(s)
May 19th, 2008 at 12:16 pm
What number will Thurman wear for the Patriots this year?
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Rating: 2.75 / 5 with 4 rating(s)
May 19th, 2008 at 12:19 pm
Doesn’t seem to be a rhyme or reason for the way the Bengals operate. Unless by Lewis saying “…we have not seen the right steps taken by him” he means “Odell was busted for another DUI that hasn’t been reported yet”, this seems kind of cold on their part.
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Rating: 3.65 / 5 with 3 rating(s)
May 19th, 2008 at 12:28 pm
If they let him go becasue his missed a OTA for a funeral. The Bengals need to be put up on charges. I don’t care if he made a billion mistakes. Family comes before anything.
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Rating: 2.35 / 5 with 3 rating(s)
May 19th, 2008 at 12:32 pm
So basically had he missed the workouts because he was doing a home invasion, they wouldn’t have cared and probably have given him a new contract.
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Rating: 1.8 / 5 with 5 rating(s)
May 19th, 2008 at 12:36 pm
Got to wonder if the time he was spending with family was too often spent in bars…
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Rating: 4 / 5 with 4 rating(s)
May 19th, 2008 at 12:42 pm
How is anyone so stupid to believe the PFT’s story that the Bengals cut Thurman because he attended his Grandmother’s funeral instead of OTAs?
Dont you think that it is much more likely that there is more to the story than that?
Also the headline “Bengals Don’t Deny Allegations Regarding Thurman” is incredibly misleading. The Bengals werent addressing the allegations from PFT in their statement, so to spin their statement as a quasi-admission is a very big stretch.
All Marvin said was that Thurman has not taken “the right steps.” In what world can that statement be read as an admission that Thurman was cut because he wanted to go to his Grandma’s funeral?
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Rating: 4 / 5 with 6 rating(s)
May 19th, 2008 at 12:46 pm
The last thing odell needs to be doing is missing out on OTAs. He was already in the dog house because he has been suspended for the past two years. This would be crazy if he were a 5 year starter but he has been suspended. Who knows what is up with thurman. He could still be on drugs. The only one that knows the true details is Mike, Marvin and Odell. I think this is a good move for the Bengals especially with keith rivers coming in
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Rating: 3 / 5 with 2 rating(s)
May 19th, 2008 at 12:46 pm
It’s Belichick’s fault…..don’t you know that?? He secretly taped Odell not working out and forwarded the tapes to the Bengals. Damn that Belichick…he did it again !!!
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Rating: 1.65 / 5 with 6 rating(s)
May 19th, 2008 at 12:47 pm
What are the chances that Thurman missed a mandatory drug test scheduled during the OTA’s? Maybe he fell off the wagon after the funeral….who knows??? The one thing we do know is that the Bengals stood by him for 2 years when they could have cut him at any time, so this does not add up as presented….something else is going on.
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Rating: 5 / 5 with 4 rating(s)
May 19th, 2008 at 12:51 pm
Florio..
Like many other readers I am also shocked by this move. I thought the team stuck by Odell through the rough times and was hoping he’d get it together. Apparently not. I think there is more to this story.
That being said, do you think this opens up the door for Takeo Spikes to sign with Cincinnati? Rumor a few months ago had Takeo interested in going back. I don’t recall seeing where he has signed anywhere. I know they have also told A. Brooks that he’s not playing middle linebacker. Will the next #51 in Cincinnati be Takeo again?
Your thoughts?
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Rating: 2 / 5 with 2 rating(s)
May 19th, 2008 at 1:02 pm
Maybe it is becausle he was pulled over by Hamilton County sherriff deputies about a month ago in colrain twsp with a bunch of thugs and smoke pouring out of the windows.!!!! He is a bad apple and it was only a matter of time before it caught up with him again. Time to move forward
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Rating: 3 / 5 with 4 rating(s)
May 19th, 2008 at 1:04 pm
Better believe this has Chad Johnson’s gears turning.
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Rating: 3.75 / 5 with 4 rating(s)
May 19th, 2008 at 1:08 pm
What is going to be the biggest suprise story that ESPN is going to break this year?
A:The Discovery of a real easter bunny
B:A socially responsible Cincinatti Bangle
C:The lost Matt Walsh Rams Superbowl walkthrough tape
D:Lockness monster is finally caught
ha ha.. Trick question, none of these exist….
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Rating: 3 / 5 with 6 rating(s)
May 19th, 2008 at 1:08 pm
After missing basically two years due to suspension, it was clear that Thurman wore out his welcome in Cincy. It is pretty clear that the Bengals were looking for an excuse to dump him.
That said, they should have waited for a better reason than missing voluntary OTAs due to a death in the family. There could have been 100 reasons they could have cut him and they chose the one that makes them look like heartless bastards. Good job!
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Rating: 2 / 5 with 2 rating(s)
May 19th, 2008 at 1:11 pm
If Odell has actually “cleaned up” …..then he is better off leaving leaving that turd infested city for a fresh start elsewhere.
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Rating: 2.35 / 5 with 3 rating(s)
May 19th, 2008 at 1:19 pm
Umm, has everyone been following this turd’s career? This is not a one strike and you’re out situation. The fool has just been reinstated to the league, he should be walking on eggshells.
You skipped out on your obligations and millions for what? It’s your GRANDMOTHER, DUDE!!! Even the FMLA doesn’t give us working schmucks time off for dead grandparents!!!
Synopsis of Law
—————-
Covered employers must grant an eligible employee up to a total of 12 workweeks of unpaid leave during any 12-month period for one or more of the following reasons:
* for the birth and care of the newborn child of the employee;
* for placement with the employee of a son or daughter for adoption or foster care;
* to care for an immediate family member (spouse, child, or parent) with a serious health condition; or
* to take medical leave when the employee is unable to work because of a serious health condition.
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Rating: 3 / 5 with 6 rating(s)