Innocent Until Proven Guilty
July 2nd, 2011
When troubled Bucs cornerback Aqib Talib was pinched for allegedly firing shots at a fleeing man, many, many people jumped to conclusions. Some even suggested Talib would soon be an ex-Bucs cornerback.
But Talib’s lawyer, predictably, is upset by this notion. He had an interesting comment to Howard Altman of the Tampa Tribune that, “There is a presumption of innocence. It should not affect him at all.”
Of course, in the court of law this is correct. Sadly, in such a public position as Talib is in, he also has to fight the court of public opionion.
Then, there is an even more severe juror Joe can name: The court of NFL honcho Roger Goodell.
Apparently, one of the sticking points in the current NFL labor hassle is that Goodell should not have jurisdiction over punishing players for unseemly behavior since it was the NFL owners’ decision to shut down the league, now in its longest labor stoppage, all under the watchful gaze of Goodell.
Now, Talib’s trial is scheduled for next spring, if the case actually goes to trial. So the question now is, when the NFL returns to business, will Goodell have the opportunity to suspend Talib, or will he wait until after this mess is complete?
July 2nd, 2011 at 3:32 pm
Innocent Until Proven Guilty…Duh…
July 2nd, 2011 at 3:53 pm
Why isn’t the NRA sticking up for Talib?
July 2nd, 2011 at 3:59 pm
goodell wont issue anything until a deal is made or the court has a verdict
July 2nd, 2011 at 4:02 pm
If past is prologue and Goodell retains his arbitrary power to suspend after the new CBA, he will undoubtedly intervene as he did in the Rothlisberger case. However, if that happens, some sticky legal issues may arise. If Goodell interviews Talib for his side of the story and reminds him that it is a literal death sentence to lie to the comissioner, and Talib spills his guts – can the Dallas prosecutor subponea Goodell to testify and put him under oath? Goodell will not have wife/priest/doctor immunity. Goodell opens himself and the NFL up to all sorts of legal culpability. I’m going to bet that in Talib’s case he will wait until the case is decided or disposed of. Thomas 2.2, your legal opinion please!
July 2nd, 2011 at 4:08 pm
Joe here,
@Macabee — Have to disagree with you on the past is prologue point and Goodell intervening. …The Roethlisberger case was very high-profile and a unique situation, and one in which Big Ben clearly was willing ot accept the punishment.. …Talib’s deal is way different and, while we get caught up here in Tampa, Talib is neither a superstar on Goodell’s radar nor is his incident high-profile. …Numerous times Goodell has waited until there is a legal resolution (Talib’s cabbie case included) before throwing the league behavior clause at a player. …As an attorney you know the facts and interviews in a criminal case won’t be public here until the case is resolved. It would be stunning if Goodell does anything until the case is done, especially considering it was a family squabble. It’s not as if it’s clear Talib was using a gun or committing a crime.
July 2nd, 2011 at 4:12 pm
After reading about the guy that Talib or his mother or both shot at… I came up with the conclusion that it’s a real shame they didn’t kill him. Talib or his mother or both might have gotten an award for taking out that cancer to society. On the other hand, Talib’s sister should be embarrassed that she was involved with such a low-life.
July 2nd, 2011 at 4:15 pm
I hope one of the negotiating points is a Goodell
doesn’t get to remain warden. I think his recent past with
harsh penalties against players is as much a negative for fans
as he is with the players. There should be an outside committe to
determine players suspensions and fines. And one of the main rules
should be innocent or no suspensions before guilty or fines.
July 2nd, 2011 at 4:30 pm
Brandon. The person they allegedly shot at is a convicted childolester. He is also Aqib’s sister’s common law husband, and a frequent resident at the mother’s house. The Mother is also a convicted felon, and facing charges over this “incident”
No denying Talib grew up under horrible conditions. You feel for him. Didn’t Gruden and Allen do ANY background on him before they drafted him? The guy who did the player interviews for Kansas said Aqib was the most arrogant, violent Athelete he had every been forced to be around. Aqib is often angry and threatening to local Press. How could even those two non drafting idiots be that blind to the trouble he was inevitably going to bring??
July 2nd, 2011 at 4:34 pm
Innocent until proven guilty.
Sounds good to me. Now if the Bucs speak to him
and don’t like what they hear, I trust them to do the right thing.
It’s nice to be able to type that and that’s exactly how I how I
feel given Dominik’s and HC Morris’ actions so far.
