DeMaurice Smith Sold Out Aqib Talib
August 25th, 2011
In an eye-opening column by good guy Maoist Michael Silver, he details on Yahoo! Sports exactly why Bucs troubled cornerback Aqib Talib was summoned to the Park Avenue chambers of NFL warden commissioner Roger Goodell for Talib’s alleged involvement in a Texas pistol whipping and attempted shooting this spring.
Per Silver, in the final minutes of the asinine lockout when the new CBA talks were wrapping up, Goodell insisted on lording over players he deemed incorrigible despite the fact that players were locked out, prevented from stepping foot on any NFL or team property, and players and their families denied health benefits.
And what did Smith do when Goodell demanded authority to sentence players while locked out? Per Silver, Smith caved.
It doesn’t surprise me that Goodell is eager to ignore the absurdity of this position. I understand why the commissioner wants to “protect the shield” and ensure that those players whose actions he feels tarnished the league’s brand face harsh consequences. However, when he presumably informed Smith of this as the final stages of CBA negotiations were playing out, the union leader’s answer should have been, “I’m sure you do want to punish them. Well, you and the owners should have considered that before you locked us out.”
I don’t know for a fact that Smith didn’t object, but if he did, he should have fought harder. The mere fact that Goodell summoned Britt and Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Aqib Talib to his office is a sign that the union went too soft on this issue. It may have been a lot worse than that: One source familiar with the negotiations claims Goodell, before resolving the issue of whether personal conduct violators during the lockout could be disciplined, “wanted eight names off the top who would definitely get punished, and apparently he got his way.”
Wow. It seems Goodell has been out to sentence Talib for some time now.
This does not bode well for Talib, nor the Bucs.
This smells to Joe like a nasty, ugly, lengthy suspension.
August 25th, 2011 at 12:49 pm
Really can’t stand Goodell. I think he’s been a terrible commish.
August 25th, 2011 at 1:00 pm
I don’t stand Goodell, but I hate stupidity even more and to tell you the truth Talib is as stupid as it comes. He needs to get punish and hope he learns his lesson it worries me that if no one puts an end to his doings he is going to hurt this team even more, maybe kill someone after we give him a big contract extention.
Talib needs to be a man take it like a man and stay away from the crazy @ss people he be hanging around with.
August 25th, 2011 at 1:06 pm
I’m not buying the “Free time” arguement either.
If there was not a lock out,
Aqib still would have gotten in trouble.
Bucs fans have been hoping that the lockout would have given a “loop hole” applied to Talib.
Aint gonna Happen.
The 6-8 weeks that the Professsor at BSPN reported sounds like it might happen.
If he were on any other team,
All Bucs fans would have thrown the book at him.
I know, “innocent until proven guilty”.
but this dude is always around trouble.
Maybe it’s him.
August 25th, 2011 at 1:06 pm
Acting on your best behaviour
Turn your back on mother nature
Everybody wants to rule the world
Hey Roger,
They Bucs need to sell tickets too, buddy.
Talib helps with that.
August 25th, 2011 at 1:12 pm
Goodell is a joke, and De Smith is the freaking punchline. Smith needs to be removed from his position more than Talib does, it looks like he didn’t do his job at all when crafting the union details of the CBA. How Goodell can be the only person who passes judgment on players, and especially being able to punish players during a time period where there was no conduct policy for them to abide by is ASININE!
To the people who want to see Talib jettisoned, take a walk. You sound as if you’ve never made a bad decision. Let me ask you, if your sister was getting beaten by another man, and if you don’t have a sister – you’re mother is getting beaten by another man – tell me what you would do. What would your response be, how much restraint would you show?
If I came to help my sister/mother and found she was being assaulted by another man, my shots wouldn’t have missed.
August 25th, 2011 at 1:21 pm
this league blows. WE WANT TAGLIABUE!
August 25th, 2011 at 1:29 pm
LOL
August 25th, 2011 at 1:29 pm
I see nothing wrong with the NFL being able to punish its employees. There is a great deal of money on the line. If the league isn’t proactive the press gives the NFL owners a hard time.
