Odell Thurman??
 

The Bengals released Odell Thurman Monday, after serving a two-year suspension. Thurman had not reported to OTAs in recent weeks because of an ailing grandmother in Georgia who passed away last week. He led the team in tackles as a rookie in '05, and is only scheduled to make about 500K this year...the other important thing is that Thurman is almost guaranteed to be cleared to play by the NFL this season--he's had no recent character "issues" per the NFL. So what do y'all think??? Should we take a flyer on him, we've got the cap room...

Re: Odell Thurman??
 

no

Re: Odell Thurman??
 

LOL you gotta be kidding me.
Sure let him do a tryout.

Re: Odell Thurman??
 

You can close this thread now. All that needs to be said has been said.

SFIAH

Re: Odell Thurman??
 

I would bring him in for a physical and a workout. He did some stupid stuff an has been suspended for a long time. The question is has he learned anything from it. If the suspension has caused him to mature he might be a good contributor to any team.

Re: Odell Thurman??
 

The question is right Did You Learn Anything ODELL. If you did we loved to have you. But if you didn't, you don't have to go home but you can stay here.

Re: Odell Thurman??
 

i may be in the minority here, but if he wants to sign for the minimum with incentives being a part of the contract, id be all for giving him a shot. im not sold on our LBers and their injuries.

Re: Odell Thurman??
 

im with u dude....second chances are hard to come by and it wouldnt hurt to have him in our LB unit....what could go wrong...if he gets arrested again...we release him and he will be out of our hair....especially if all he wants is the minimum

Re: Odell Thurman??
 

Let him try out. You play you get paid contract. Do not forget we are talking about a SLB here.

Re: Odell Thurman??
 

we could use the extra LB help now with morgans retirement....theres always room for another good player...even if he has had trouble in the past

Re: Odell Thurman??
 

Correction he has player mainly at MLB. He spent some time at both SLB and WLB at times in cinnci due to injuries. But 148 tackles in a season is nothing to over look. But the french Qrt. right there?????????talk about tempting the devil.

Re: Odell Thurman??
 

NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! get Will Smiths contract done before this year. If Ellis does what he should, our DE's will have monster years and Smiths price will go through the roof.

Re: Odell Thurman??
 

I say give him a shot. Morgan is gone and besides I dont want to see Simoneau or Shanle anywhere in the starting lineup. With the Morgan retirement our LB Corps went from decent to suspect again. Vilma cant do it all. We need another beast in there somewhere. Maybe not Thurman, but LB has all of a sudden become an issue again

Re: Odell Thurman??
 

Bring him in for evaluation... what do you have to lose? When Thurman is on the field, he's an impact player. Maybe a change of scenery is just what he needs. If Albert Haynesworth was cut tomorrow in a bar fight, would anyone really object us bringing him here for a workout? I don't think so. Let's not be so hypocritical... we're all humans.

Re: Odell Thurman??
 

Yeah... give him a whiz-a-nator along with the contract. Thats the only way.

Re: Odell Thurman??
 

for the right price, we could use another playmaker on d! Just know you only get one second chance!

Re: Odell Thurman??
 

at the very least its business for bourbon street!

Re: Odell Thurman??
 

If it's true that he hasn't had any issues recently, I say maybe he is just a kid that needed to grow up. Cincinnati may have done him wrong by releasing him because he didn't show up for mini camp. Well, dudes grandma did die. Kind of a crappy excuse to release him, but I do see the Bengals side that enough is enough. I say take a chance on this guy. He could be a model citizen from here on out. If he is not then send him to the waiver wire immediately. I agree that a minimum salary with incentives would be the way to go. I really do not like the idea of the Saints getting crappy character guys on their team, but maybe this one is worth a chance. At least the only issue with this guy is he likes to get drunk and high. A lot of young people grow out of that.

Re: Odell Thurman??
 

high character guys got us a record of 7-9 last year. taking a chance or a guy or two with some issues wont hurt anything.

Re: Odell Thurman??
 

Didn't we just draft high character types Nicks, Arrington, and Pressley?!?

On Morgan's retirement, I think it's a good thing for him personally; seeing guys with post traumatic syndrome (Ali comes to mind) is just a horrible thing...

But as much as I like the effort the LB's have given the last few years, we need improvement at all positions...

By the way, if Will Smith is all that, why should we pay him for improved stats this year when his stats may be due to what Ellis is able to contribute?!?

