Bengals' Odell Thurman Reinstated After Two-Year Absence

By the grace of Emperor Goodell today, the NFL reinstated Cincinnati Bengals LB Odell Thurman after a two-year ban from the league after he’d violated various rules. 

He last violated the substance abuse policy which was actually his second strike against him.  Then, last year much to the chagrin of all Bengals fans, he didn’t get the OK because apparently he either missed a drug test, got dinged again for something, or somehow messed things up.

Thurman is a talented beast and when the Bengals had him running wild and finally in the full know of his responsibilities on defense back in 2005, he ran amuck. 

He was at the center of the Bengals ball-hawking defense that forced tons of turnovers and helped the team on its way to a division title.

However, he was part of the wave of idiocy that has infested the Bengals. 

Case in point, he was/is friends with Chris Henry and was driving the night that Henry, Reggie McNeal,  and he were all busted for being drunk behind the wheel, leading to his suspension.

By all accounts and the handful of times that I’ve heard him speak, he doesn’t seem all that bright either.  He’s football bright, nasty, quick, and feisty, though. 

In many respects, he reminds you of a poor man’s Takeo Spikes back when that No. 51 was an All-Pro for the Bengals. 

Though he’s perhaps not the sharpest spoon in the woodshed, he is almost as good as getting a nice draft pick again or a free agent entry to the roster this year.

He should be fresh after having nothing but time to work out and be hungry for another shot at playing.  Whether or not he can regain the form that had him a potential Rookie of the Year candidate is another story, but it does add some need. 

Most of all, depth as the LB corps has been ravaged the last few years. 

Thurman is good against the run, can play pass coverage and has a knack for the ball.  Oh, and he got to the QB too, something the Bengals desperately need.

The honest question has to be asked, though, as Thurman gets no quarter any more: How long until he screws it up and is banned once again from the league? 

Upon hearing the news today that he was given a green light to rejoin the Bengals, I wondered aloud at when the news comes this summer telling us that he’s been arrested on some charge relating to drinking, violence, traffic incident, sexual assault, battery, stealing a man hole cover, or violating a clown. 

You name it, the Bengals can violate it or the law protecting it.

Look, I like Thurman. He’s a beast and if he can return to form, he should help out the woeful Bengals defense. 

However, until he goes four or five seasons into the league and is mentioned as the NFL Man of the Year and hasn’t been arrested, suspected, or implicated in any crime or violation of his NFL parole, you have to wonder such things. 

Yet, if he can somehow manage to keep his nose clean, I hope he can come back with a vengence and terrorize the league. 

Days without Odell being suspended: One.

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