Aqib Talib May Be A Free Man
January 3rd, 2018
Is a return possible?
Joe doesn’t have to remind Bucs fans of the colossal personnel gaffes this franchise has made in the post-Chucky era.
You can start with turning Michael Bennett loose for no good reason, add on cutting Darrelle Revis in his prime, sprinkle in trading away Mark Barron, and from there, Joe just wants to start throwing rocks at moving cars down U.S. 19.
Joe has already written as miserable as the Bucs are at defensive end, despite his age and baggage, the Bucs need to chase down Bennett who believes he will be cut by Seattle.
And it seems another former player who has made regular trips to the Pro Bowl (after leaving Tampa Bay) and who also has rings in his jewelry box, helmet-wielding, cabbie-slugging, granny-hassling, gun-totin’ Aqib Talib, may be looking for work.
It seems John Elway has a mess on his hands and his once proud Broncos franchise is now in turmoil. So much so that Talib told Vic Lombardi of Altitude 950-AM in Denver he may be sent packing, so reports Nicki Jhabvala of the Denver Post.
“If I wasn’t (returning), it wouldn’t be the most surprising thing in the world. You have three corners making big money and that’s rare to have,” Talib said. “I had conversations with our staff during our exit meetings and stuff, so it’s kind of up in the air. But I wouldn’t be surprised if I’m still here.
“Just put it like this: I had good conversations with (coach) Vance (Joseph), with (defensive coordinator) Joe Woods. I mean, things change. But there’s a chance I will be back.”
Now Talib turns 31 next month. An old man by cornerback standards. Yeah, he’s younger than Brent Grimes, but Grimes is a total freak of nature. Thanks to Miko, he has a strict, extremely healt-conscious diet very few have, even few athletes. He’s convinced that has something to do with his longevity.
If Grimes doesn’t come back to the Bucs, your starting cornerbacks for 2018 currently look to be Robert McClain and Ryan Smith.
That thought likely makes Bucs fans, instead of running for their checkbook to cough over season ticket money, race to CVS for a bottle of Mylanta.
Joe doesn’t know if Talib has or has not burned through his nine lives here. Talib told Joe a couple of years ago at a Super Bowl media day that he knows he burned through his chances with the Bucs for acting like such a nitwit. Besides, Talib didn’t have the street cred (yet) as a player for any team to tolerate his nonsense that seemed to crop up every couple of months.
Talib told Joe that same day he still has a fantastic relationship with Team Glazer but understood fully why the Bucs gave up on him. Not too many teams would have tolerated all his nonsense.
Talib told Joe that he grew up a lot playing for Bill Belicheat.
Only Team Glazer remains from the administration that traded Talib. Joe isn’t sure if Talib would be welcomed back. And, yes, he does come with baggage — dude is still a loose cannon.
But if the Bucs somehow cannot influence Grimes, a free agent, to return, the team is then beyond hurting at cornerback.
Sometimes a team and an organization just has to bite the bullet because the alternative is so much worse.
Hat tip: @Chrisbell323
January 3rd, 2018 at 3:46 pm
No Freak’n way !…..we are talking about moving out the last class of his type….
January 3rd, 2018 at 3:50 pm
Not the worst idea, not the best idea!
January 3rd, 2018 at 3:53 pm
I’m not sure if I would put personnel gaffs in the same category as Talib.
Great talent, high draft pick, but as you said absolutely burned through his chances here. I’m surprised we got anything for him.
Now, if we want to talk about the inability to manage and coach players like Talib, Revis, Barron, and Bennett.. then I’m all ears!
January 3rd, 2018 at 3:54 pm
Who the h3LL wants that locker room / on field cancer? Isn’t that what Baker already is?
January 3rd, 2018 at 3:57 pm
Joe is pretty sure he detailed why in the last paragraph.
How much of a cancer truly is Talib? He’s been on two teams that won Super Bowls. Additionally, unlike Swaggy Baker, Talib balls out and made the Pro Bowl again this season.
