Goodell Likely To Reinstate Thurman Before Camp

Mark Cumutte of the Cincinatti Frontier reports that NFL commissioner Roger Goodell announced that a decision would be made on suspended Cincinatti Bengals linebacker Odell Thurman's future before the start of training camp. "What we wanted to do was get him back in a structured environment," Goodell said. "He's in the program. He can make progress. If he can do that, we will make a decision prior to training camp."

Thurman was supposed to be suspended for the first 4 games in 2006 due to a repeat violation of the NFL's substance abuse policy, and that suspension was increased to a full year following his arrest for a DUI in September of 2006. Before the 2007 season commissioner Goodell announced that Thurman would not be back for the 2007 season either, as he was still have troubling battling his addiction to alcohol. After already have served two full season due to suspensions, it sounds like Thurman is back with the program now and at least portrays and image of having his life together, so expect him to be reinstated prior to training camp, and back in a Bengals uniform in 2008.