ACCESS DENIED!!!

What started out as a two game suspension has slowly turned into at least a TWO YEAR ban for Bengals linebacker Odell Thurman.

He was only supposed to be suspended for two games for getting a DUI last year. But after, I believe, a domestic dispute or some kind of altercation, the NFL suspended him for the rest of the 2006 season. He applied for reinstatement earlier this month and word came down today....

DENIED!!

Thurman has been denied reinstatement and will have to sit out the 2007 season as well. Turns out just before he filed for reinstatement, he got into it with a couple of guys at a party and they filed (and later withdrew) complaints against him.

Now I don't know if that was enough for Goodell to extend Thurman's suspension or if there were other guidelines he did not follow, but Thurman will not play a down for the second straight year.

I have no sympathy. That's what he gets for being a moron. It's not like the organization was planning on him being around. Hoping, yes, but well aware of the possibility that he could get denied.

Oh well; we soldier on.

I wonder if all of the other problems going on in the NFL with players acting like children effecting his chance of reinstatement. I partially think Goodell's decision could be from him trying to stay consistent. At this moment the more lenient he looks, the worst he looks, especially with so many people wanting him to ban Vick. If the NFL was in good shape at this moment, does he have a better shot of being reinstated?

I would guess no; from what I was reading, a couple of guys brought complaints against Thurman in Georgia for assaulting them while he was waiting for the reinstatement decision. They dropped the complaints right before they were to be heard by a magistrate, but the damage was done. Followed through or not, it probably still looked like he hadn't learned his lesson and hadn't developed any respect for the system or his place in it.

I heard about that incidient Who Dey and it's not like he was waving a gun around or anything. And again, these guys dropped the complaints. That would be awfully nitpicky by this commissioner to say you are suspended a full year. My personal opinion is this was too stiff. Another full season for basically nothing? I don't buy it. I'm think more like borsky on this one. The NFL players over the past few months have pinned Goodell in a corner of having to be this overly stern commissioner on all accounts. I think it's ridiculous a full year again is being handed down to Odell. The way I look at it, Chris Henry won't be allowed into the league until 2012 if that's how he's going to be about this. If Mike Vick is convicted of anything here, then he should be out for two years because what he has done is far worse than anything Odell Thurman has done. I think the NFL needs to get a bit more specific on these punishments instead of their very broad ways of handing out punishment.

Oh, I don't agree with it, I just think it had an effect on the decision.

I do understand why he did it though. Whether the complaints were followed up on or not, the fact is that they happened. I think that what the NFL might have been worried about was that they would let him back into the league and it would just start up all over again. Not saying that's a fair assessment, but I can see why they would have that thought.

The thing is, I don't know that the punishments are particularly broad. I think that what the head guys are doing at this point is establishing the idea that they won't be soft on incidents that bring about more image issues for the league. My impression is that they figure that they hand down stiff penalties now to let the guys know that they're not afraid to do it, in the hopes that they won't have to do it later. You know, you sort of put the fear of God in them now so that they're more likely to behave later.

But that's just my theory.

And I believe you to be right who dey. I just think its wrong. Well, maybe i'm torn a bit. I think the fear of God thing could fix this mess really quick in one year. However, let's keep in mind its 7 players in a league of what, 1700+ players? How many of these guys are doing great things for the league? I don't think this is as big of a problem as they are making it to be honest right now. Just eliminate the Bengals Sorry..

What I'm getting at is an ENTIRE year again for Odell is BS. Tell him 2 games, maybe 4, but another season out of your career? I don't agree with it. Again, Odell's problems are drug (which there is a policy in place i know) and reckless behavior. What Mike Vick could be convicted of in my opinion is far worse...and lets admit it, this guy has been no Goody Two Shoes in the league either. If Vick is convicted, especially of the hanging, drowning and beating to the death of dogs, that son of a bitch better not be in the league quicker than Odell Thurman.

Hey! It's just a couple of guys on a team of generally really good men. I sincerely doubt that anyone is more embarrassed than them.

I know you're kidding.

I'd say that each one was equally bad. Remember, the offense that got Odell that full year was DUI. I saw the tape. He wasn't drunk. He was fucked up. There's just no other way to describe it. He could have very easily taken someone's life by driving in that state.

What it boils down to is that neither one of them seems to show any true regard for anyone beyond themselves. But I agree. If Vick is convicted, he'd better see just as much suspension time as Thurman, if not more.

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Remember, the offense that got Odell that full year was DUI. I saw the tape. He wasn't drunk. He was fucked up. There's just no other way to describe it. He could have very easily taken someone's life by driving in that state.

Oh yea. I forgot about that. That is a big deal and I've been accused of being too cautious about people going home after drinking. Can't stand it.

Boy, I bet Leonard Little sends Paul Tagliabue more than just a Christmas card come the holidays! That guy would be banned from the game if Goodell had been in charge, haha

If it is the Cincinatii Bengals or the Portland JailBlazers (remember those guys)...when you have pro athletes who have more money than they know what to do with, there is always going to be trouble. I do like what goodell is doing but I think it is getting to the point where he is being stiff, just to be stiff. I feel like the NFL is no longer looking at the situation but rather keeping up this stiff image.

Punching a guy should not get a year suspension. Teamates are always beating up on each other in the locker room. alla Olin Kruetz breaking jaws (should he been suspended a season) ----- By the way, why in the blue hell would you mess with that guy.

That happened before the new conduct policy was in place AND the Bears got in front of that and fined them both for the altercation. If that happened now, they both probably would serve some kind of small suspension I'm sure.

I kind of equate Goodell and his actions lately to (and forgive the timing of the analogy) how basketball refs call a basketball game. You call the game kind of tight in the beginning to let the teams know you are watching them and kind of loosen the reigns when it is apparent you are making an impact. Or at least that's how they taught us when I was an intramural ref.

This policy is still in its early stages and Goodell is cracking down hard on everything to set precedents for later. I think in the future when the policy has some miles on it, things will be a little different. Only time will tell though.

True, but I will never understand Thurman getting locked out of 16 more games for farting in front of two other guys at a party. Lighten the hell up Goodell. I just can't agree with another full season.

This is all going to lead to a more formalized conduct policy. Goodell has more important things to do than just issuing suspensions all the time, so they will probably lay out some by-laws that define standard punishments based on degrees of misconduct.

I think we may have our answer as to why Goodell dropped the hammer on Thurman the way he did.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/football/nfl/specials/preview/2007/08/01/bengals.thurman.ap/index.html

dumbass. By all means, don't come back then.

Yeah, I saw that this morning. That boy is all idiot, from stem to stern. Like I said before, something happened to make it painfully clear that he still hasn't learned anything, and has no respect for the incredible opportunity to play in the NFL that other guys would give anything for.

Chock Full o' Dipstick. Maybe something will get through that mile-thick skull this year.

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Two days after Thurman is accused of skipping the meeting with probation officers, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell denied his request for reinstatement for the 2007 season.

Oops much?

There's the extra reasoning we were seeking. No more lost sleep for me. Thank you.