Yes, he comes with baggage Which is better, to watch two corners get roasted weekly like Thanksgiving turkeys in 2018 or bring in a nutcase who can actually play at a high level?
January 3rd, 2018 at 3:57 pm
Hey jon is getting the band back, why can’t we get the band back together? Talib and Bennett. Add another cb and de in draft .
January 3rd, 2018 at 3:58 pm
We could really do some things on the defense side of the ball.
January 3rd, 2018 at 4:02 pm
I just want to know if Talib and Winston take Uber together. The pistol whipper and the groper. Allegedly…
January 3rd, 2018 at 4:05 pm
He’ll fit perfect in Oakland with Jon.
January 3rd, 2018 at 4:07 pm
sprinkle in trading away Mark Barron and from there
———
If there weren’t two joes I’d swear you were bi-polar. Just yesterday one of the joes politely reminded us that the Barron trade yielded Ali and Kwon. I thought about that for awhile and I’m not sold that the Bucs won that trade.
I luv me some Ali Marpet but frankly he’s an undersized guard playing center and he gets handled by the best DTs in the league mainly Aaron Donald
Kwon well if Joes beef about Barron was his coverage skills the I’m afraid kwon would have the same issues regardless of his 4 Ints.
Truth is TB as a whole has clowned and ridiculed some of the best talent in the league and now that your holier than though culture has failed miserably you want to consider taking all these THUGS back? Lol, laughable.
Go find some choir boys like gmc. He’s the best in the world you know 🤥
January 3rd, 2018 at 4:08 pm
No…….just NO.
Let’s look forward from now on.
January 3rd, 2018 at 4:10 pm
Talib had 1 INT and only 31 tackles in 15 games started this year.
Hardly worth his $12M price tag.
No to bringing in an aging Talib for more than $7-$8M. I’d rather have 35 year old Grimes for that price.
January 3rd, 2018 at 4:14 pm
im on the fence regarding talib…..unquestionable talent no doubt….but how much does he have left in the tank and does he want to win another championship or just collect a few more checks…..GO BUCS!!!
January 3rd, 2018 at 4:19 pm
Let the Bucs keep playing these nice guys and finishing last every year,or add some grown men that know how to play the game of football. These guy have op ions and will voice them, so what, look outside the windows and see these player’s waving their rings, what a joke grow up folks.
January 3rd, 2018 at 4:20 pm
What was Talibs nonsense past the punching of a cab driver? The fact he fired a gun at a convicted sex offender that was violating a restraining order harassing his sister? The only heat Talib should have got from that was for missing the shot. It’s amazing to me how people spun that story into him being the bad guy – and the fake news St Pete Times lead the charge on that story.
Talib was ran out of town by the Jersey Trash ™ Schiano and given away to the Patriots because Schiano’s mancrush in New England needed a corner – just like he needed a RB when Schiano gave away Blount. Blount, Bennett, Talib – those were not Schiano men…
January 3rd, 2018 at 4:22 pm
No one thinks this is a playoff team. You would only make a move for big time certs if you think you are a playoff team. It’s why I wouldn’t pay for Brent Grimes unless they plan to make a serious run at the playoffs otherwise just keep building through the draft and signing mid tier guys as a bridge. But considering licht and Koetter would get fired with another record like 2017 they better make a run at the playoffs because why should they care about the salary cap if they won’t be here
January 3rd, 2018 at 4:23 pm
HARD PASS!
January 3rd, 2018 at 4:25 pm
Pickgrin – LOL! Reading box scores on corners to determine their value is one of the moronic things you can do. Deion Sanders would go years at a time with only like 2 INTs and 25 tackles because teams didn’t throw the ball his way. Same with Revis, when he was at the top of his game he had like 2 INTs and 35 tackles because teams didn’t throw his way.
Ryan Smith meanwhile, the worst corner I’ve ever seen in my life play at the NFL level, he didn’t even play full time this year and had 62 tackles. Why is that? Because teams constantly threw the ball his way and WRs constantly caught the ball and thus he had to tackle someone.
