Bengals Thurman May Meet Mr. Goodell Soon

[Hostile]

Jun 5, 2007 1:31 PM

Odell Thurman Accused Of Assault
Posted By: Brian Duerring (brian.duerring@wcpo.com)



http://www.centralmediaserver.com/WCPO/news/2007/06/05/noon/thurman.jpg
Reported by: 9 News Reporter Deb Haas


Former Bengal Odell Thurman is being accused of assault in the state of Georgia.

The magistrate's office in Jasper County, Georgia confirms to 9 News that a couple of men filed complaints (http://www.centralmediaserver.com/wcpo/news/2007/06/05/noon/courtdocs.pdf) against Thurman and his brother following a weekend party.

The accusers told police Thurman and his brother punched them at a party during an argument and later returned with guns drawn.

No one was shot but the accusers claim they were assaulted.

They did not call police until the following morning. A judge will hold what's called a pre-warrant hearing on Friday to determine whether an arrest warrant should be issued for Thurman and his brother.

Thurman was suspended last season for violating the league's substance abuse policy, following a drunk driving arrest.

He could apply for reinstatement into the NFL this summer.

A Bengals spokesperson says since he is no longer on their roster they have no comment on the incident.

[Yeagermeister]

See ya in about 4 too 8 games Odell.

[stealth]

sorry but screw that, if you are assaulted you don't wait to call the next day and do it after you find out who the guy is.

[superpunk]

Might as well chop his balls off.

[WoodysGirl]

per PFT

BLOGGER TAKING A BIG RISK?

There's a blog thing out there called WithLeather.com, which has said mean things about us in the past (http://withleather.com/index.phtml?s=profootballtalk&dt=).

Hey, we can take it. We've been called a lot of things, many of which are accurate. But we never, ever, ever, ever (did we say "ever"?) make stuff up.

Another thing we never, ever, ever, ever (did we say "ever"?) do is go with a tip that a guy has been arrested or committed any other type of misconduct that could damage his reputation, unless we have solid sources who have verified the information.

Over the years, it has caused us to miss out on "breaking" many a story that eventually became public, such as the rumors that Joe Horn fathered a baby with Willie Roaf's wife. But, on the bright side, we've never been taken to People's Court (or any other court of law).

It's one of the benefits of that law degree thing that the Poobah picked up 16 or so years ago. We know where the line of liability is, and we stay the hell away from it.

On Monday, WithLeather.com is doing the lambada on that line by going with unverified tips that Bengals linebacker Odell Thurman beat the crap out of some dude over the weekend, returned with a gun-wielding posse, and later tried to buy the victim's silence.

Maybe the information is completely accurate and, if so, kudos to the site for getting the truth out there. But it's one thing to be wrong about a trade rumor; it's quite another to be wrong about something that inflicts even more damage to a guy's image than he already has inflicted himself.

In this case, if the tip turns out to be embellished at best or fraudulent at worst, the folks at Fat Penguin Media will need to be ready to post a retraction before the process server shows up at the headquarters in Mesa, Arizona.

And if the tip is on the money, it might be time for Odell Thurman to throw out his cleats, because he'll never, ever, ever, ever (did we say "ever"?) need them again.

POSTED 1:09 p.m. EDT, June 5, 2007

THURMAN REPORT CONFIRMED

As we explained on Monday, the folks at WithLeather.com took a big risk by going with unsubstantiated reports of a ruckus involving Bengals linebacker Odell Thurman.

As it turns out, the reports were on the money.

WCPO-TV in Cincinnati reports that Thurman is facing accusations of assaults in Georgia, based on complaints made against Thurman and his brother by "a couple of men."

The accusers claim that Thurman and his brother punched them at a part, and thereafter returned with guns drawn.

A hearing will be held on Friday to determine whether an arrest warrant is issue. We've got our fingers crossed, since we'd rather not see the "days without an arrest" meter hit 20.

With all that said, being "right" in the end doesn't mean that going with the report wasn't risky to the point of reckless, given the potential for a defamation suit. If the overriding goal is to keep a quasi-media business viable over the long haul, getting it other than "right" on a subject like this only once can be fatal.

[superpunk]

PFT looking down it's nose?

How quaint...

[ThreeSportStar80]

Ahh beat me to it! I was just about to inform everyone of this boneheaded incident...

[Angus]

Looks like PFT is giving advice to its little brother to help it stay out of trouble. Very considerate, in view of the way little brothers sometimes aggravate big brothers.


:D

[joseephuss]

I had not heard that Joe Horn-Willie Roaf story before. Now, that is good theater.

[burmafrd]

At what point will Goodell just say: " All Bengals are suspended in the interest of saving time and effort on what will be a sure thing."

[Va_BoysFan4 Life]

The way the Bengals are being suspended, I might get my chance to play in the NFL as an undrafted prospect. It doesn't matter what position. They may need me to play both side of the ball.:lmao2:

[Bob Sacamano]

A Bengals spokesperson says since he is no longer on their roster they have no comment on the incident.

they released him?

good for them, even though he's a damn, fine player