As an employee for a large corporation, my corporation would most certainly fire me if I did something repeatedly which reflected bad on the company.
Time for these stupid young athletes to grow up. Time to appreciate what they have and good for the NFL for protecting it’s image and the sport.
August 25th, 2011 at 1:31 pm
@Jrock
Couldn’t have said it better.
August 25th, 2011 at 1:32 pm
I don’t have a problem with Goodell the man – I have a problem with Goodell the office. In other words I have a problem with unbridled or unchecked authority – any autocratic authority. Lawyers have rules, judges have rules, even presidents have limitations. But Goodell is an authority all to himself. I’m dating myself, but I once saw a western movie called “Tom Horn” where the cattlemen hired Horn to rid the range of rustlers. He did his job so well, the law be damned, that the very men that hired him plotted to do away with him. Goodell’s unmitigated enthusiam for the job may one day cause his own demise.
August 25th, 2011 at 1:32 pm
This smells of a lawsuit.
Talib and the others, if punished, should demand the NFLPA fight tooth and nail to overturn. If they don’t, they should sue. The NFL has absolutley no right to do anything to these players, whether you believe they deserve it or not, becaus they technically were not employed by the NFL at the time.
August 25th, 2011 at 1:32 pm
Not a fan of Smith or Goodell but Talib did this, all of this, to himself. The guy is a nightmare!
August 25th, 2011 at 1:37 pm
Talib did this to himself, he continues to put himself into these types of situations. People can bash the Commish, but he is not the one putting these players into stupid situations.
Talib cannot be trusted and/or counted upon….he’s a talented mess who needs a serious life wake up call, perhaps this upcoming football reality check will be what he needs to get his act together.
August 25th, 2011 at 1:43 pm
Jrock,
If my sister was living with a registered sex offender and my mom was a convicted felon I’d tell ’em to fight their own battles.
August 25th, 2011 at 1:43 pm
The unfortunate reality is Talib was stillunder contract to an NFL team, lock outor not his contact was still valid, thus bringing him under the rules of the NFL.
August 25th, 2011 at 1:49 pm
@k_bassuka “Talib needs to be a man take it like a man and stay away from the crazy @ss people he be hanging around with.” You mean his family? Great advice.
August 25th, 2011 at 1:50 pm
@ Jrock
If I’m a coward and my mother or sister was being beaten by a man, I would pull a gun and start shooting, but I usually would’ve fought the guy instead. That is unless the guy has a gun and then I’m going to go wild, wild west on his @ss. Regardless if I had a job and I knew I was already on the short rope cause of other stupidity then I would be expecting to be punished even if I view my actions as being right at that moment.
August 25th, 2011 at 1:52 pm
Let’s hope Biggers studied last years tape against Detroit. Megatron made him look silly out there.
August 25th, 2011 at 1:55 pm
@ Muaha Deeb
Sometimes it’s ok to stay away from crazy people even if they’re your family. I had a close cousin like my brother R.I.P that was crazy and killed some people and when I realized how crazy he was I stayed away from him. Still loved him, but since he didn’t wanted to listen I wasn’t going to allow his decisions to affect me, too bad my brother thought the same as you…R.I.P. to him too.
August 25th, 2011 at 1:56 pm
I heard, Goodell agreed not to discipline approximately two dozen players for conduct during the lockout in exchange for punishing the eight players are repeat offenders.
It doesn’t look good for Talib. Sorry Talib, but 4 strikes and… well.. you’ve been out!
August 25th, 2011 at 1:57 pm
NFLPA should have hired a Jew as their lawyer and executive director.
August 25th, 2011 at 1:58 pm
@k_bassuka Your cousin is not your Mother and Sister(whom he saved from being beaten by a scumbag). You can’t just let your family be abused because of your career. You protect your loved ones at all costs. Talib did, and I applaud him.
August 25th, 2011 at 2:01 pm
@ Mauha Deeb
I totally agree. Read my other post and you will see what I think about that issue.
August 25th, 2011 at 2:12 pm
eights for talib.
