A Reason To Keep “Priceless” Talib — For A While
April 26th, 2011
Back in September, Joe recalls Mike Williams telling him what an impact Aqib Talib and Ronde Barber had on his development. Simply put, going against arguably the most talented cornerback tandem in the NFL in practice and training camp forces a guy to raise his game to new heights.
Weeks later on the Buccaneers Radio Network, Saltines lover Jeff Faine raved about Talib’s positive impact on Williams and pther young receivers.
“It’s healthy competition for our young wide receivers. During training camp it was actually pretty chippy. It was great. It was fantastic. And it helped our young wide receivers grow up fast. Because this guy was in their face, was jumpin’ them, was covering them, was talking trash, was giving them everything that they were going to see this year,” Faine said. “For a guy like Mike Williams to have the opportunity to go up against Aqib Talib every single day two times a day during camp, it’s priceless. Because now the guys Mike Williams is going up against are not as good. I really feel that Aqib is on the threshold of becoming the guy in this league at cornerback.”
Now Joe would understand if the Bucs never want to rely on Talib to be a cornerstone of their team again. The guy is thoroughly unreliable.
But regardless, why would the Bucs not want to hold on to Talib through preseason if for no other reason than to cover Arrelious Benn, Dezmon Briscoe, Williams and the other young receivers in practice, and to drive up his potential trade value.
Unless he’s in jail, Talib has value to the organization, even if he gets a significant suspension from Roger Goodell for the situation in Texas. If suspended, he’d still get to be a part of team activities outside of regular season games, much like sleazy Ben Roethlisberger was last year.
Cutting Talib instantly is highly unlikely to be in the best interest of the Bucs. If Talib returns to the Bucs and behaves somewhat, surely rockstar Dominik can find someone to cough up a late-round pick for Talib.
April 26th, 2011 at 11:36 am
I wouldn’t let him go despite what he has done. If we trade him, we better get AT LEAST a 2nd round pick.
DOMINIK, if you are reading:
KEEP HIM. THIS IS FOOTBALL, NOT BARNEY AND FRIENDS.
April 26th, 2011 at 11:38 am
“If Talib returns to the Bucs and behaves somewhat…”
Then, tell me again, WHY would we trade him?
April 26th, 2011 at 11:42 am
Hunter You R dead right…. Keep him or 2nd rounder!
April 26th, 2011 at 4:46 pm
i wont be suprised one way or another if he’s kept or released. the one big sticking point here is that nobody knows for sure if these players will be diciplined by the league since this happened during the lockout. too many unknowns at this point.
April 26th, 2011 at 5:53 pm
I tell you why you trade him if you can…Because you can’t count on him being there long. He is a wildly investment. He’s good but not elite and he didn’t even crack the list of top corners viewed around the league. Don’t cut him, trade him.
April 26th, 2011 at 6:08 pm
NONE !
April 26th, 2011 at 9:15 pm
@architek79: He didn’t make the top 10 because they voted off of the assumption that he would be released.
April 26th, 2011 at 10:58 pm
Architek79:
Agreed. Doubtful Dominik could get a fourth round pick or better for him, partially because he’s poison. Every word you wrote is dead on. Dominik and the Bucs cannot count on Talib being around long, partially because he will be suspended and partially because his next brush with the law likely means bye-bye for good from Roger Goodell.
And does any sober personal really believe Talib won’t find himself in yet another violent hassle again?