January 3rd, 2018 at 4:26 pm
A multiple time pro bowler drafter by Jon Gruden. Who can’t evaluate talent.
January 3rd, 2018 at 4:32 pm
Is he better than Vernon Hargreaves? If the answer is yes, then my answer is yes.
January 3rd, 2018 at 4:32 pm
For those that think the Bucs aren’t close to being a playoff team, I’ll restate some fun facts from the schedule. The Bucs played the hardest schedule in the league, having to play 9 games against playoff teams – and the Bucs only lost ONE game to a team with a losing record, and that was in OT to GB, a team that went 7-9.
The Bucs beat the same number of playoff teams that the Titans and Jags beat this year, one. The Bucs lost two games to the SB teams, the Falcons and Pats because of their kicker. Additionally the Bucs lost nearly every close game they were in. A few key players here and there and some MUCH better coaching and they could have a big turn around….
Except they play in the NFC South which ultimately dooms them.
But hey, maybe Brees wins a SB and retires, maybe Matt Ryan finds out that putting the pressure of a helmet on his huge forehead only makes his forehead bigger and he has some self awareness and quits the game, and maybe Cam, in an even number year, flops. IF all that happens AND the Bucs get some guys AND they get better coaching, who knows! Better, maybe the Glazers convince the NFL to let them switch divisions to the AFC South where they can play a cupcake schedule like the Titans and Jags.
January 3rd, 2018 at 4:33 pm
Would take him in an absolute minute. Although taking with bisachia and the rest of the leagues finest – he would likely go play for Gruden. Loving this decision by the glazers more and more 👍🏻👍🏻
January 3rd, 2018 at 4:35 pm
NOOOOOO!!!! Stop signing these old ass players thinking they’re just gonna come in and ball. We are as far away from the Patriots in that type of situation as there could be. These old guys just want to get paid. Try spending all the money we have on youthful pro bowl type players in FA and we can try to start playing some football.
January 3rd, 2018 at 4:36 pm
Talib, in his professional twilight and having proven pretty much everything there is to prove in this league, coming to a reeling franchise most likely because they offered the fattest final contract he saw. what could possibly go wrong?
January 3rd, 2018 at 4:37 pm
Ward was a Pro Bowler as well off the same team. I’m passing. To old and to much money. Better options out there. Patience is a virtue. Be patient he hasn’t even been released and just maybe better options will surface.
January 3rd, 2018 at 4:46 pm
Pick6
Amen brother. Let me add in that he’s now fabulously wealthy and so money will not be the same motivator as early in his career
Well Rod we find another area where we agree. I think despite what the record says this team was actually better than last years.
You pointed to strength of schedule…seven losses by one score or less…we are not that far away…we NEED to fortify our lines.
January 3rd, 2018 at 4:47 pm
You sign Talib and Malcolm Butler and I don’t care how much you overpay for them. Draft Derwin James and you automatically have one of the best secondaries in the NFL
Side note: Talib snatching Crabtree’s chain is one of my favorite things I’ve ever seen happen during a football game
January 3rd, 2018 at 4:49 pm
“add on cutting Darrelle Revis in his prime”
__________
Revis played 4 years after he left here and had a Total of 7 picks in those four years. I would hardly say he was in his Prime. Definitely not worth a Mil a game.
January 3rd, 2018 at 4:49 pm
could be interesting…he could snatch chucky’s chain too as he runs by him on the sidelines…
the bucs could put a bounty out on chucky’s neckwear…
talib the street beast would handle it
January 3rd, 2018 at 4:50 pm
I’d rather go 0-16.
January 3rd, 2018 at 4:52 pm
Among many offenses, the last straw was when he tested positive for a banned substance.
January 3rd, 2018 at 4:52 pm
Eric Says:
January 3rd, 2018 at 4:26 pm
A multiple time pro bowler drafter by Jon Gruden. Who can’t evaluate talent.
