Raheem Says Talib Leads While Growing Up

August 8th, 2011

Grand master of CommishOnline.com, Justin Pawlowski of WDAE-AM 620, asked Raheem Morris to share all things Aqib Talib during a radio interview Saturday.

And the defensive mastermind/head coach was eager to serve up his take on Talib’s maturation process, even daring to compare him to Bucs icon Warren Sapp (Joe suspects Sapp might not like that).

“I don’t think people really know that Aqib is really somewhat of a leader for us in our locker room. And not so much of giving direction, but as an example-setter,” Raheem said. “Nobody plays as hard or studies as hard as an Aqib Talib. He learned it from one of the best.

“You know, he was a heavy student of Ronde Barber and how he carries himself in the building and how he portrays himself as a football player and what he wants to do and how he wants to do it. He lives, you know, pretty much under Ronde when he’s in this building. And he leads by example when it comes to pressing the buttons when it comes to one-on-ones, or pressing the buttons when it comes to team activities or practicing hard, or just giving all out effort. And sometimes his passion gets in the way of that and it gets him in trouble, both on and off the field.

“So, we’ve dealt with that and we’re going to continue to teach him. And hopefully he can grow up here soon and be that ultimate leader that you want him to be. You know, he’s very similar to [Warren] Sapp along those lines. When Sapp was young he had some issues and as he got older he matured and got a lot better. But they’re both great players and they have the ability to be great leaders.

Joe liked how Raheem said Talib’s “passion” gets him in trouble. Great word choice.

Joe can only hope Talib is able to focus his passion on doing right by the team that has stood by him unwaveringly.

14 Responses to “Raheem Says Talib Leads While Growing Up”

  1. RustyRhino Says:

    As long as Talib takes his “passion” out on the other teams players between the whistles. I am okay with it. As far as his ability to play CB he is a very good CB to me, and someone that I would rather not face 2 times a season if we where to let him go….. because of his “passion” for football!

  2. Gary Says:

    Great point RustyRhino,

    If we were to let him go, is there any doubt that NO or ATL would scoop him up in a heartbeat?

  3. scubasteve4930 Says:

    any update on what will happen with talib? If he gets suspended…our D takes a HUGE hit

  4. Jrock (mobile) Says:

    Scuba, our defense faired pretty darn good last season with Talib out.

    I’m still holding my breath that no player who ran afoul of the law during the lockout will be punished. It should be obvious that Talib won’t be hit with anything until next season though

  5. Eric Says:

    Little unfair to bring Sapp into it like that.

    My recollection is he hit a little weed in college, but nothing comparable to posible gunfire.

    I am assuming he meant passion in the sense of practice scuffles, not weapons in the private sector.

  6. BigMacAttack Says:

    What do you know about weapons, Eric, I mean Thomas?????

    STFU! Idiot.

  7. Eric Says:

    smoking weed vs. firing a weapon that could kill someone

    you decide.

    Im not for a suspension of Talib cause the charges are bogus, but Raheem should not have drug Sapp into it – not right IMO.

  8. Matt Says:

    @Jrock: “Scuba, our defense faired pretty darn good last season with Talib out.”

    Except when Megatron single-handedly knocked us out of the playoffs.

  9. Joe Says:

    Except when Megatron single-handedly knocked us out of the playoffs.

    Oh, please, revisionist history.

    Winslow had a TD taken off the board which the NFL admitted refs screwed up. That was the ballgame, even with the almighty Calvin Johnson on the field.

    Joe will point to a backup quarterback having so much time to order pizza as the downfall as Calvin Johnson.

    Stud players make stud plays. Using that mentality that Calvin Johnson making a play means the Bucs defense sucked without Talib is as illogicial as saying because Jerry Rice burned Deion Sanders, Deion shouldn’t be in the Hall of Fame.

    OMG, Jerome Bettis freight-trained Brian Urlacher once. I guess Urlacher blows as a linebacker?

  10. Joe Says:

    scubasteve:

    any update on what will happen with talib? If he gets suspended…our D takes a HUGE hit.

    Disagree. The Bucs won, what, four of six games without Talib, including the Saints on the road?

  11. McBuc Says:

    Nicely played Joe, that made me laugh.

  12. BigMacAttack Says:

    Yes, the haters always conveniently forget the bogus pass interference penalty that ended the Bucs’ season and put the Packers in the playoffs. I agree with the “Commish”. What is there to complain about with this exciting young team? Time to sit back, watch, and enjoy the ride.

  13. FreemanBomb5 Says:

    The point is when Talib was out Roddy caught that 3rd and 20, and basically did nothing but fake an injury so he had an excuse as to why he couldn’t beat Talib… when Talib was out Megatron had his best game of the season… I like Biggers but Talib and Ronde sounds a heck of alot better than Biggers and Ronde

  14. Matt Says:

    @Joe: “Revisionist history”?????

    The dude had 10 catches for 152 yards! The Bucs simply could not stop him. You really think he would have had anything like that with Talib in the game? He was half of their offense!

    Yes, we lost because of a bogus call. But we wouldn’t have even needed to score at the end there if Talib had been in to hold Johnson to an average receiving day.