NFL reinstates suspended Bengals linebacker Odell Thurman

I Want Him To Come To The Miami Dolphins.

Hrrmm.. not sure I agree with this. It says his grandmother had raised him. This must have been extremely traumatic for the guy.
I think he will definitely get a chance elsewhere.

LET'S GET HIM BFORE THE PATSIES OR JETSHIT.PLEASE BP sign him he will fit the system ..... he has an unbeleivable potential

The death of any family member is tragic but companies normally only give you 3 days off for the death. Then they expect you to be back to work. What makes Odell any different than the rest of us. He chose to do what he did to get suspended from football. The Bengals gave him the chance to come back but he chose not to. If after the death of our family member if we didnot go back to work after the 3 days the company has the right to fire you.

frequent_flier wrote:

The death of any family member is tragic but companies normally only give you 3 days off for the death. Then they expect you to be back to work. What makes Odell any different than the rest of us. He chose to do what he did to get suspended from football. The Bengals gave him the chance to come back but he chose not to. If after the death of our family member if we didnot go back to work after the 3 days the company has the right to fire you.

That's not exactly true.

He was working out since January according to the article. There's never 'good timing' for a death in the family.

IMo - the BUNGLES were looking to dismiss the guy after the past 2 seasons of suspension (and he was JUSTIFIABLY suspended for that duration), they just simply didn't have the testicular fortitude to do it outright.

This was a chicken-s#!t move by the BUNGLES and Marvin Lweis.

A doper? Yup, miami is the place for him.

ri-damn-diculous wrote:

<quoted text>
That's not exactly true.
He was working out since January according to the article. There's never 'good timing' for a death in the family.
IMo - the BUNGLES were looking to dismiss the guy after the past 2 seasons of suspension (and he was JUSTIFIABLY suspended for that duration), they just simply didn't have the testicular fortitude to do it outright.
This was a chicken-s#!t move by the BUNGLES and Marvin Lweis.

He didnot show up for several mantory team functions. The Bengals gave him more than enough chances. He chose not to take them. He may have had a bright future but being on drugs is not a good way to start. Guess he is someone you want your children and grandchildren to look up to. About time the Bengals started cutting the drug users and the ones who love to see the inside of a jail cell.

We don't meed ampther guy whom is bigger than hs contractual agreements....Ricky as seemed to work his problems out, and that is why Purcells loves Williams. His work ethic and his WILLINGNESS TO HELP his teammates such as Ronnie Brown has often said. Ofcourse, we dont know the whole story. Yes he could fit into the Fins program..the Trifecta, probably know the whole story story and will act accordingly. IN THE TRIFECTA WE TRUST.

frequent_flier wrote:

<quoted text>
He didnot show up for several mantory team functions. The Bengals gave him more than enough chances. He chose not to take them.

LOL, NOT TRUE.

He missed "three voluntary on-field workouts." His grandmother had just died. People grieve in different ways. His grandmother helped (perhaps mostly) raise him.

Not giving him time to grieve over it is an absolute atrocity. And releasing him, citing his lack of participation during this time ("three voluntary on-field workouts"), is an obvious attempt at justifying a move the organization clearly WANTED TO MAKE and didn't have the testicular fortitude to make outright.

frequent_flier wrote:

<quoted text>He may have had a bright future but being on drugs is not a good way to start.

I would be the last one to defend any athlete who chooses to take drugs (whether he's using to enhance his performance or for recreation).

I think any athlete who CHOOSES to do so deserves all punishment given him.

See Ricky Williams, aka "Weedy".

But, Thurman's "drug use" has not been in the same league as Weedy's.

FROM THE ARTICLE:
"He was suspended for the first four games of the 2006 season after failing to show up for a drug test.

Commissioner Roger Goodell extended the suspension to a full season when Thurman was arrested for drunken driving; Goodell later extended Thurman's suspension through the 2007 season as well, setting conditions for his return."

Chris Henry, on the other hand, should never be allowed back into the league. I view him as no different than Weedy.

frequent_flier wrote:

<quoted text>Guess he is someone you want your children and grandchildren to look up to.

That's a pretty stupid assumption on your part. I wouldn't need my kids to "look up to" a pro athlete. Enjoy what they do, sure. But, idolize them and "look up to them," I think not.

Nice attempt at trying to spin the discussion on your part though.

frequent_flier wrote:

<quoted text>About time the Bengals started cutting the drug users and the ones who love to see the inside of a jail cell.

That's about the only thing you've said that actually makes sense. Too bad they don't have the testicles to do it outright, and would instead choose to do it like this. Again, a complete chicken-sh!# move.

Cautiously_Optimistic wrote:

<quoted text>
LOL, NOT TRUE.
He missed "three voluntary on-field workouts." His grandmother had just died. People grieve in different ways. His grandmother helped (perhaps mostly) raise him.
Not giving him time to grieve over it is an absolute atrocity. And releasing him, citing his lack of participation during this time ("three voluntary on-field workouts"), is an obvious attempt at justifying a move the organization clearly WANTED TO MAKE and didn't have the testicular fortitude to make outright.
<quoted text>
I would be the last one to defend any athlete who chooses to take drugs (whether he's using to enhance his performance or for recreation).
I think any athlete who CHOOSES to do so deserves all punishment given him.
See Ricky Williams, aka "Weedy".
But, Thurman's "drug use" has not been in the same league as Weedy's.
FROM THE ARTICLE:
"He was suspended for the first four games of the 2006 season after failing to show up for a drug test.
Commissioner Roger Goodell extended the suspension to a full season when Thurman was arrested for drunken driving; Goodell later extended Thurman's suspension through the 2007 season as well, setting conditions for his return."
Chris Henry, on the other hand, should never be allowed back into the league. I view him as no different than Weedy.
<quoted text>
That's a pretty stupid assumption on your part. I wouldn't need my kids to "look up to" a pro athlete. Enjoy what they do, sure. But, idolize them and "look up to them," I think not.
Nice attempt at trying to spin the discussion on your part though.
<quoted text>
That's about the only thing you've said that actually makes sense. Too bad they don't have the testicles to do it outright, and would instead choose to do it like this. Again, a complete chicken-sh!# move.

