Odell Thurman Cut:

[MTK]

Originally Posted by freddyg12

Once again, I think there is a big difference between bad teamates & bad personal behavior. There are plenty of guys that come into the nfl very immature & it shows in their behavior. Thurman sounds more like one of those guys than he does a selfish team cancer type. I'm more comfortable w/guys w/a substance abuse record than a history of self absorbed tantrums.

I haven't followed all his troubles, so I can't say I know much more than what I've read today. If his problems are all drug/alcohol related, and he knows he has to stay clean to keep his job, it essentially comes down to whether he's committed to doing so. I think it's certainly worth looking into to see if the guy has changed.

If he hasn't, well there's always Al & Jerry.

Good thing you don't run the team that's for sure.

The guy was suspended for the last 2 years. That says everything I need to know about his character. The chances of him changing for the better are slim at best.

[freddyg12]

Originally Posted by Mattyk72

Good thing you don't run the team that's for sure.

The guy was suspended for the last 2 years. That says everything I need to know about his character. The chances of him changing for the better are slim at best.

Good thing none of us runs that team for that matter, and that's likewise for sure.

If what you're saying is that the chances of drug addicts/alcoholics staying clean for extended periods of time after treatment is "slim at best" then I'd have to agree with you, as would most in the clinical professions that deal w/addicts. But there are addicts that turn their lives around, George Rogers & Bruce Smith to name a couple that had their bouts w/cocaine but cleaned up & had good long careers.

In my post, I stated that I don't know the extent of his problems & what kind of teamate he is. If the front office feels he's a genuinely good guy/teamate that has just had problems in the past but understands the consequences (losing 2 years of your career & big $ is enough to change most people) & wants to turn things around, then I don't see it as such a stretch to sign him.

I also think that the loss of his grandmother might motivate him for the better as well. I certainly didn't mean to come off to say that his behavior isn't a major red flag to say the least.

JLC's post makes sense, if they feel Blades can be the future at MLB they may feel they don't need him enough to take the chance. I still think he's worth looking into if nothing else.