08.2009 cabbie
08.2011 goddells office
8 men on goddels list of shame the n.f.l
thats 3 eights talib and 3 aces godell
game still in play. is it 4 aces goddell 4,eights talib? if so eights not good for talib.possible eight games on the couch if eights are his lucky roll
August 25th, 2011 at 2:12 pm
As much as I hate corrupt, dictatorial structures such as the NFL commissioner’s office I have to say that the players can control Goodell by controlling their own behavior.
No one is punished for being an honest, upstanding, law-abiding citizen. They get punished in general for being f-ck ups.
If players don’t want suspensions, they have complete control over their decisions of where & when to put themselves in life and where & when not to.
They know the law and they know the NFL’s rules. Being forewarned means the responsibility falls squarely on the shoulders of the player. As hard as I try I just can’t feel sorry for Talib.
August 25th, 2011 at 2:13 pm
Does anyone actually approve of the way Goodell is running the league and changing the game. He needs to go until it’s too late.
August 25th, 2011 at 2:14 pm
BEFORE it’s too late.
Damn jackwagon.
August 25th, 2011 at 2:51 pm
In regard to Talib, reading betwen the lines I think the lawyers might be trying to work some behind the scenes deal.
At one point one of his counsel said he thought he could end the case by the end of the month.
While the prosecutors case is weak in some areas, its hard to see how Talib has a legal defense to improper public discharge of a firearm, which is a felony, but less serious that agg assault with a deadly weapon.
Maybe they are trying to swing a grand deal with the DA and Goodell at the same time for a shorter suspension.
August 25th, 2011 at 2:59 pm
“This smells to Joe like a nasty, ugly, lengthy suspension.”
You also said that it was the end of Talib because a local store stopped carrying any Talib merchandise.
You tend to be a bit dramatic.
I don’t what to expect. I just know that RG is enforcing things in an inconsistent manner.
August 25th, 2011 at 3:07 pm
FlBoyinDallas- couldn’t have said it better. If you don’t want suspended- don’t be a habitual f**kup!! Those defending Aqib wouldnt do so if he was slapping them in the head. If he sticks around, Meybe on of the apologist will be victim to his next thug outburst.
My question is, why did the Bucs do nothing to protect the team from this suspension? Our starting corners are Barber and Biggers. I’m sorta ok with that. Lewis, if he can stay healthy , gets to play Nickel. Hopefully he can do it. We don’t know. But we do know this- ronde is 36. If he tweaks a hamstring( god I hope not!). Now it’s Biggers, Meybe Lewis, and Mack. I’m not ok with that. Against White and Jones in Atlanta?? Against Colston and crew in New Orleans? What about 4 receiver packages- which they both run alot? Gaitor?
If that’s the case, we’re lucky to win 8. All the momentum for this young team is out the door. Fan interest will chill even more, reaching the freezing point.
Wouldn’t it have been smarter to sign a good Cornerback? We pretty much knew Talib was a goner. And you can’t count on him at any rate. We had abundant opportunity to make Talib a non issue- and instead, his immaturity can affect the entire teams future.
It was ignorant to count on Aqib. He’s shown again and again you can’t. The team bet on a lame horse. It may cost them a great deal!
August 25th, 2011 at 3:13 pm
I think we can ride it out, actually. Gaitor has looked fantastic along with Barber & Biggers. Lewis should be 100% very quickly here and that’s another plus. Unless the injury bug bites in a big way I see the DB’s being pretty strong. Just my take.
August 25th, 2011 at 3:49 pm
CaptTim When you said “Lewis… gets to play Nickel” did you mean he would play the Nickle CB position or just play in Nickel packages?
August 25th, 2011 at 3:59 pm
Joe, I think people have stopped reading the articles, and either stop at one sentence or are just reading the headlines. This has been a trend lately. the Foster article was another example.
Bucswin…sarcasm my friend, Joe was using sarcasm. He even called the Times out when they said Talib would be cut at the end of the lockout…and he did that before the end of the lockout.
August 25th, 2011 at 5:16 pm
Yes, it’s time to get the lawyer involved and have a judge block the suspension until the case is heard.
