Even before the Bengals held their first team meeting of the season, the NFL stunned them with Thursday's decision to lengthen Odell Thurman's suspension for another year, according to a Bengals press release. He may reapply for reinstatement after the 2007 season.
Thurman had been expecting to be reinstated in time for the start of training camp, which opens Thursday with the Bengals reporting in preparation for Friday's first practice. For the past month, Safarrah Lawson, one of Thurman's representatives, has been saying that Thurman met all the requirements of the league's substance abuse policy.
Lawson had no comment Thursday.
Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis has been insisting that he wasn't counting on Thurman and didn't list him on the team's first depth chart of the season. But there had been some hope that if he could come near his 2005 form that put him in the NFL Rookie of the Year mix that he would rejuvenate the defense.
The idea had been that they could put Thurman and his five interceptions and four forced fumbles at weak-side linebacker after moving him out of the middle in favor of Ahmad Brooks.
Now that spot clearly belongs to Landon Johnson and Ed Hartwell.
The NFL had yet to respond via phone or e-mail about any reasons commissioner Roger Goodell may have had for denying Thurman. P>During the spring, Thurman had been allegedly involved in an asault at a party in his hometown of Monticello, Ga., but police weren't called at the time and no charges were filed.
Four of the draft picks are headed here. According to agent Jeff Sperbeck on Thursday morning, fifth-round pick Jeff Rowe has agreed to a deal.
http://www.bengals.com/news/news.asp?story_id=6142
oh well.... beer anyone?