MVN - Most Valuable Network

Bengals Cut Odell Thurman For Missing Voluntary Workouts???

In a move more surprising by its timing than its reality, the Cincinnati Bengals released MLB Odell Thurman today.   Re-instated a month ago after a two year suspension, Thurman energized a Bengal faithful still enamored with his tremendous rookie season.   Early rumors say the Bengals cut Odell for not attending voluntary workouts shortly after his grandmother’s funeral.  ProFootballTalk.com even referenced a possible conversation in which the Bengals told him to be back the day after the funeral or he would be released.  Marvin Lewis’ vague response did little to quell the rumors:

“The NFL provided Odell the opportunity to earn his way back onto our team, but we have not seen the right steps taken by him, with our offseason work in progress and new talent added at our linebacker position, we’ve determined it’s best to keep moving in a direction that does not include Odell.”

Or maybe it does.   Sure the timing is bad but let’s remember Odell position on the roster was tenuous at best.  While being there with his family communication was key.   It is also about more than just the past week.  He was re-instated a month ago and cleared to workout at the team facilities before that.  How well did he respond during that time?  How was his attitude?  Had he displayed how important this second chance was to him?  In other words, prior to his grandmother’s death, was he working his tail off to earn back his spot?   Seeing how the team unceremoniously cut him, the answer to those questions is not likely a positive one.    If Thurman and his near minimum salary clears waivers (like Chris Henry before him) you will know whether or not other teams agree he is not worth the trouble despite his talent.

Bengal fans and the media who are surprised by the move have not been paying attention the past two years.  First of all, Odell was not playing the past two years for a reason.  A reason for which we will never fully know because of the confidentiality of the league’s substance abuse program.  But Marvin knows.   He knew Thurman had a long road back when he put Thurman in the dog house barely letting him play in the 4th quarter of pre-season games prior to his suspension his 2nd year.   Not once has Marvin said Thurman was going to re-gain his starting job and return to his dominating ways.  While he hoped he would, he was smart enough to know he could not count on it.  That is why the team drafted Ahmad Brooks two years ago.  It is also why Marvin let Thurman go at the first sign of trouble.   While the timing of this move sounds bad, I sincerely doubt Thurman’s departure was about missing a few voluntary workouts.

While there is some negative publicity for cutting Thurman shortly after his grandmother’s funeral and after missing some voluntary workouts, but it sure beats cutting him after he has been arrested again or fails another drug test.   Believe me if the team thought Thurman could be salvaged they would not have cut him.   

If the team wants to make a positive out of a negative they should pick up the phone and make amends with former Bengal linebacker Takeo Spikes.  A spot in the rotation would appear open for Spikes to return as a part-time player.  While he is no longer the Pro Bowl player he once was, Spikes would fill the team’s biggest need - an emotional locker room leader.  Despite the presence of a young group of linebackers, leadership on defense is in short supply.  Last time I checked Spikes was a good character guy as well.  Of course, Bengals.com has been quick to squelch this possibility.

By the way, while drafting Sedrick Ellis would have filled the team’s biggest defensive need, the consolation prize of LB Keith Rivers and DT Pat Sims is looking even better now.

This entry was posted on Monday, May 19th, 2008 at 6:11 pm and is filed under Odell Thurman, Bengal News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.