Barber Says Talib Suspension Unfair
September 8th, 2010
Apparently Ronde Barber thinks Aqib Talib shouldn’t have been suspended and fined for his unprovoked attack on a defenseless citizen, so Barber told Rick Stroud of the St. Pete Times today.
Joe is flabbergasted that Barber is so out of touch.
How could anyone even argue that passenger Talib pouncing on his cab driver cruising down the highway at top speed is not worthy of the punishment Talib received from the NFL: a hefty fine and a one game suspension, which will be served on Sunday.
Sure, one could argue the timing of the suspension was unfair. Yes, the NFL and the Bucs should have made it happen last season. But don’t tell Joe the punishment was unjust.
Maybe Barber isn’t up to speed on what actually happened? But Joe can’t believe that. Barber’s way too smart and aware for that.
Say Barber orders a pizza tonight and decides to shove the Papa John’s guy off his porch for no reason after paying the bill. Would Barber think that he shouldn’t have to miss a game and pay a fine?
Joe suspects that when Talib’s case file is made public record, and statements from taxi passengers Angelo Crowell and Torrie Cox are revealed, Barber will change is attitude.
September 8th, 2010 at 2:49 pm
I think he deserved to be punished, it’s just that Goodell is so unbalanced and biased. Vick fights dogs and get prison time and is excepted right back in the league, Rey Manaluga gets a DUI and gets no suspension, that Brown’s DT gets arrested for having a gun in an airport but doesn’t get suspended, Stallworth is drunk and runs over an old man KILLING him and is aloud to come right back and play, Ben Rapistberger get’s accused and pays off his second rape victim in two years and gets four games?
So Talib was an idiot, but he had the charges dropped and settled out of court. Why does he deserve to get suspended and others don’t?
September 8th, 2010 at 2:51 pm
Joe here,
The charges were not dropped. If Talib completes a year of court ordered counseling, etc., then the state will drop it. It’s still ongoing. If Talib messes up between now and then, he’ll be back in court.
September 8th, 2010 at 2:57 pm
…and then he should be suspended. If he completes his year with no more screw ups, then why suspend him? I think he is a punk ass and I’m not sticking up for him, but it just pisses me off that other team’s idiots get off scott free.
September 8th, 2010 at 2:58 pm
JDouble is right, and Joe, even if 1 game is justified, it should have happened last year. I understand the Warden wants to crack down on idiots – but do it timely and justified. Goodell is basically saying he’s above the law. Since it isn’t settled, neither should the punishment.
September 8th, 2010 at 3:01 pm
JDouble said it perfectly.
September 8th, 2010 at 3:02 pm
I agree a little with Ronde. This is unfair to Talib because it took too long for Goodell to deal out his punishment to him. He should have been punished for this last year.
But if you go around punching cabbies in the middle of the night, you do deserve a punishment.
September 8th, 2010 at 3:05 pm
Jdouble, One correction; POS Vick KILLED DOGS not just fighting them or running a ring! The thing I don’t understand, is he never got charged with KILLING DOGS!
BTW I agree!
September 8th, 2010 at 3:57 pm
The funny thing, we have to do without our best CB in week one, but the Browns get to have thier starting DT that was arrested in an airport just months ago for having a conceled hand gun in an airport….how is that fair?
September 8th, 2010 at 4:04 pm
Welcome to the real world Jdouble. Life’s not fair.
September 8th, 2010 at 4:08 pm
If entering the pre-trial intervention program means that the charges are still pending, then why has Goodell decided to make his ruling? What if Talib flunks the PTI program and has to face a harsher punishment?
Col. Goodell should wait until the smoke clears to make his ruling…
September 8th, 2010 at 4:25 pm
Setting aside the legalities, Big Ben is the worst offender, for having his assistants drag a woman into a bathroom for a rape.
Cabby pouncing seems very mild by comparison.
Talib could easiliy blow the PTI, happens all the time.
September 8th, 2010 at 4:40 pm
This is what Barber actually said:
“I don’t know how the dealings with the league work all the time, but he’s getting unfairly punished in my mind,” Barber said. “But that’s just my opinion. He’s definitely made amends for his transgressions last preseason. I thought he had done enough.”