————————————
ADD superbowl champ Eric, SMH, If we ever win a superbowl again it will be in interesting to see
what fake hidden fake transplant fans are happy or mad, (and no I’m not hating I’m a ex Bronxer)
January 3rd, 2018 at 4:53 pm
I know you were being facrtious eric ….I agree lol
January 3rd, 2018 at 4:53 pm
facetious*
January 3rd, 2018 at 4:57 pm
LOL! People people, stop quoting INT stats on corners, it’s a completely meaningless stat. Revis, in his prime, had a year with ZERO ints, and a bunch of years of 2 INTs, same with Deion Sanders. Teams don’t throw on elite corners, thus they don’t get a lot of INTs most of the time. The Tecmo Bowl legend that is Wayne Haddix should make you dolts figure that out – the guy is the Bo Jackson of defense in the game because he had 6 INTs and 3 TDs in 1990 – then he’s out of the NFL the next season. Often corners get INTs in years when people don’t know about them or they’re building their rep. For example Ronde Barber had 10 INTS in 2001 – the next year, 2002, he only had 2. WOW, Ronde must have been horrible in 2002, right? NO, he was one of the best corners in football and teams didn’t throw his way, instead they threw at Brian Kelly who had 8 INTs. Brain Kelly was really good for the Bucs, but he wasn’t as good as Ronde, not even that year.
January 3rd, 2018 at 4:57 pm
Talib had 1 INT and only 31 tackles in 15 games started this year.
Hardly worth his $12M price tag.
_____________________________________________________
Super short sighted conclusion you have there. Teams simply do not throw his way. He’s lost a small step from his dominant superbowl yr with Denver, but he is still a top 5 corner. And frankly, maybe the Bucs could use a little nastiness as well. In any case, Interceptions are not the only Metric in which you base a defensive back..
January 3rd, 2018 at 5:05 pm
This is why Bucs need to pay Grimes and keep him. Grimes works his tail off on the field and has 0% off field issues.
January 3rd, 2018 at 5:05 pm
Joe – Kwon was nabbed for “banned” substances too. I get Kwon doesn’t have the same history, but still, lots of players are popped for the same thing. To my memory that happened once – if I’m wrong then let me know.
Talib was clearly by far the best corner the Bucs had, he was a home grown talent, and the Bucs gave him away for nothing and the local media (not including you since I’m not sure I read you back then) lead the charge of running him out of town. When the details of the “shooting” came out it completely changed the story yet the media continued to spin it as him being the bad guy – and he clearly wasn’t in that case. He seemed like a real jerk off, but who cares, if we want a bunch of nice guys we could have them, and go 1-15. For every Brooks and Dunn you have Sapp and Keyshawn – that’s a good mix of players to have.
January 3rd, 2018 at 5:11 pm
We have a million issues on this roster… If we have a chance to sign a guy like this we have to take it. His next contract will likely not have a large impact on our salary cap in the extended future. Grimes and Talib combo would be a great 1,2 corner combo in my opinion.
January 3rd, 2018 at 5:14 pm
Joe is it a stretch to say we could resign Grimes AND land Talib?!
Not a stretch! Make it rain, Team Glazer. Make it rain.–Joe
January 3rd, 2018 at 5:16 pm
Yeah ok Rod…….He had 20 Picks in his first 7 years, With a 0 in his first. So 20 picks in 6 years vs. 7 picks in his last four. Yeah you have a right to talk about ignorance. Carry on rod muncher
January 3rd, 2018 at 5:17 pm
Never said Revis wasn’t Great! Just that he was Not in his prime by any means.
January 3rd, 2018 at 5:22 pm
Give Mike Smith the two best pass rushers in the draft to pair with McCoy add talib and re sign Brent Grimes and Smith’s defense will STILL be horrible
January 3rd, 2018 at 5:23 pm
We don’t need to be looking for over the hill Superstar players, rather young talented guys that aren’t getting playing time because they are behind stars at their position. Think when the falcons signed Micheal Turner.
