With the NFL draft just five days away, the Cincinnati Bengals found out today that their star linebacker of three years ago has been reinstated. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell announced today that Odell Thurman has been reinstated and can return to active duty with the Bengals. After a two year suspension, Thurman will finally get the chance to step back on the field.

Goodell stated that he was pleased with Thurman's progress and that he had complied with the guidelines to be reinstated this time around. When asked about Thurman's reinstatement, coach Marvin Lewis said that, "It is now up to Odell to continue to meet all NFL guidelines, and to maintain a standard of personal responsibility that will allow him the chance to compete for a spot on our team."

With all of the angst surrounding this team including the release of Chris Henry and the headache that is Chad Johnson, this news is something that can finally bring a smile to the faces of Bengals' fans. If Thurman can get back into gameday shape quickly, assuming he's not there already, he should be able to step back into the starting MLB spot by the start of this season. In 2005, as a rookie, he led the Bengals in tackles with 148 and had one sack along with five interceptions and nine passes deflected and four forced fumbles. To say his rookie season was great would be an understatement.

Thurman had been in trouble with the law on a number of occasions, but back in 2006 he was suspended for four games for failing to show up for a drug screening. That suspension was later increased to the whole season when he was arrested for DUI charges on September 25, 2006. Up for reinstatement for the 2007 season, Thurman was denied but due to confidentiality guidelines, the league and team officials would not say why he was not reinstated back in July of last year.

The Bengals suffered without him in the middle, partly because of the amount of injuries to the linebacking position last season. Should Thurman get his starting job back, that could help set up the transition to the 3-4 defense the team has hinted at changing to recently. While it will ultimately be up to Marvin to decide if Thurman is ready to play or start again, it will be on Thurman to make sure he complies with everything the NFL is asking him to do, or more so not do. If he can keep his head up and square on his shoulders there's no doubt he will be back on the field as the starting MLB come the first game of the season.