Barber is not saying that he should not have been punished, just that he had “made amends” already and “done enough.” Barber probably says this (as did Dominik, right?) because Talib entered a written plea of not guilty, but then also reached a monetary settlement with the driver (not a reflection of guilt, probably a reflection of the cost of defending himself) Further, even though he entered a not guilty plea, Talib voluntarily entered a pre-trial intervention program, which likely required Talib to do community service and/or go through an anger management program. Upon successful completion of the program, the charges would be dismissed, which means that the charges will be dropped Joe. They were not dropped yet, but the State has already AGREED to drop them pending completion.
Respectfully, if you look at the PCSO and HCSO websites you will find dozens and dozens of people arrested for “simple battery” and “resisting arrest without violence.” Find one that paid a financial settlment to it “victim.” Find one that has been bashed in the press repeatedly. Find one that was suspended from his/her job. Not only will you not find one, you will find that most had their charges dropped or at least were not punished beyond the pre-trial intervention program.
Not saying Talib was right or wrong, just saying that fame has its privileges, but also its costs.
September 8th, 2010 at 4:50 pm
JimBuc – You are way incorrect about the legal system. Don’t know where to begin. Joe spent years covering courts and cops for a local newspaper.
And you’re mischaracterizing this. Barber says the NFL’s punishment is unfair. Key world NFL.
The NFL issued a two-part punishment. Joe thinks both parts are justified.
And as far as the “real world” scenarios, you’re also way off base. The real world doesn’t work with contracts, only a very small percentage. And in those contracts, for those who have them, are often behavior or morals clauses.
Talib deserves what he got from the NFL.
September 8th, 2010 at 5:09 pm
Big Ben forced his wee-willie-winkie in not just 1 girl, but 2. He got nothing for the first offense, and 4 games for the second one. What Talib did was wrong, but he should have been suspended last year, not this year. This is just further proof of the NFL Hate Policy toward the Bucs. No Night or Prime Time Games. No Coverage on NFL Network, which IMO should have coverage divided somewhat equally between 32 teams and not just 5 or 6. Punching someone does not compare to serial raping of women. Big Ben should be playing in the Big Pen for about 10 years at least, and Aqib should have been suspended last year. BTW, taking a handgun on an Airline is a federal crime, but will not get you a 1 game suspension. And somehow, in that idiot Goodell’s mind this all makes sense and is fair and just. This is the reason we have sentencing guidelines, so some judge (Commish) can’t just pull any punishment he wants out of his @$$, because his wife won’t put out, or somebody cut him off on the freeway. Goodell sucks beyond belief. I wouldn’t hire that POS if he was the last person on Earth. How’s that for over the top Hate? Better than last time, anyway.
September 8th, 2010 at 5:42 pm
You freakin clowns are trying to say that Talib didn’t deserve to be suspended?
THE MORON PUNCHED A CAB DRIVER IN THE BACK OF HIS HEAD.
Talib is LUCKY it was settled.
Talib is LUCKY he only got one game.
Barber has real high morals huh? Didn’t his brother cheat and divorce his pregnant wife? I bet Barber went to bat for his cheating brother Tiki. They are twins, therefore they both get the blame for cheating, and then divorcing his pregnant wife. NICE ONE!
I especially liked the way Tiki left the Giants like biotch, trashed Eli, then Eli turned in a valiant Super Bowl performance. LOL!!!! The Good guy won that one.
But his poor ex-wife lost out on his sick and twisted spin move he made on her.
Both Barbers are pretty much arrogant.
September 8th, 2010 at 5:51 pm
Barber never disagreed with the fine just the suspension based on the fact that he thinks Talib has done enough since last preseason to get suspended a year later.
September 8th, 2010 at 6:37 pm
Joe has a hard on for the cabby b/c he gave Joe an interview…whoop de freakin doo.
No doubt Talib was a drunk fool that night, but the timing of the suspension is the problem. Warden Goodell just seems to make this crap up as he goes along. No consistency.
