Odell Thurman denied reinstatement

[bucksfan2]

Originally Posted by hebroncougar

Wasn't Odell with his teammates when he commited his past transgressions? Maybe Goodell feels he's doing Odell a favor. I recently read there was a problem this summer with an all night party, guns, and Odell threatening someone? And how do we all know Odell's done everything the commish asked him to do?

Yea and Henry also beat up some kids over the summer as well. This is speculation and was never followed through. Here is the thing with Odell. The NFL is a 24 hour a day buisness right now. If Odell feels that he complied with everything laid out he can take this to the court of public opinion, mainly the media. I will say this Goodell is running the league with an iron fist. It is all good until he takes that too far. The second he starts taking things to the next level and becoming unfair is the second he loses support. With the support of the union Goodell can do basically what he wants. When he loses support he will have a very difficult time with the union.

[acredsfan]

Originally Posted by hebroncougar

Wasn't Odell with his teammates when he commited his past transgressions? Maybe Goodell feels he's doing Odell a favor. I recently read there was a problem this summer with an all night party, guns, and Odell threatening someone? And how do we all know Odell's done everything the commish asked him to do?

Not all Bengals players are bad role models, he just needs to make better choices about who he is around. It amazes me that in America you are innocent until proven guilty, but in the NFL you are guilty no matter what. Speculation is that the people making the accusations were just doing it to get money and publicity.. whether that is true or not remains to be seen, but formal charges were never filed and the complaint was reported the day after the alleged incident happened... shady at best.

[hebroncougar]

Originally Posted by acredsfan

Not all Bengals players are bad role models, he just needs to make better choices about who he is around. It amazes me that in America you are innocent until proven guilty, but in the NFL you are guilty no matter what. Speculation is that the people making the accusations were just doing it to get money and publicity.. whether that is true or not remains to be seen, but formal charges were never filed and the complaint was reported the day after the alleged incident happened... shady at best.

You know what's amazing to me?? I teach high school for about 1/20th of what Odell made, and if I get a DUI, or some of the other ignorant stuff these guys do, I lose my job and my teaching license for life. No ifs, or buts about it. I don't have to be convicted, it's called a moral and good conduct clause. and evidently the NFL Commish is enforcing it. Cry me a river for these morons that throw their careers away for something freaking stupid that could all have been avoided (in Thurman's case), by being smart enough to take a $50 cab ride.

[Chip R]

Originally Posted by hebroncougar

You know what's amazing to me?? I teach high school for about 1/20th of what Odell made, and if I get a DUI, or some of the other ignorant stuff these guys do, I lose my job and my teaching license for life. No ifs, or buts about it. I don't have to be convicted, it's called a moral and good conduct clause. and evidently the NFL Commish is enforcing it. Cry me a river for these morons that throw their careers away for something freaking stupid that could all have been avoided (in Thurman's case), by being smart enough to take a $50 cab ride.

That's a great point.

However, I've been concerned that the NFL is becoming almost McCarthyistic (if that's even a word) in dealing with these players. It seems that now all you need are allegations and a player can be suspended. It can get to be a slipery slope. For example, Steeler Fan could bait Carson Palmer into an altercation and even if charges were dropped or there were no charges filed at all, the NFL would have to take disciplinary action against Palmer. Now I know Carson's as clean as they come so he probably wouldn't be suspended but that's beside the point.

[hebroncougar]

Originally Posted by Chip R

That's a great point.

However, I've been concerned that the NFL is becoming almost McCarthyistic (if that's even a word) in dealing with these players. It seems that now all you need are allegations and a player can be suspended. It can get to be a slipery slope. For example, Steeler Fan could bait Carson Palmer into an altercation and even if charges were dropped or there were no charges filed at all, the NFL would have to take disciplinary action against Palmer. Now I know Carson's as clean as they come so he probably wouldn't be suspended but that's beside the point.

Here's a statment I found on another site regarding Thurman:

The basic reality is that Thurman had been previously banished under the league's substance abuse policy. Banishment is the final step after multiple positive urine tests and/or other activities that violate the policy.

In order to be reinstated after a minimum banishment of one-year, the player must be in full compliance with all aspects of his treatment plan, and he likewise must submit to and pass any and all random urine tests imposed upon him. Even if the player complies with the treatment plan and passes all tests, reinstatement is not automatic.

