Posted at 5:51 a.m., Thursday, July 26, 2007
NFL: Bengals LB Thurman will miss another season
Associated Press
CINCINNATI — Odell Thurman's petition for reinstatement was denied today by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, who decided that the Cincinnati Bengals middle linebacker should miss another season because of his ongoing problems.Thurman was suspended for all of last season after skipping a drug test and later being arrested for drunken driving. He asked Goodell to reinstate him for the 2007 season, but was turned down.
Thurman will be allowed to ask for reinstatement again following the season.
Goodell's decision leaves the Bengals with two suspended players as they open training camp. Receiver Chris Henry also will miss the first eight games for repeatedly violating the league's conduct policy.
The Bengals are the league's prime example of misconduct, with 10 players arrested over a 14-month span.
Thurman led the Bengals in tackles as a rookie in 2005, but was suspended for the first four games of last season after skipping a drug test. The suspension was extended to a full season after he was arrested for drunken driving in September.
