Sources: Bengals' Thurman suspended for four games

**Batpuff** · 07-14-2006, 08:01 AM

The tumultuous offseason of the Cincinnati Bengals continued Thursday when two league sources and one source close to Odell Thurman confirmed that the starting middle linebacker has been suspended for four games for a violation of the NFL's substance abuse policy. [Image: http://espn.starwave.com/i/nfl/profiles/.../s7224.jpg]Thurman

The suspension for the first month of the campaign, which had been rumored for much of the offseason, might explain in part the Bengals' decision to select former University of Virginia linebacker Ahmad Brooks in Thursday afternoon's supplemental draft.

Cincinnati chose Brooks, who was dismissed from the Cavaliers squad by coach Al Groh for repeat violations of unspecified team rules, in the third round of the supplemental lottery. The Bengals will forfeit their third-round choice in the 2007 draft.

League and team officials, citing the confidentiality guidelines of the substance-abuse program, declined to comment Thursday on Thurman's status.

There is at least circumstantial evidence, however, to suggest that Cincinnati officials and coaches knew that Thurman faced a suspension. At the team's minicamp in June, the middle linebacker was excused for what coach Marvin Lewis termed "personal reasons." And it certainly appears the choice of Brooks, whose off-field problems have been well documented, was likely made to help compensate for Thurman's loss.

One of the NFL's top defensive rookies in 2005, Thurman played in all 16 games and started 15 of them, all but the season finale, when he was held out of the starting lineup for a violation of team rules. Thurman led the Cincinnati defense in tackles (148) and forced fumbles (four), and also registered 1 1/2 sacks, five interceptions and nine passes defensed.

But the former University of Georgia star, a second-round choice in the 2005 draft, joined the Bengals after a sometimes-problematic college career. Thurman, 24, was twice sanctioned by Georgia coaches and at one point was suspended from the team. As the 48th overall selection in the draft, Thurman signed a five-year, $3.76 million contract that included a signing bonus of $1.7 million. Because of the suspension, Thurman will forfeit $82,352 of his scheduled 2006 base salary of $350,000.

How the Bengals realign their linebacker corps to compensate for Thurman's absence remains to be seen. The most facile move would be to elevate backup Landon Johnson, who has started at middle linebacker in the past, to the starting lineup. But at the team's June minicamp from which Thurman was excused, the Bengals used veteran weakside starter Brian Simmons to the middle and Johnson played the weakside. Of course Brooks, whom Cincinnati linebackers coach Ricky Hunley said earlier Thursday was capable of playing any of the three linebackers spots, also could factor into the mix.

The suspension of Thurman is just the latest blow to a franchise criticized in the offseason for making draft decisions on prospects with past character issues. Second-year wide receiver Chris Henry, a third-round pick in 2005, has been arrested four times since December. Linebacker A.J. Nicholson, chosen in the fifth round of this year's draft, faces robbery charges in Florida. Both players could be subject to NFL sanctions under terms of the league's personal conduct policy.

**Playboy5** · 07-14-2006, 08:57 AM

BABY CAUSE IMA THUG!!!!! JUST LIKE THE ENTIRE BENGALS TEAM..! My oh my does it EVER stop in Cincy! And then they draft Brooks..This is getting HILARIOUS!!!!!

**15thRegionCrazy** · 07-14-2006, 09:35 AM

The Bengals are going to run out of players because of drugs... it's hard to believe anybody with a good life would do something so stupid

**alfus21** · 07-14-2006, 11:33 AM

The list keeps on getting longer, and I love it

**BFritz** · 07-14-2006, 06:53 PM

alfus21 Wrote:The list keeps on getting longer, and I love it

And it's destroying me

**BFritz** · 07-14-2006, 07:34 PM

Anyone know what substance it was?

corndog23 · 07-14-2006, 09:24 PM

not sure if it was a substance, or if he just missed a test. either way it is a violation of league policy

**BFritz** · 07-14-2006, 09:36 PM

corndog23 Wrote:not sure if it was a substance, or if he just missed a test. either way it is a violation of league policy

But it makes a huge difference in deciding how bad it is

**BelfryJustice** · 07-14-2006, 10:06 PM

PLAYBOY5 Wrote:BABY CAUSE IMA THUG!!!!! JUST LIKE THE ENTIRE BENGALS TEAM..! My oh my does it EVER stop in Cincy! And then they draft Brooks..This is getting HILARIOUS!!!!!

It amazes me how some people act as if this is the only team in the league with drug problems or other criminal behavior. Most of the Dallas players from the good old days have a history also. The problems have to do with the money and fame that is involved with the life in the NFL. Most young people would have some type of trouble with this type of change in their life at such a young age. The Bengals will be fine and make a great deal of pain for many this year with or without problem athletes.

:argue:

BurntTires · 07-14-2006, 10:38 PM

They will never learn.

FreakNasty · 07-15-2006, 01:31 AM

Marvin Lewis is going to create a team he cannot control, and it's going to ruin all the good krama they had.. I really think they struggle to win 8 games this year....

I think Chad Johnson is a time bomb waiting to explode too......

**BFritz** · 07-15-2006, 01:48 AM

FreakNasty Wrote:Marvin Lewis is going to create a team he cannot control, and it's going to ruin all the good krama they had.. I really think they struggle to win 8 games this year....

I think Chad Johnson is a time bomb waiting to explode too......

Come on, Freak, we're supposed to be boys. This could have been a steroid thing, or any number of minor things. Marvin handles his business and controls his team, he'll take care of it

**alfus21** · 07-15-2006, 02:01 AM

BelfryJustice Wrote:

It amazes me how some people act as if this is the only team in the league with drug problems or other criminal behavior. Most of the Dallas players from the good old days have a history also. The problems have to do with the money and fame that is involved with the life in the NFL. Most young people would have some type of trouble with this type of change in their life at such a young age. The Bengals will be fine and make a great deal of pain for many this year with or without problem athletes.

