As Joe reported last week, helmet-wielding Aqib Talib was unlikely to make a deal this morning at his pretrial hearing in the case of State vs. Talib in Florida’s sixth judicial circuit.

Talib allegedly slugged a Pinellas County cab driver — unprovoked —  in the head while the cabbie drove him and Torrie Cox and Angelo Crowell back to the team hotel in August.

Talib had filed a notice with the court that waived his physical appearnce today, typically a sign that there was no interest in dealing today with the State.

But per St. Pete Times court reporter Curtis Krueger, Talib’s legal team told the judge a deal is likely in the works.

Judge Robert G. Dittmer asked if Trombley and prosecutors were discussing a pre-trial intervention — an arrangement in which a defendant pleads guilty, then spends a year on probation without getting into more trouble, and ultimately has charges dropped.

Trombley told the judge “we’re hopeful for something else,” but declined to say after the hearing what that might be. He did say he hopes the matter can be resolved before the next pre-trial hearing, which is set for Jan. 14.

Joe can’t imagine that Talib wants to plead guilty to the first degree misdemeanor charge of simple battery. Perhaps there’s a lesser charge that would satisfy all involved in the criminal case..

Cab driver David Duggan has yet to file a civil suit against Talib, though he told JoeBucsFan.com weeks ago he fully intends to do so.