Odell Thurman Denied NFL Reinstatement

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I'm so confused. This guy was suspended one year, he sat out last year, and now he can't play because Goodell won't let him back in?
The commish is getting a little crazy I think, this guy served his time, why not let him play again?

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2949872


NFL denies Thurman's request for reinstatement

By Len Pasquarelli
ESPN.com





Middle linebacker Odell Thurman has been denied reinstatement by the NFL and the Cincinnati Bengals' one-time starter will have his suspension continued at least through the 2007 campaign.

That means Thurman will miss a second straight season, putting his career in jeopardy.


NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, who met recently with Thurman, made the decision. The Bengals, who anticipated that Thurman would be cleared to return, made the announcement of Goodell's ruling on Thursday morning in a news release.



Thurman will be able to apply again for reinstatement after this season.

One of Thurman's representatives, Saf Lawson, had said repeatedly that his client was in compliance with the conditions of his one-year suspension, and that he expected to be back with the Bengals. Neither Thurman nor Lawson could be reached on Thursday morning for comment.


Thurman filed his reinstatement paperwork nearly a month ago, so that it would be in the NFL offices well in advance of his July 12 anniversary date.

Thurman, a Bengals' starter in 2005 when he led them in tackles as a rookie, was initially suspended for four games last July when he missed a scheduled drug screening. The sanction was subsequently increased to a year after Thurman was arrested on DUI charges Sept. 25.



Earlier this spring, Bengals coach Marvin Lewis indicated that Thurman would be welcomed back to the team, and would be able compete for a roster spot in training camp, if the league reinstated him.

"I have been in contact with Odell and he has an opportunity to be reinstated," Lewis said in mid-May, while appearing on a local radio show. "He will have had to ... (follow) the very strict NFL guidelines to get to that point and then, obviously, if reinstated, to go forward. And if that happens, he'll have an opportunity (to return)."



Lewis later backed away from that sentiment a bit and has not discussed Thurman's status in detail since then.



Last month, two men in Thurman's hometown of Monticello, Ga., filed complaints against Thurman, alleging that he hit and kicked them at a party. On the day the complaints were to be heard by a local magistrate, they were withdrawn. It is not known how that incident might have affected Goodell's decision to deny reinstatement.


Despite missing much of his rookie training camp because of a protracted contract impasse, the 24-year-old Thurman appeared in 15 games in 2005, all as a starter, and registered 148 tackles, one sack, five interceptions, nine passes defensed and four forced fumbles. The former University of Georgia star, a second-round draft pick in 2005, was a candidate for defensive rookie of the year honors.
 

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Last month, two men in Thurman's hometown of Monticello, Ga., filed complaints against Thurman, alleging that he hit and kicked them at a party. On the day the complaints were to be heard by a local magistrate, they were withdrawn. It is not known how that incident might have affected Goodell's decision to deny reinstatement.

This is probably the reason. But it sucks if all charges have been dropped. In a way I agree with Goodell, the amount of thuggery is getting out of control in the NFL. Fucking over 1 guy is better than getting a NBA-like reputation.
 

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I support his decision.

While it is harsh, i think it sends the right message. These guys have to learn that breaking the law will not be acceptable behavior like it was in the past.

After all of these suspensions i would bet some of these guys will realize that any kind of criminal behavior can and will cost them their career and millions.
 

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That is a bunch of shit. I haven't paid all that much attention to the suspensions and many of them were obvious (Henry, PacMan and Tank), but does Goodell generally give any reason for the suspensions?
 

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I support his decision.

While it is harsh, i think it sends the right message. These guys have to learn that breaking the law will not be acceptable behavior like it was in the past.

After all of these suspensions i would bet some of these guys will realize that any kind of criminal behavior can and will cost them their career and millions.

yup. if anything it sends a message to young guys coming in the league that no individual player is bigger than the league. just as quick as you can get paid...that money can be gone.
 

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I support his decision.

While it is harsh, i think it sends the right message. These guys have to learn that breaking the law will not be acceptable behavior like it was in the past.

After all of these suspensions i would bet some of these guys will realize that any kind of criminal behavior can and will cost them their career and millions.