August 25th, 2011 at 11:03 pm
I smell lawsuit from the players against Mr DeSmith. What a dumb ass agreeing to something like discipline during lockout. Watch Talib plays the year. This is why we haven’t heard nothing yet. This is a mess.
August 26th, 2011 at 12:26 am
What did Talib do? I hear all these people screaming that he brought this on himself and should be punished. But what did he do? According to everyone present EXCEPT THE GUY WHO WAS ASSAULTING HIS FAMILY, Talib really didn’t do anything. He didn’t have a gun, according to witnesses. So, thus, he didn’t fire.
So, he’s being fined for telling a guy to stop beating his mother and sister and being present when somebody else shot at the thug accosting his family.
In what sense did he bring this on himself? How is it wrong? And what right does the NFL have to punish him for that?
I guess some people wish he’d just let his mom get her butt kicked. Yeah, that would have been better!
August 26th, 2011 at 2:11 am
Sorry, McBuc. That wasn’t sarcasm.
August 26th, 2011 at 3:01 am
There is a HUGE “IF” factor with this Talib issue. The courts can rule that his actions were justified while defending his family, and the accusations that he fired a weapon or tried to pistol whip the x-boyfriend were false.
In the cases where punishment was laid down prior to court/charges were Vick’s dog fighting and Ben’s rape. Those 2 “accusations” can be true or false however they can never be ruled as justifiable action by the court! If they punish Talib and the courts rule his actions as justified the league is going to face a
August 26th, 2011 at 3:03 am
There is a HUGE “IF” factor with this Talib issue. The courts can rule that his actions were justified while defending his family, and the accusations that he fired a weapon or tried to pistol whip the x-boyfriend were false.
In the cases where punishment was laid down prior to court/charges were Vick’s dog fighting and Ben’s rape. Those 2 “accusations” can be true or false however they can never be ruled as justifiable action by the court! If they punish Talib and the courts rule his actions as justified the league is going to face a serious issue.
August 26th, 2011 at 5:42 am
I’ve never heard of a “good guy Maoist” before. FREE OKOLO!
August 26th, 2011 at 7:23 am
The point here that most of you are missing is thinking that he is going to be punish for his later tirade, and that’s not the case. He is going to get punish (and I hope he doesn’t for the sake of the team) for being so stupid since he got into the league. That’s the main issue that his track record is getting close to that of a known Pac-Man and some people don’t trust him any longer.
August 26th, 2011 at 8:01 am
Bucswin…for some reason the first part of my post did not go through. I was refering to the past article that you quoted, this one…
“You also said that it was the end of Talib because a local store stopped carrying any Talib merchandise.”
Joe, correct me if I am wrong, but I believe you wrote that line in sarcasm.
August 26th, 2011 at 10:17 am
Maybe Talib can get the attorneys to file an injunction allowing him to play. Isn’t that what they did up in Minnesota to keep their defensive tackle Williams on the field a few years ago?
August 26th, 2011 at 3:36 pm
Talib is stupid for allowing himself to get into these ghetto thug mishaps. Its old already and he is a talented corner but this is where the character issue beats out and ruins the talented player arguement since he is just going to be suspended every year until finally thrown out of the league. T Jack is on the same path as well. That is why this year we really could have been smart and spent the money on nnamdi asomugha and been better off now and in the long run.
Its going to bite Mark Dominic and Rah Rah that they stuck to this only draft players and look for practice squad players and shun the FA option. If I remember correctly the Bucs won their SuperBowl with some free agent additions lets see Keyshwan, Keenan, Joe J, to name a few FA adds. Brad Johnson wasnt drafted by the Bucs was he?
Yeah sorry no team in the history of the NFL has ever just drafted all their own players and not used FA to build their team.
August 26th, 2011 at 9:50 pm
Brian, key was a trade and the biggest name of any of those guys. The Bucs did not pick those guys up in Dungy’s second year either. When Chucky got the team it was in pretty good shape, it justed needed some FA guys and Gruden to put them over the top. Relax and give it time. NA wanted to go to the Eagles, geez, you guys are a bunch of cry babies.