Thurman was banned from the league, with the ability to apply for reinstatement after one year. I think that reads a lot different that what 99.5% of Bengal fans, including myself thought. But IMO, Thurman made his bed, now he's got to sleep in it. He's at the mercy of the commish, and this commish is trying to make bold statements about a league whose players have been way, way out of control in the past, and he's not going to put up with any of this kind of garbage right now, and quite frankly, I don't blame him. Someone has finally woken up and has seen that athletes are role models that kids and others look up to, and is holding them to the standards that many of us "commonfolk" live our lives by. Thurman pushed the envelope of the league rules, and they are pushing him back, playing hardball with him.

[Chip R]

Just remember, you can't spell Goodell without Odell.

[UKFlounder]

Originally Posted by Chip R

That's a great point.

However, I've been concerned that the NFL is becoming almost McCarthyistic (if that's even a word) in dealing with these players. It seems that now all you need are allegations and a player can be suspended. It can get to be a slipery slope. For example, Steeler Fan could bait Carson Palmer into an altercation and even if charges were dropped or there were no charges filed at all, the NFL would have to take disciplinary action against Palmer. Now I know Carson's as clean as they come so he probably wouldn't be suspended but that's beside the point.

Or Steeler player (now former) could join with his posse to attack a Bengal player in a casino, steal his jewelry (which was anonymously returned) and only be fined a couple game checks, but allowed to play.

[deltachi8]

Originally Posted by hebroncougar

Thurman was banned from the league, with the ability to apply for reinstatement after one year.

I think Reds fans can grasp that one well.

[savafan]

Originally Posted by hebroncougar

You know what's amazing to me?? I teach high school for about 1/20th of what Odell made, and if I get a DUI, or some of the other ignorant stuff these guys do, I lose my job and my teaching license for life. No ifs, or buts about it. I don't have to be convicted, it's called a moral and good conduct clause. and evidently the NFL Commish is enforcing it. Cry me a river for these morons that throw their careers away for something freaking stupid that could all have been avoided (in Thurman's case), by being smart enough to take a $50 cab ride.

I'm in the same boat HC...I can't even get a speeding ticket, because I transport clients...

[Reds Fanatic]

Odell never learns he is in trouble again for violating probation.

http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.d...PT02/308010038

Suspended Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Odell Thurman violated his Hamilton County probation and must show up in court to explain why.

Thurman, who was suspended all of last season and for all of the 2007 season by the NFL, was supposed to report to his Hamilton County probation officer July 24.

When he didn’t, Probation Officers Liz Albert and Bob Lutkenhoff filed a criminal complaint against him for not reporting.

They also said Thurman still owes $574 in fees, fines and costs due the probation department.


Thurman’s Cincinnati attorney, Ed Perry, didn’t return calls today.

The probation was set by Municipal Court Judge John Burlew after Thurman, 23, was arrested and charged with drunk driving.

Initially, Burlew sentenced the linebacker from the University of Georgia to 90 days in jail but reduced that to a six-day, in-treatment program after Thurman admitted he was an alcoholic and spent several months this year in rehab.

Burlew also suspended the player’s driver’s license and placed him on probation.

Court records note Thurman was on probation less than two months before he was accused of violating it.

Thurman, whose NFL career could be ended by this probation violation, must report Aug. 21 to Burlew to address the violation.

[Danny Serafini]

I give up. I thought the guy was turning things around, but he just doesn't get it.

[RedFanAlways1966]

Suspended Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Odell Thurman violated his Hamilton County probation and must show up in court to explain why.

Have to wonder if Goodell knew about this. Does violating probabtion follow the guidelines set up for him by the NFL? Not hard to wonder why this chump cannot get back on the field.... and I am a Bengals fan who thinks the team needs his football abilities.

Stupid is, stupid does. And Odell seems to be pretty stupid.

[Chip R]

Originally Posted by RedFanAlways1966

Have to wonder if Goodell knew about this. Does violating probabtion follow the guidelines set up for him by the NFL? Not hard to wonder why this chump cannot get back on the field.... and I am a Bengals fan who thinks the team needs his football abilities.

Stupid is, stupid does. And Odell seems to be pretty stupid.

Looks like it happened a couple of days before Goddell ruled on this. You can't say for sure that he knew but it's quite possible that this was the reason Odell was not reinstated.

[camisadelgolf]

Shame on Thurman, his lawyer, etc. for trying to spin it like Thurman has been completely compliant and innocent over the past year.