Let him play!
July 2nd, 2011 at 4:37 pm
Brad- I think the LAST thing people want is players behaving like criminals, with even less reprocusions. Someone has to maintain a behavior standard, or it will turn into the the friggin NBA, which has lost much of it’s luster and fan appeal in recent years. You want the Josh Freeman’s or Gerald McCoys representing your team to the world, not the dumb thugs, or criminal element.
July 2nd, 2011 at 4:51 pm
I didn’t say we didn’t need anyone maintaining the players. I’m speaking about Goodells entire discipline structure including the over fining of players who make hard tackles only to get docked thousands of dollars. And I also meant the fining of a player is found not GUILTY of a crime I’m all for punishement but Goodell is playing God. That is why Joe gave him the nickname Warden. Goodell is ruining the sport.
July 2nd, 2011 at 5:02 pm
Joe, I agree with you. I ended my post saying that I didn’t think Goodell would intervene, except that we differ on the reasons why he will not. FYI, another opinion. http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/Talibs-lawyer-says-he-deserves-presumption-of-innocence.html
July 2nd, 2011 at 5:44 pm
Talib should be presumed innocent. However, an analysis of the reported facts combined with his past leads to one very probable conclusion.
Can Texas prove it? Dont know, but I predict that they will try unless Billings flips, runs etc. Talib should be firmly dealt with by the league and this coach (for once).
July 2nd, 2011 at 6:31 pm
I’m all fine with innocent until proven guilty…On THIS incident.
But take a deep breath, and think about his pattern of behavior. If you STILL think he is a good fit with the team, don’t be a crybaby the NEXT time he gets in trouble. Because what I am seeing is a pattern that will not end until he takes seriously the consequences of his actions.
The next time, a lot of you will be all for crucifying him for ‘letting down the team’, instead of remembering that you were all for it when a ‘deserving’ scumbag was the target of his anger.
July 2nd, 2011 at 6:44 pm
Skookum: you are absolutely correct. Very good comment. If the sheep want this team to be as solid as it can be you must weed (pun intendd) out the players that history dictates can not be relied on and are bad influences on others – off the field.
July 2nd, 2011 at 7:36 pm
Eegad! I am in agreement with THOMAS!!!!
😉
July 2nd, 2011 at 8:26 pm
talib is a fine player and a menace to society. at some point the sh!t needs to hit the fan for talib but im not sure if that will happen this time until a deal is struck or a verdict comes in guilty.
July 2nd, 2011 at 8:43 pm
Skookim Smitty- as always , great post. History repeats itself. Would love to believe he’s done! But his pattern assures you he’s not. Mike predicted January for the next incident- imagine us in the playoff picture, and he decides to play thug again. Nobody crying how innocent he is if he cost us a shot at the superBowl!
July 2nd, 2011 at 10:30 pm
Sh*t, Talib will have more charges by the time this thing goes to trial…
July 2nd, 2011 at 11:13 pm
only the circumstances saves him this time,he did something any man would do,if he was anybody else without being a hot head and not previously being in trouble he would be a hero
July 3rd, 2011 at 3:33 pm
M. Wesley, don’t quite agree with the hero take. This guy he allegedly shot at isn’t some stranger, or newcomer into their lives. From the reports I read, he is considered the Sister’s common law husband. They have been living together for years. That changes the dynamic of the situation significantly. No one was ” rescuing ” the sister. She lives with him!! Then it becomes shooting at your brother in law, over a family despute. That is why the ” heroic ” stuff some of the kids throw out there isn’t correct.
If his sister just met a guy, and they got into a fight, I would be on Talib’s side with this.even then, him having a gun, pistol whipping the guy is not the best way. But that’s not this story. The sister and the molester have been together years, and have a history of violence against each other.
July 3rd, 2011 at 6:41 pm
I’m glad Dominik and the Glazier Family are the ones making the decision about Talib.
If all y’all moral do gooders or looking for someone with higher morals and values than yours, go to friggin’ church and stop looking for a of good morality on a friggin’ ball field. This is football ladies, it’s a violent sport with some violent people playing the game. If the actions of the of some the players appalls you, put on a skirt and start a friggin’ garden.
July 3rd, 2011 at 11:59 pm
Yes, we must be girly men to want to hold a man accountable for his repeated, asinine, violent behavior.
You caught us.