September 8th, 2010 at 6:45 pm
And there is another fact that only pro football players and boxers struggle with. Theses athletes, from the time they are in jr. High, are praised and rewarded for being violent. They achieve celebrity from their agression and violence on the field. They get scouted and recieve scholarships based on their aggressiveness. Later they make millions of Dollars if they are able to thrive in the destructive world of the NFL. We worship the “Qb Killas”and big hitters. You have to admit we sent really young guys a conflicting message. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t agree with the behavior of any of the guys we are talking about. Football is also primarily a game of skills. And you have to separate “in the field” from “real world”, but if you were them, it might not be as easy to separate as it is for the average person. Mike Tyson never understood why we loved him for almost killing Michael Spinks, but thought he was a jerk for punching somebody at the scene of an accident. Kinda confusing
September 8th, 2010 at 6:48 pm
Or- if you reward young guys for Violence, they may react violently when stressed
September 8th, 2010 at 7:54 pm
When did the NFL become judge and jury in criminal cases? Talib got a suspended sentence, but the NFL deems that is “not enough”? I’m not condoning what Big Ben did, but the case was dropped. He was not exactly found guilty of anything. But the NFL says “you’ll pay anyway”. I don’t think this is a good precedent to set. When employers begin fining and suspending employees for suspicion of guilt or accusations of poor behavior, we’re all in danger of empowered employers docking our pay and sending us home without any danger of repercussion to them. This is not a good direction or example for us to follow. If the NFL has issues with what players are doing, maybe they should petition the court to add work related penalties to their sentence which could include fines or suspensions from work.
September 8th, 2010 at 8:10 pm
Joe, you have no idea how funny this comment is:
“You are way incorrect about the legal system. Don’t know where to begin. Joe spent years covering courts and cops for a local newspaper.”
I also undersatnd that Barber was speaking about the NFL, but I don’t understand why you think that changes the analysis? Barber was basically repeating what Dominik said before:
“Since last fall, Aqib has done all that’s been asked of him and more, on and especially off the field,” Bucs general manager Mark Dominik said in a statement.
September 8th, 2010 at 8:12 pm
Javier (RahDom) — Your comment should be bronzed for its incredible stupidity.
September 8th, 2010 at 8:16 pm
The Nazzi Football League should have suspended him for a pre season game. They must have equal value to them since they charge full price to attend them. This league is really going down the crapper.
September 8th, 2010 at 9:08 pm
Abe Froman Says:
September 8th, 2010 at 6:37 pm
No doubt Talib was a drunk fool that night, but the timing of the suspension is the problem. Warden Goodell just seems to make this crap up as he goes along. No consistency.
—————————————-
Abe,I couldn’t agree more.
Javier, all I can say to that one is: C’mon man.
September 8th, 2010 at 9:16 pm
Ill quote you on this one joe from your blount article- “If it was vile — which Joe fears it was — the guy deserved to get drilled.” we really don’t know the facts and I’m sure ronde knows me than you and I about the whole case. Like you said ronde is a smart guy and who knows he could have been defending himself- The guy prolly deserved it
September 8th, 2010 at 9:44 pm
Joe here,
Posey99 – If you check the archives here, you’ll see that Joe interviewed the State Attorney about the case, the cab driver and the Florida Highway Patrol. …Joe’s also pulled and read the case file. …So Joe is quite confident when he says Ronde is way off base. …The truth will come out when the case file is finally made public.
September 8th, 2010 at 9:56 pm
Didn’t read that one Joe I’ll have to pull it up. If the case file hasn’t been made public then how did you get to read it? Or maybe you mentioned that in your article. I’ll look for that read.
September 8th, 2010 at 10:01 pm
posey99 – Parts of a criminal case file are public, but not everything is public until the case is settled. Standard in really every case. Talib’s case won’t be closed for a while. The pretrial intervention is a deal he struck as a first-time offender in which the State agrees to put the criminial case on hold to give him a year to go through counseling, etc. If he comes out clean and cooperative after that time, then the case is let go.
Talib surely had the money to get a great attorney to beat the criminal charge and the broke cab driver in a civil suit, which should be an indicator just how ugly the case against him is.
September 8th, 2010 at 10:07 pm
Talk about apples and oranges… you are comparing a guy driving a car loaded with passengers down an interstate at 55 mph (likely more) deserves to get blasted putting both he and the passengers and innocent citizens also on the road at the same time in peril to a loadmouth who pops off on a football field???
