Odell Thurman is a smart, smart man. According to a story by SI.com, Thurman (who was released by the Bengals recently) has apparently violated the NFL’s substance abuse policy and will be suspended again.
As a second-round draft choice in 2005, Thurman led the Bengals with 148 tackles, four forced fumbles and five interceptions. He was suspended by the league for four games in July 2006 for violating the league’s substance abuse policy.
The suspension was extended for the rest of the year after Thurman was arrested Sept. 25 for drunk driving. He later admitted in court that he is an alcoholic.
Thurman applied for reinstatement before the 2007 season, but his appeal was denied. Commissioner Roger Goodell lifted the suspension April 21, 2008, but the Bengals waived him last month when he failed to show up for offseason workouts, citing the death of his grandmother.
If it wasn’t clear by the way no teams took a flyer on him after the Bengals cut him – he’s done. It never ceases to amaze me how a player can continuously find trouble, even knowing they’re running out of chances. I wonder if these guys seriously think that opportunities like playing in the NFL are given to everybody. And if you screw up, the opportunity will still be waiting for you. The NFL should suspend him indefinitely and call it a day.