Re: Odell Thurman??
 

u have to look at the guys he was around in cincy...almost all of them are scrubs with character issues...if he hangs around them guess what....issues are almost guaranteed.....if he came to new orleans he would be surrounded by class A guys...nobody other than hollis thomas has had a history with bad reps....i think it would be a great fit....if u hang out with scrubs...u become a scrub....if u hang out with classy guys...u become classy....its inevitable that the environment around u tempts u

Re: Odell Thurman??
 

What he is saying is get him a new contract now before he plays with Ellis and we can get him cheaper than we could next year because of his possibly padded stats.

Re: Odell Thurman??
 

Will Smith is not a top 5 nor 10 DE in this league...

Franchise him like Howard till you get a guy worth the money...

Re: Odell Thurman??
 

what?!?! find me 10 better DEs..

Re: Odell Thurman??
 

oh boy now u started it

i will try....strahan, mario williams, osi umenyora, julius peppers,(jevon kearse?), jason taylor, do 3-4 LB/DEs count..i got a few there...for arguments sake no...they are LBs....dwight freeney, then i gotta go with Will smith

Re: Odell Thurman??
 

actually look what i found....all u gotta do is google search.......


Defensive ends in the National Football League can change the game in an instant with a big sack or any play that goes for a loss. Here's my top ten at this position.

1. Jason Taylor, Dolphins: Taylor is a very athletic guy that can play end or OLB. He had 13.5 sacks and two interceptions (both which were returned for touchdowns) en route to the Defensive Player of the Year Award.

2. Julius Peppers, Panthers: When Peppers is on, I don't know if any tackle in the league can block him. He supposedly had an "off" year in 2006, but still recorded 13 sacks.

3. Aaron Kampman, Packers: Not too many people know much about Mr. Kampman, but, the truth is he should probably be higher. His 15.5 sacks and 89 tackles were tops among D-Ends last year.

4. Aaron Schobel, Bills: Schobel, like Kampman, is a very underrated player. However, he finished second among ends in sacks last year and recorded 53 tackles.

5. Dwight Freeney, Colts: Frenny had an injury-filled 2006. If this list was being made after the 2005 season, he'd be number one.

6. Leonard Little, Rams: Little had 60 tackles to go along with this 13 sacks last season. He's had some off field issues, but is great against both the run and pass.

7. Derrick Burgess, Raiders: Burgess is the best player on a Raiders defense that I think finsihed third in yards agianst last year. He had 11 sacks, but led the league in that category in 2005.

8. Trevor Pryce, Ravens: Pryce used to be one of the most dominating players in Denver. He seems to have regained his old form in Baltimore as he racked up 13 sacks.

9. Justin Smith, Benagals: Smith only had 7.5 sacks last year, but did finsih second among ends in tackles with 81. He is as good as they get against the run.

10. Will Smith, Saints: Smith had 52 tackles and 10.5 sacks last year. He anchored what was a surprisingly good New Orleans defense.

Re: Odell Thurman??
 

honestly who cares whether we get him a new contract now or then...whether u call it padded stats or w/e....if he plays well with ellis....give him his money.....he deserves it...if the defense clicks dont mess with it cuz of a dumb issue like money

Re: Odell Thurman??
 

yeah, pay him a whole lot more money and maybe he will play as well as charles grant?!?

Re: Odell Thurman??
 

Ru serious...grant couldnt hold a candle to will smith....and lay off grant...(even tho i didnt)...he was injured last year and he is the best weak-side end that we have....i predict him moving to DT on passing downs and we rotate bobby mccray in at DE....but grant does well when its him and smith on the line together

Re: Odell Thurman??
 

LOL LB to DE?
i like our DEs.
i may end up liking our DTs this year.
LBs are up in the air.
Secondary is causing me to lose sleep at night.

Odell has to get a; "You play, You Get Payed" type of contract. pacman style.

Re: Odell Thurman??
 

I agree with Hagan on this. Yeah the guy has got issues...but he may can help.

If he plays he gets money. If he gets into trouble....he's broke.

Re: Odell Thurman??
 

He is worth taking a look at. If he can play and keep his nose clean he stays, if not he's outta here quickly.

Re: Odell Thurman??
 

Im ignorant on this guy, whats his story?? Off the field issues/injuries?? Can anyone elaborate?

Re: Odell Thurman??
 

Drugs and not attending manditory camps.

The bad thing I see is that he will be a "Ricky Williams" with the drugs.

Re: Odell Thurman??
 

Although I'm fine with bringing him in to compete for a roster spot, wouldn't it make more sense to focus on the weak side? I mean, Odell is a sam, is he not? Fujita plays the sam, and he's already a decent starter.

Shanle is the one we should be focusing on here.