Bengals get one 2005 pick back, lose one forever, then challenge another vet to sit out

The Cincinnati Bengals gained back one thug, err, linebacker, Tuesday afternoon while losing another to retirement. Coach Marvin Lewis told another hooligan to hold out if he wants to.

Media reports indicate that NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell reinstated Odell Thurman, who sat out the last two seasons, giving the multiple violator of the substance abuse policy another chance.

“Odell has met the NFL’s conditions for reinstatement and has been added to our off-season roster,” Lewis said in a statement.

Thurman led the team in tackles during a promising 2005 rookie season during which he started 15 games.

The guy drafted ahead of Thurman in 2005, David Pollack, Tuesday told Lewis he was ending his efforts to make a comeback from a broken neck suffered in 2006 against Cleveland and retire. “He’s not completely comfortable medically where he has been given an opportunity … to play football. We know the quality of person [he is] and he has a bright future no matter what he chooses to do,” Lewis told ESPN.com.

Finally, in one of the busiest single off-season days for any team in recent memory, Lewis also told Chad Johnson to go ahead and sit out the entire season. He told the AP the Bengals have no plans to trade Johnson, who has a contract through 2011.

All of this on top of the release of WR Chris Henry a few weeks back who was arrested for the umpteenth time since being drafted, also in 2005. It’s a shame about Pollack, who seemed like a fairly upstanding guy. The chickens seem to be coming home to roost, or whatever that old saying is, for the Bengals. Does character count?