That is all well and good, but the f*ing guy served his suspension. He missed a drug screening, 4 games, he gets a DUI, 12 more games. Punishment has been meted out and served. A withdrawn complaint is worth another season? Come on. christ, I think Go2Guy has taken over my computer, but this is b/s.
 

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He served a one year suspension. That was his sentence.
If Chris Henry serves his time without incidence, will he be allowed back in? This sets a precedent that Henry could be out another season.
Same with Tank and even Pacman (no chance he stays clean though)

NFL = Nazi Football League
 

WVU

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I agree that it is crap, but I think each suspension also involves a re-instatement clause which pretty much gives the league the right to disallow for any reason.
 

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That is all well and good, but the f*ing guy served his suspension. He missed a drug screening, 4 games, he gets a DUI, 12 more games. Punishment has been meted out and served. A withdrawn complaint is worth another season? Come on. christ, I think Go2Guy has taken over my computer, but this is b/s.

The fact that the charges are withdrawn only mean that he was able to pay these guys enough money to get the charges dropped. You think the commish cares if the charges were dropped or not? if it happened, it happened.
 

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The fact that the charges are withdrawn only mean that he was able to pay these guys enough money to get the charges dropped. You think the commish cares if the charges were dropped or not? if it happened, it happened.

that is one hell of an assumption to suspend a guy for a year.
 

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He served a one year suspension. That was his sentence.
If Chris Henry serves his time without incidence, will he be allowed back in? This sets a precedent that Henry could be out another season.
Same with Tank and even Pacman (no chance he stays clean though)

NFL = Nazi Football League

You know what would be even better? if these guys stopped breaking the law. That would ensure that they don't have to deal with this.

Guys like mcnabb, brady, peyton etc... they manage to live a nice life and never get arrrested. I think that is the lesson.
 

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You know what would be even better? if these guys stopped breaking the law. That would ensure that they don't have to deal with this.

Guys like mcnabb, brady, peyton etc... they manage to live a nice life and never get arrrested. I think that is the lesson.

He hasn't broken the law since his suspension.
According to you, anyone that breaks the law in the NFL should be kicked out.

The guy picked up a DUI, is that really such a severe crime that he should not be allowed to play football?

If so, see you later :
Chris Chambers
Steve McNair
Steve Foley
Koren Robinson
Brian Williams
BJ Sams
Khalif Barnes
Marcus Coleman
Antonio Bryant
Deltha O'Neal

These players should all be banned from playing in the NFL. Do it Roger.
 

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I'm amazed it's even legal for him to do it. If it was in Europe it would be going to the court for arbitration in sport or other legal avenues.
 

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I'm amazed it's even legal for him to do it. If it was in Europe it would be going to the court for arbitration in sport or other legal avenues.

it was collectively bargained with the players' union therefore permitted.
 

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He hasn't broken the law since his suspension.
According to you, anyone that breaks the law in the NFL should be kicked out.

The guy picked up a DUI, is that really such a severe crime that he should not be allowed to play football?

If so, see you later :
Chris Chambers
Steve McNair
Steve Foley
Koren Robinson
Brian Williams
BJ Sams
Khalif Barnes
Marcus Coleman
Antonio Bryant
Deltha O'Neal

These players should all be banned from playing in the NFL. Do it Roger.

IMO, it is even worse than that. He got a DUI AND ALREADY SERVED THE PUNISHMENT. Why is he being punished a second time? That is what I want answered. Is it simply b/c of the filing of the complaint? Is it the DUI?
 

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Then he should sue the union, or possibly the NFL claiming it's an unreasonable term in the contract.
 

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Then he should sue the union, or possibly the NFL claiming it's an unreasonable term in the contract.

guys are suspended all the time in Europe for failing drug tests, Rio was suspended for missing one for almost an entire season, both club and international. Mutu the same.
 

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some people are made an example of and he happens to be the one. This is good for the NFL IMO.

Whatever you let one do the others will see and replicate. 0 tolerance leads to respectable citizens. Look at America's court system and that tells the story.

Someone said Guillotine??
 

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