I guess then my company should have let me have more then 3 days off to mourn my sister's death. She died at a young age from cancer. I don't feel bad for this pro football players who think they are above everybody else. Because if the average middle class person stopped going to the game there will be no more football. Then these over paid men would be just the same as the rest of us.
Paul Brown is in charge of who gets fired. The Bengals should have cleaned house along time ago. The Bengals gave him all the chance anyone should be given. So cutting him was the best for the team since he chose not to come to team meeting.

frequent_flier wrote:

<quoted text>
I guess then my company should have let me have more then 3 days off to mourn my sister's death. She died at a young age from cancer.

And my company only granted me 3 days when my Grandmother passed away 11 days before Christmas (I practically grew up at her house prior to the age of 15).

My little cousin (19) was just killed in a car accident. I got Thursday off to be at the hospital with the rest of my family. I'm getting Tuesday off for the Funeral.

So what?

You and I are not the subject, Odell Thurman is. Again, he missed "3 (THREE) VOLUNTARY workouts" while grieving over his grandmother's (who raised him) passing.

frequent_flier wrote:

<quoted text>I don't feel bad for this pro football players who think they are above everybody else.

I would hardly consider Odell Thurman missing "3 (THREE) VOLUNTARY workouts" to be with his family after his grandmother died, an indicator of him believing he's "better than everybody else".

frequent_flier wrote:

<quoted text>Because if the average middle class person stopped going to the game there will be no more football. Then these over paid men would be just the same as the rest of us.

Ahhhhhhh. Now it's starting to make a bit more sense. You appear to be identifying a little more with these players than perhaps you should. Or, should I say, taking it a bit more personally than you should.

I'll say this, for the time I take off to e with my family during times such as this, for anybody who doesn't like ... they know what they can do.

frequent_flier wrote:

<quoted text>Paul Brown is in charge of who gets fired. The Bengals should have cleaned house along time ago.

And getting back to the original point ... he's a chicken-sh!#, his organization is chicken-sh!#, and his coach is chicken-sh!# b/c between them all, they committed a chicken-sh!# move in their handling of the Thurman issue.

Thurman was given clearance to return to the BUNGLES back in January to work out and then fully cleared to return a week before the draft. Thurman had been working out at the team's facility and doing what he was supposed to do since - except of course - missing the "3 (THREE) VOLUNTARY workouts" to be with his family after the death of his grandmother.

FACE IT - the BUNGLES used this as an opportunity to do something that, for whatever reason, they simply did not have the guts to do 4 months ago.

frequent_flier wrote:

<quoted text>The Bengals gave him all the chance anyone should be given.

Hmmmm. Well, I can't honestly say that I disagree with that. B/c like Chris Henry and so many others ... I don't believe that Ricky Williams should be allowed back into the NFL anymore. I mean, he's failed what, 5 drug tests now? "Retired" once since failing his 3rd test just to avoid suspension. Been suspended twice since "un-retiring". SO, I definitely see (and agree with) your argument.

However, Weedy got back in. Thurman IS back in.

frequent_flier wrote:

<quoted text>So cutting him was the best for the team since he chose not to come to team meeting.

Correction. It was not a "team meeting". It was "3 (THREE) voluntary workouts". And IMO, if it was done out of the best interests of the team, then the BUNGLES should have simply just said that. They didn't.

If it was 'in the best interest of the team,' why not cut him back in January when the commish allowed him to return to the Team's facility to work out? They based their decision on the fact that he missed those workouts - according to their own statement anyhow.

OTA> what does that mean?(Organized Team Activities) In which players are expected to show up! Not to mention that his grandmother passed away 2 weeks before the first OTA. Thurman was (IMO) given way more chances that he deserved. If i was him i would have been on my knee's kissing everyones a** everyday at the OTA's!!!!!!!!!

RAMBO wrote:

OTA> what does that mean?(Organized Team Activities) In which players are expected to show up! Not to mention that his grandmother passed away 2 weeks before the first OTA. Thurman was (IMO) given way more chances that he deserved. If i was him i would have been on my knee's kissing everyones a** everyday at the OTA's!!!!!!!!!

I totally agree with you. Maybe if the Bengals clean out their locker rooms of those who dont follow teams rules. They might start having a Super Bowl team. The Bengals have given all their players to many chances. They have been the laughing stock of the NFL for all the players who have spend time in jail,who have been caught with illegal drugs and the list goes on.

Odell stayed in trouble through high school and on into college...then into the NFL. He's been given chance after chance and blamed it on family issues too many times. He's a talented young man who has a lot of growing up to do. But he keeps making the same mistakes over and over and over. He's let a lot of folks down in our community.
Maybe one day he'll be humbled enough and grow up. With some of the foolish things that he's done, he's lucky to still be alive or not in prison. God bless him and I pray that he finds serenity and sobriety before it's too late.