January 3rd, 2018 at 5:23 pm
To be fair Rod a great many of your points are correct IMO. Good examples too. However INTs are Not a meaningless stat. They mean more in some instances than other but Not meaningless when a CBs only job is to defend passes and INT is the ultimate goal
January 3rd, 2018 at 5:44 pm
I’d welcome him back.
When he left, he had to go. He has grown up and matured and redeemed himself since then.
On a related note to Denver, Kirk cousins absolutely needs to go to the Denver Broncos and the Broncos can draft something else besides a QB
January 3rd, 2018 at 5:57 pm
I just wonder if he’d fit well as a more physical CB opposite Grimes who relies on athleticism / instincts more. Ideally we would use him on other teams’ #1 WR; but i’m just concerned that Mike Smith is in love with tiny CBs and off-zone-coverage.
January 3rd, 2018 at 6:05 pm
The guy is not a cancer. Man some of you guys are babies. Its a big boys league. Theyre not choir boys. I want wins not a team of church going non playoff playing men. I just dont think it matters much who the corners are in a mike smith defense. He plays them all 10 yards off regardless of who they are. Weve seen he makes a ln 11th overall picl, a 4th rounder and everyone else look about the same. Spend every last cent available on defensive ends and pass rushing tackles IF smith stays. Hope not tho. Del rio would be an instant huge upgrade. I hope dirk figures it out soon. Cmon dirk grow a pair and fire your boytoy smitty.
January 3rd, 2018 at 6:19 pm
You guys are focused on the wrong things. Don’t you know the most important thing is that the coach is a straight shooter and is all nicety nice to the local press?
And that the players love him?
January 3rd, 2018 at 6:46 pm
Sorry, but when you have a qb who turns the ball over, interceptions mean a lot for our defense. When Talib was here, he got in constant trouble and had a bad attitude.
Now he is old too.
Pass.
January 3rd, 2018 at 6:48 pm
darin, he shove his head coach while exchanging words in London. That’s a cancer.
January 3rd, 2018 at 6:59 pm
Im on board! I think coming back to the team that drafted him will help him help himself also.
Bennet no…..Talib YES!
January 3rd, 2018 at 7:33 pm
More of a cancer than he was when he was here. He has made money, he has a ring, he would under perform just to get a pay check (ie Fatty Baker). We need young, Hungary corners who want to win and fit our team.
January 3rd, 2018 at 7:34 pm
C’mon back son – we need u. All is forgiven
January 3rd, 2018 at 7:43 pm
I don’t Talib will even consider Tampa after what happened the first time around, and after his old “No Fly Zone” running mate, TJ Ward badmouths the Bucs coaching staff as I’m assuming he’ll do …
January 3rd, 2018 at 7:49 pm
Passing Defense Ranking
• (2017) – 260.6 ypg. || Ranks 32nd
• (2016) – 250.8 ypg. || Ranks 22nd
• (2015) – 240.0 ypg. || Ranks 17th
Elite Corners don’t fall off trees.
And Aqib Talib is one of the best coverage defenders in the league.
So…
January 3rd, 2018 at 7:50 pm
All you GMC haters. There is no direct relationship between being nice and weakness on the field. Best Buc examples: Selmon, Brooks, Barber, David, and many other fan favorites were nice guys. McCoy has the respect of all players and coaches in the league.
Get a life.
January 3rd, 2018 at 7:58 pm
Preach it LUV!!
January 3rd, 2018 at 8:03 pm
Not for signing plaxico talib. He just doesn’t use good judgement. And punching a taxicab driver in the back of the head as you are crossing a bridge over Tampa
Bay is a foolish thing to do IMO. There was a reason he wore out his welcome
here. Also he almost lost it in the early going of the superbowl and his teammates had to pull him aside and calm him down. Lots of talent no doubt but he still can be a loose cannon.