:argue:

No other team in the NFL has as many problems as the Bengals as far as "off the field issues" go, and even the guys on NFLive have said that. The Bengals are the new Dallas thugs, maybe even worse.

**crazytaxidriver** · 07-15-2006, 02:17 AM

doesn't matter what substance it is.. if it's illegal they should be in jail or sittin at the house..

ya know.. i just don't understand how these guys go through college cause most of the time you know their abuse don't start when they graduate.. and on top of that how do they make the grades to keep on playing..

stuff like that just pisses me off. i know the answers to those questions, but seriously someone should think this over..

FreakNasty · 07-15-2006, 02:43 AM

BFritz Wrote:Come on, Freak, we're supposed to be boys. This could have been a steroid thing, or any number of minor things. Marvin handles his business and controls his team, he'll take care of it

Adding Ahmad Brooks doesn't add to your Marvin argument....

Brooks probalby has a bigger book than Thurman, Rucker, Nicholson....

I dont like the Bengals, I dont hate the Bengals, but Lewis isn't helping himself adding these idiots....

**BelfryJustice** · 07-15-2006, 09:02 AM

alfus21 Wrote:No other team in the NFL has as many problems as the Bengals as far as "off the field issues" go, and even the guys on NFLive have said that. The Bengals are the new Dallas thugs, maybe even worse.

Baltimore has had many problems during the last few years like many others. I think a Williams guy smoked a little (ok a lot) of pot down in Miami. This type of behavior will continue in the NFL. Plus they took Vick this year, I guess they might win 2 games this year for that Smile

. It is no way isolated just to the Bengals. It appears that only the ones :moon: who don't care for the Bengals point out all of the negative. Chad Johnson has done nothing wrong but win games and upset many teams in the process yet everyone on the outside say that he is as bad as TO. I love how football fans are made up. Most love the teams that they love and hate all the other and use smoked glasses to undermine a team based on a few problems. Wake up, the Bengals will be fine this year. I do see a few players being removed from the team in the near future before the season starts. Henry will more than likely not be around. :Clap Big Grin

id the guy from NFLive also say who would win the Super Bowl this year? They are always right about everything.

corndog23 · 07-15-2006, 12:29 PM

BelfryJustice Wrote:Baltimore has had many problems during the last few years like many others. I think a Williams guy smoked a little (ok a lot) of pot down in Miami. This type of behavior will continue in the NFL. Plus they took Vick this year, I guess they might win 2 games this year for that. It is no way isolated just to the Bengals. It appears that only the ones :moon: who don't care for the Bengals point out all of the negative. Chad Johnson has done nothing wrong but win games and upset many teams in the process yet everyone on the outside say that he is as bad as TO. I love how football fans are made up. Most love the teams that they love and hate all the other and use smoked glasses to undermine a team based on a few problems. Wake up, the Bengals will be fine this year. I do see a few players being removed from the team in the near future before the season starts. Henry will more than likely not be around. :Clapid the guy from NFLive also say who would win the Super Bowl this year? They are always right about everything.

dude...looks like you need to take of your "smoke colored glasses" and come to the realization that the bungals are a bunch off thugs and drugs. much like the cowboys of the 90's, except the cowboys were a good football team. the bungals will not be a playoff team this year, because half of their starters will be suspended or in jail by seasons end!!

**BFritz** · 07-15-2006, 05:52 PM

He might have just missed a test, and you're all acting like he's a criminal before you know

**BelfryJustice** · 07-15-2006, 11:11 PM

corndog23 Wrote:dude...looks like you need to take of your "smoke colored glasses" and come to the realization that the bungals are a bunch off thugs and drugs. much like the cowboys of the 90's, except the cowboys were a good football team. the bungals will not be a playoff team this year, because half of their starters will be suspended or in jail by seasons end!!

So you say half the team? You just don't know much about the Bengals. Except that you dislike them. Who is your team DUDE?

:moon:

Don't take me wrong. I do know that they have a few problems but that is all. Henry needs to go and will if things don't work out in court. Anyone that says Chad is a problem is full of it in my opinion. He has done nothing wrong but have fun and play the game at 110%.

**BFritz** · 07-15-2006, 11:36 PM

BelfryJustice Wrote:So you say half the team? You just don't know much about the Bengals. Except that you dislike them. Who is your team DUDE?

:moon:

Don't take me wrong. I do know that they have a few problems but that is all. Henry needs to go and will if things don't work out in court. Anyone that says Chad is a problem is full of it in my opinion. He has done nothing wrong but have fun and play the game at 110%.

And he loves being in Cinci, he does his job and does what needs to be done.

The Bengals have had no problems before all these little outbursts since last season. People forget about all the other players on the team who have had no problems. The NFL's far from perfect, and every team has problems, usually many more problems than the Bengals have had and usually worse problems.

Face it, all of you people who are criticizing them just don't like them, otherwise, there would be a need for a new section of BGR called Problems in Professional Sports Teams.

**BelfryJustice** · 07-16-2006, 02:23 PM

BFritz Wrote:And he loves being in Cinci, he does his job and does what needs to be done.

The Bengals have had no problems before all these little outbursts since last season. People forget about all the other players on the team who have had no problems. The NFL's far from perfect, and every team has problems, usually many more problems than the Bengals have had and usually worse problems.

Face it, all of you people who are criticizing them just don't like them, otherwise, there would be a need for a new section of BGR called Problems in Professional Sports Teams.

You are so right!

:Clap: