Cincinnati releases Thurman

By Neal Coolong  |   Tuesday, May 20, 2008  |  Comments( 0 )

Cincinnati Bengals
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Just a month after he was reinstated from a two-year suspension by the NFL, Bengals LB Odell Thurman was released Monday, the team announced.

Thurman sat out the last two seasons after failing to submit to a drug test and a drunken driving arrest. He failed to meet the conditions of reinstatement, but commissioner Roger Goodell allowed him to return to the team April 21.

Thurman was excused from the team's voluntary workouts last week after his grandmother's funeral, but, according to The Associated Press, he stayed to attend to related matters and didn't return.

Commentary: For all the things the Bengals could have released Thurman for, missing voluntary workouts seems to be the most curious choice. This is mostly because it's against the NFL's collective bargaining agreement. While Thurman hasn't announced plans to file a grievance with the NFL Players' Association, perhaps a fresh start with another team would be the best thing for him.

Fantasy Impact: Thurman showed flashes of serious potential in his rookie season of 2005, but his absence from the Bengals' defense in 2008 is no different than it has been the past two seasons.
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About Neal Coolong

Neal Coolong is a freelance sports writer with contributions to Scout.com, AOL and Steelers Live. He lives with his fiance in St. Paul, Minn., and saves every dime (that she knows about) for their wedding next June. He's already made the prediction that the Steelers 2007 draft class will be one ...
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