Really?
September 8th, 2010 at 10:08 pm
Ok I see where your coming from now. My best friend is a NFL starter for the bronco’s. And everywhere we go somebody is always trying to get a buck or screw him outta money or provoking him. Everybody wants a buck, an autograph, tickets or a payday. So when I hear stuff like this that’s where my mind wonders.
September 8th, 2010 at 10:15 pm
You don’t have to be a dick Joe. I wasn’t ripping you.
September 8th, 2010 at 10:24 pm
Sorry Posey99. Maybe the Rays have Joe pissed off. He’s not trying to be an arsehole.
If Talib would have punched that cabbie on a sidewalk you may have had a good point. In Joe’s eyes, the fact the cab was flying down the interstate, well, that’s not the time nor the place to drill a cabbie in the head.
September 8th, 2010 at 10:33 pm
I understand that, I’m just being curious now that good guy ronde has made a comment like he did. Was the cabbie driving way over the speed limit and reckless like they all do and asked to pull over. I don’t know all the details, but what I do know is when some people get put in certain situations and feel trapped they act out to do whatever it takes to stop what’s happening, and thats what I was curious about. No worries ask
My lady how Iam after the
September 8th, 2010 at 10:36 pm
-game
September 8th, 2010 at 10:53 pm
Yeah Talib’s incident was in August of 2009, way before the season even started. Why didn’t they suspend him then?? Would’ve been nice if they could’ve done it during a wasted throwaway season. Now we’re missing him in a game that we probably have the best chance of winning this year.
September 9th, 2010 at 12:12 am
Jimbuc,
I have been representing people on those kind of charges for 25 years. You would be surprised at the havok it can cause, especially for professionals or those in the medical field.
In many cases it can have a bigger impact than missing one game.
Talib is being treated just as anyone else would, but that PTI is not a picnic. Especially in Pinellas County.
September 9th, 2010 at 1:26 am
Ok, maybe this wasn’t some minor thing, as it could have caused a 50 car pile-up on the highway and all. But, the courts seem to think that a “first time offense” is worthy of giving the guy a chance to change his ways. See if he can make amends and stay clean for a while. The NFL, on the other hand, doesn’t care if you’re guilty or not. If a case is brought against you, and the charges are dropped, you’ll still be fined and suspended. First time offense? Fine and suspension, no matter the outcome, no matter what you do to “make amends”. Big Ben had a much worse scenario, the charges were dropped (in effect, not guilty) by the prosecution, he was suspended 6 games, which were then dropped to only 4 (for good behavior). What happened to dropping Talib’s suspension from one to none for good behavior??? Maybe just a fine would have sufficed, so long as he has been good on and off the field since.
September 9th, 2010 at 1:34 am
Joe here,
BamBamBuc – It seems that you and many other fans don’t allow for the possibility that Goodell asked Talib what happened. And Talib simply explained that he belted a defenseless cab driver and endangered his teammates and that he was sorry. …That should still get a suspension and fine. The NFL can’t just turn itscheek on players being violent in the community.
September 9th, 2010 at 9:33 am
Joe,
It was a first offense. He has made amends, according to players and staff. He is doing everything the courts asked. It’s not like he’s a player that has “issues” with this type of thing or it would be a second or third offense. Did he make a mistake? Absolutely. Did he already do whatever was necessary to correct that mistake? Sounds like it to me. Goodell can treat players just like the law does and give them a chance to make amends and not make the same mistake, and if they do, then no, they shouldn’t get a fine or suspension.
September 9th, 2010 at 9:44 am
BamBamBuc:
Wwweeelll…
Remember Talib belted a guy at the NFL rookie symposium he was required to attend. And he tried to rearrange Donald Penn’s face. And he got into it with Rah in a hotel lobby in London.
Joe sees where you are coming from, but it’s not like Talib is a total angel.
September 9th, 2010 at 6:24 pm
the cab driver had it coming to him
September 10th, 2010 at 2:25 am
Its ok Talob can sit this one game, its the Browns
September 10th, 2010 at 2:25 am
Talib