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The NFL made official on Friday what had been widely suspected — former Bengals linebacker Odell Thurman is suspended indefinitely.
And though the full extent of the exile isn’t known, it definitely means that he’ll miss the 2008 season.
John Clayton of ESPN reports that official notice of Thurman’s ineligibility has been sent to teams by the league office.
The specific reason for the banishment isn’t known. But it potentially means that Thurman will push the compelling (in our view) legal theory that the NFL has no legal right to dictate an employee’s off-duty use of alcohol.
Thurman filed an EEOC claim against the league last year, based (as we recall) on the argument that the NFL applies a different standard to actual or perceived alcoholics. The status of the prior EEOC claim is unknown, but it could be amended or a new one could be filed based on the most recent suspension.
June 6th, 2008 at 7:03 pm
Odell Thurman has had a lot of chances. It’s too bad he can’t get his act together.
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Rating: 5 / 5 with 1 rating(s)
June 6th, 2008 at 7:25 pm
Goodbye Odell!! I anticipate the next time we see him will be in the Octagon with Kimbo getting the “Goose” smacked out of him.
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Rating: 3 / 5 with 1 rating(s)
June 6th, 2008 at 7:38 pm
It’s very sad and dissapointing. I almost wish he never played here. Such a tease on the potential this guy had and he just couldn’t get it together.
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Rating: 4 / 5 with 1 rating(s)
June 6th, 2008 at 7:59 pm
See you in the CFL Odell…
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June 6th, 2008 at 9:42 pm
I think he got TOO many chances to me. You can forgive a guy so many times. He didn’t get something simple like, dont get arrested, act good, come to work, dont act like a ass in public, then he doesn’t deserve the previlage of being in the NFL.But he can still make money, Canada is always calling.
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June 6th, 2008 at 11:56 pm
Florio, there’s a difference between an alcoholic vs. a jackass who likes to party all the time and lacks any semblance of self control.
Odell’s an idiot. Odell, as a Bengals fan, I say don’t let the screen door hit you in the ass on your way out.
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Rating: 5 / 5 with 1 rating(s)
June 7th, 2008 at 6:07 am
Let’s see - you get 3 years suspension for drinking, but pacman gets one year for having someone shot, being arrested 9 times and pleading guilty to several crimes. Go figure. I guess it means that drinking in the NFL is a bigger crime than attempted murder.
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Rating: 5 / 5 with 3 rating(s)
June 7th, 2008 at 10:32 am
From the government’s FAQ on the ADA: “An alcoholic is a person with a disability and is protected by the ADA if he or she is qualified to perform the essential functions of the job. An employer may be required to provide an accommodation to an alcoholic. However, an employer can discipline, discharge or deny employment to an alcoholic whose use of alcohol adversely affects job performance or conduct. An employer also may prohibit the use of alcohol in the workplace and can require that employees not be under the influence of alcohol. ”
So the question here is “What constitutes ‘job performance or conduct?’” Is the NFL’s argument that, as public figures, NFL players are always on the clock? If so, that doesn’ explain why disciplinary action hasn’t been taken against Vince Young, Matt Leinart, Kyle Orton, or other players whose drunken party photos have circulated the internet in thepast few years.
From my non-lawyer perspective, it seems pretty clear that as long as Odell Thurman is physically and mentally capable of attending and taking part in all mandatory team functions, and is sober at all those functions, the NFL can’t deny him an opportunity for employment based on his off-the-job alcohol consumption.
Didn’t they run into this same issue with Dale Carter a few years back? I guess the only loophole (for the NFL) is if the CBA applies a stricter standard than the ADA. In that case Thurman’s lawyers could argue that the CBA is invalid because it takes away rights granted by federal law.
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June 7th, 2008 at 11:27 am
here’s an idea:
how bout we test to see if an alleged alcoholic who has just had a close family member pass away AND just lost his job has been drinking. And on top of that, he had been suspended for the past 2 years. No team would have taken a chance on him anyway, barring injury.
If Thurman does by chance prove that the NFL is unfair towards alcoholics, he might as well sue them for lost wages for the past 2 years and maybe even also perceived earnings, considering he was rookie of the year.
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June 7th, 2008 at 1:02 pm
My guess is that he missed a drug test while away for his grandmother’s funeral which prompt this suspension. His first hit in the substance abuse program allegedly (according to Thurman himself) was due to a missed drug test. His second (which led to the suspension itself) was due to a failed screening. Being away as long as he was, and being in the program already, he was subject to more frequent tests. I would assume those are at the minimum every few weeks. If it’s true, it’s a technicality, but he knows the rules. If he actually failed a screening, then it’s his own damn fault.
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June 7th, 2008 at 1:11 pm
Such a waste of talent. This is a friggin’ Greek tragedy. It actually makes me feel bad for Bengals fans, as much crap as they’ve had to deal with over the years.
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June 7th, 2008 at 2:58 pm
Cincinnati 2005 Draft Report:
1st round….David Pollack (retired: broken neck)
2nd round….Odell Thurman (banned: alcoholic)
3rd round….Chris Henry (banned: idiot)
For whatever you want to say about character issues (and don’t get on your soapboxes because every damn team in the league drafts people with talent in the hope it pays off) those are three incredibly productive talents that the team has had to replace.
Ray Lewis is the perfect example of it paying off….and that’s why people will continue to draft them.
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Rating: 5 / 5 with 1 rating(s)
June 9th, 2008 at 2:00 pm
tpower88 says:
“If Thurman does by chance prove that the NFL is unfair towards alcoholics, he might as well sue them for lost wages for the past 2 years and maybe even also perceived earnings, considering he was rookie of the year.”
Thurman did not win 2005 Rookie of the Year, although he played well enough to receive legitimate consideration.
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