Joe couldn’t believe his eyes this morning (although it’s now afternoon) when Joe read a St. Petersburg Times beat writer call out someone.

But that’s just what Rick Stroud did. And Joe applauds him.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, Joe knows that beat writers (as opposed to columnists) are supposed to be objective and play it straight down the middle. Yada, yada, yada.

But at some point things are so outrageous you have to get off the toilet and take a stand, otherwise your own credibility takes a major hit. It’s as if you are walking around with blinders on or you are a former roommate of Mark Dominik.

So kudos to Stroud for taking to task helmet-wielding Aqib Talib.

You have to like the fact Morris took some responsibility for creating the tempo and environment during Wednesday’s workout that spawned the fight between CB Aqib Talib and T Donald Penn. But there’s no excuse for Talib using his helmet as a blunt instrument that inadvertently struck CB Torrie Cox.

C’mon. Peewee players know not to cross that line.

Damn right! Though Stroud was slightly later than Joe (three days) in decrying Talib’s assault, at least Stroud showed a pair. Better late than never.

It’s beyond refreshing for Joe to read a beat writer from the Times actually take a stand instead of cowering behind the cloak of objectivity.

In case no one has noticed over there, objectivity isn’t selling too many newspapers these days.

Good job, Rick.