At this point, I think it’s safe to say that the Cincinnati Bengals are a bigger mess than any other team in the NFL, including the Raiders and Dolphins.  The Bengals severed ties with troubled linebacker Odell Thurman after Thurman didn’t show up at several voluntary workouts because he was in Georgia tending to family issues, namely the death of his grandmother.  Thurman becomes the second Bengal released this offseason behind wide receiver Chris Henry while other stand out receiver Chad Johnson has threatened to not play for the Bengals in 2008

Thurman, who hasn’t played since 2005 because of several suspensions for smoking the hippy lettuce, was the best linebacker that the Bengals had.  Yet it wasn’t his troubled past that got his release from the Bengals but rather it was his choice to deal with family issues instead of attending voluntary workouts.  The Bengals maintain that they wanted Thurman to attend because of their new defensive scheme, but I don’t buy it.

It’s voluntary.  That’s why Jason Taylor has missed camp with the Dolphins to dance around on ABC and that’s why Chad Johnson hasn’t attended.  Thurman had 106 tackles his rookie season; I don’t think it’s a matter of his ability to adapt to a system.  Furthermore, the Bengals have limited themselves to a band of undersized and slow linebackers in Dhani Jones, Ahmad Brooks, and Rashad Jeanty.  Drafting Keith Rivers in the first round was a step in the right direction but cutting Thurman was a step back in the wrong direction.