January 3rd, 2018 at 8:45 pm
This idea is somewhere between totally fantastic and batsh*t crazy.
January 3rd, 2018 at 8:53 pm
Talib is far more of a professional today than he was as a Buc.
January 3rd, 2018 at 9:02 pm
MadMax
Sup Bruh! Hope All Is Well
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Offense
Kerryon Johnson • Auburn
Damien Harris • Alabama
Martez Carter • Grambling State
Lavon Coleman • Washington
Marcel Ateman • Oklahoma State
Allen Lazard • Iowa State
D.J. Moore • Maryland
Wyatt Teller • VaTech
Frank Ragnow • Arkansas
Brandon Parker • North Carolina A&T
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Defense
Duke Ejiofor • Wake Forest
Ja’Von Jones • Arkansas St.
Justin Lawler • Southern Methodist
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B.J. Hill • N.C St.
Daylon Mack • Texas A&M
Shaun Hamilton • Alabama
D.J. Calhoun • Arizona State
Arrion Springs • Oregon
Donovan Wilson • Texas A&M
Marcus Allen • Penn St.
January 3rd, 2018 at 9:32 pm
Trading Mark Barron a mistake?
The mistake was drafting Barron instead of Luke Kuechly.
January 3rd, 2018 at 10:19 pm
I didn’t know the NFL had players from Hungary Buc4life🤣😂🤣
January 3rd, 2018 at 10:23 pm
Man Lavonte, Kuechley and Kwon? I shudder at the thought of that trio! Passing on Kuechley was a deal breaker. Coach heads shoulda rolled on that one!
January 3rd, 2018 at 10:41 pm
I don’t blame the Bucs for not taking Kuechly since they had a young promising middle linebacker in Mason Foster and it wasn’t an area of need. However I hated the pick of Barron since if you’re drafting a safety that high they need to be an elite prospect – and Barron wasn’t that. Now the picks most people had the Bucs taking was Blackmon or Claiborne – Blackmon was a complete bust and Claiborne has underperformed his entire career. For me I fall back on the old advice I heard many many years ago, if you’re at the top of the draft, in the top 10 or so, you never take a DB over a DL unless they’re a special talent – and a special talent means they have exceptional combine numbers in addition to their on-field play. Again Barron didn’t have that, and neither did VH3. With that said I think most people felt like Blackmon was the correct pick so it could have been worse. But saying we should have taken Luke – at the time that would have made no sense considering the 3rd round investment in Foster (and solid play) of Foster the year before.
January 4th, 2018 at 1:19 am
H to the ELL No! No Talib. He’s at the tail end of his career and with a rebuilding franchise, he’s just gonna cash in his checks. Add Michael Bennett to that as well. Both will mail it in after the first 4 games.
This team needs FA who have their act together.
If it didn’t work the first time, for whatever reason, why would it work the second time? These players need to be babysat with either a no nonsense winning coach or a storied organization. We have neither.
Go after Ziggy Ansah in FA, persuade Grimes to resign, get either Minkah or Bradley Chubb in the draft. And look at another CB later in the draft or FA. Almost anyone will be more talented than Ryan Smith and McClain.
I’m not at all a fan of being a jilted lover trying to reconcile. Move on. Jon Gruden is the same controlling Coach and the Raiders are desperate to sell their soul. I applaud Team Glazer for attempting a coaching coup, but moved on quickly when they realized he wanted the total control that ruined our roster in his post SB years here. The Raiders will win a SB with him and he might just repeat history by trynig to retool that team’s roster to make his mark on the team DNA. How do you walk away from a coach/part owner in that situation? Mark Davis is more crazy than his pops!
January 4th, 2018 at 8:24 am
even buc fans have mentality of losers
January 4th, 2018 at 9:15 am
Sign Talib and re-sign Brent Grimes. Vernon Hargreaves to the slot. Secondary problem solved. If to expensive re-sign Grimes and re-sign Alterraun Vernmer to play the slot? Draft a DE in the first, DT in the second and a RB in the third.