FanHouse DavidPollack

One of the Bengals biggest offseason acquisitions (and the richest free agent in franchise history) has gone down.

DE Antwan Odom hurt his left foot and was carted off the field. The seriousness of the injury isn't yet known (UPDATE: Marvin Lewis has called it a foot sprain and that he will be ready by the season opener).

Odom has played in all 16 games in three of his four seasons (in 2006, he played just four games due to a knee injury). Because of his breakout performance last year, the Bengals lured Odom away from the Titans to make him the biggest free agent signing in team history (which isn't saying much).

I guess he'll have to wait to practice with Muhsin Muhammad.

Some other minor Bengals news ...

Just over one year ago, I wrote this about the horrible Bengals draft of 2005. In 2008, the Bengals have tried their best to wash their hands of that weekend ... and have seen five of the seven picks leave this season for various reasons. Two were flat out released; one retired due to injury; two were not tendered contracts.

Combined, these seven guys have played just 140 (out of a possible 448) games in the orange and black ... with Chris Henry (35) and Eric Ghiaciuc (32) the only ones to top twenty games. None played in all 16 games this past season -- only two played more than half the year. Three didn't suit up at all.

1st Round [#17]-David Pollack, LB, Georgia: Pollack had an unfortunate neck injury in Week 2 against the Browns in 2006. Despite trying to attempt a comeback, he retired earlier this year. He's played in just 16 games since being drafted. Status: Retired

2nd Round [#48]-Odell Thurman, LB, Georgia: Thurman was to be the focal point of the Bengals defense, before he was suspended for the first four games of the 2006 season for violating the league's substance abuse policy. A few weeks into the season, he was charged with OVI [operating a vehicle while impared]. Two days later, the league suspended him for the remainder of the season (the suspension would continue through 2007). He's played in just 16 games since being drafted and was released yesterday. Status: Released.

3rd Round [#83]-Chris Henry, WR, West Virginia: Look, we all know the deal here. He's a very productive player but can't stay out of his own way. He was suspended for Bengals' first 8 games of the 2007 season and could face a stiffer penalty if some recent off-field issues come back to bite him. He had played in 35 games for the Bengals before being released this offseason. Status: Released.

The linebacker position in Cincinnati has been quite the adventure:

Odell Thurman played well in his rookie season of 2005 ... but has sat out the last two seasons for violating the league's substance abuse policy. David Pollack broke his neck in his second game of his second season and was forced to retire. A.J. Nicholson's career didn't last too long after off-field issues. Ahmad Brooks has barely seen the field due to injuries.

This was a team that had to bring Dhani Jones off the scrap heap ... and he turned into one of their best defensive players. At one point last year, the Bengals couldn't field a linebacking corps at all. Keith Rivers will be a big, big help there.

There have been rumblings that the Bengals could move to the 3-4 defense and Rivers would be a great fit if they do. He has the ability to rush the passer as well as cover backs and tight ends. Right now, the Bengals will have Brooks and Jones seemingly as starters with Thurman, Rashad Jeanty and Eric Henderson as other options.

The Cincinnati Bengals' official site is reporting that linebacker David Pollack is retiring.

Pollack was the Bengals' 1st round pick in the 2005 Draft (17th overall) out of Georgia. He had a promising career that ended in Week 2 of the 2006 season against the Cleveland Browns. He broke his neck (the sixth cervical vertebrae) while trying to tackle Browns running back Reuben Droughns.

Pollack missed the rest of the 2006 and all of 2007 season as he attempted to make a comeback. However, last week he told Bengals coach Marvin Lewis that he was medically cleared to play, but didn't feel comfortable enough to play football.

During a news conference today, Lewis announced Pollack's retirement.

The 2005 Draft has become a tough one for the Bengals and has filled the news columns of late. Pollack was the first round pick and played just over one season. Second round pick Odell Thurman was just reinstated into the league yesterday. Thurman has missed the past two seasons for violating the league's substance abuse policy. Third round pick Chris Henry was released by the team after his umpteenth run in with the law.

Fifth round pick Adam Kieft has spent all of his career on the injured list.

In the meantime, Pollack, back up to his 250-255 pound playing weight, is working as a trainer at the Ignition group in Mason. He is instructing and training with 11 NFL hopefuls, including four players from the University of Cincinnati, and leading Bible study for them on Wednesday nights at his Liberty Township home. He's preparing his body and mind for his potential comeback as a player.

Zimmer was Atlanta's coordinator in 2007 and was credited as coordinator in Dallas for moving its defense from a three-linebacker to four-linebacker scheme, a possibility this offseason with the Bengals