Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando
The Bengals scored a dubious two-fer when they released Odell Thurman on Monday.
Seventy-eight of the top 83 choices in the 2005 draft are currently on NFL rosters, reflecting typical attrition rates.
The bad part for the Bengals: They drafted two of the five exceptions, even though the evidence suggested both players carried unusual risks. Receiver Chris Henry, released last month after a similarly troubled career, has yet to land another job in the league. This list will grow once David Pollack, the Bengals' first-round choice in 2005, makes his expected retirement official (Pollack remains on the Bengals' roster).
To put the Bengals' drafting futility in perspective, I revisited the 2005 draft and singled out the 10 highest-drafted players without jobs. Injuries ended the careers of some. (Terrence Murphy, Kevin Everett and Chris Colmer come to mind.) Off-field troubles have impacted others (Thurman, Henry, Maurice Clarett, the suspended Pacman Jones and, to a far lesser extent, Vincent Burns). Another player on the list, Darrent Williams, was murdered.
The chart shows where all of the 10 were drafted and how many games they have played and started in the NFL. We provide context and draw lessons in a closer look at each player:
Pacman Jones, CB, Titans
Round: 1
Overall: 6
What happened: The Titans traded Jones to the Cowboys this offseason even though Jones continues to serve an indefinite NFL suspension. Jones' well-documented affinity for strip clubs has come to define his career almost as much as the trouble he has found in them.
The lesson: 'Tis best to heed red flags when picking so early in the draft. As Jones' bio read in Pro Football Weekly's 2005 draft preview guide: "Character can be an issue with some teams."
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Odell Thurman, LB, Bengals
Round: 2
Overall: 48
What happened: Thurman became an impact player as a rookie, but the Bengals released him Monday following two suspension-affected seasons. Known issues include a missed drug test and DUI arrest.
The lesson: Thurman repeatedly broke rules in college and served a team suspension as a result. Handing money to him wasn't likely to help.
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Darrent Williams, CB, Broncos
Round: 2
Overall: 56
What happened: Williams was establishing himself as an impact player in the NFL when a gunman killed him outside a Denver nightclub in January 2007.
The lesson: Life is not fair. Williams was entering the prime of his career and life.
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Terrence Murphy, WR, Packers
Round: 2
Overall: 58
What happened: Murphy's career ended abruptly during his rookie season when doctors discovered a neck condition called stenosis while treating an injury suffered during a helmet-to-helmet collision. Murphy went on to work for the team as a coaching intern.
The lesson: Injuries can be a blessing. The one Murphy suffered provided a warning that allowed him to leave the game without more serious consequences.
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Chris Henry, WR, Bengals
Round: 3
Overall: 83
What happened: The Bengals released Henry last month after the latest in a string of arrests.
The lesson: Henry had revealed himself as selfish, immature and unreliable during his college career. Handing money to him produced the anticipated results.
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Kevin Everett, TE, Bills
Round: 3
Overall: 86
What happened: Everett suffered a career-ending neck injury while attempting to make a tackle during the 2007 season opener. The Bills' decision to release him last week allows Everett to pursue medical benefits.
The lesson: Advances in medicine can sometimes trump the brutality of sport.
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Chris Colmer, T, Bucs
Round: 3
Overall: 91
What happened: The Bucs loved Colmer's toughness and grit enough to take a chance on him despite a known diagnosis of Parsonage-Turner Syndrome. The condition, also known as acute brachial plexus neuritis, can cause debilitating pain. Colmer never played in a game.
The lesson: Some risks go unrewarded. At least the Bucs waited until the third round before drafting Colmer.
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Vincent Burns, DE, Colts
Round: 3
Overall: 92
What happened: The Colts released the oft-injured pass-rusher before the 2006 season. They signed Burns to their practice squad, but his career went nowhere. An arrest for disorderly conduct earlier that year did not help.
The lesson: The Colts' third-round misfires don't matter as much because the team regularly has found impact players in the first two rounds.
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Maurice Clarett, RB, Broncos
Round: 3
Overall: 101
What happened: The Broncos released Clarett before he ever played a down for them. Denver had taken a chance on him despite a troubled career at Ohio State and an unimpressive performance at the scouting combine. Clarett is now in prison.
The lesson: Picking "name" players doesn't always make sense. Running backs Marion Barber and Brandon Jacobs went later in the same draft.
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Antonio Perkins, CB, Browns
Round: 4
Overall: 103
What happened: A top return specialist at Oklahoma, Perkins never found his way onto the field in a meaningful way with the Browns.
The lesson: The fourth round generally isn't the place to find impact cornerbacks.
