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A closer look at Patriots’ decision to acquire Aqib Talib 11.01.12 at 5:00 pm ET
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Aqib Talib is the newest member of the Patriots. (AP)

The Patriots’ decision to acquire cornerback Aqib Talib from Tampa Bay at Thursday’s trade deadline is an intriguing one — potentially of the low-risk, high-reward variety — but one that comes with relatively few strings attached for New England.

The 6-foot-1, 205-pound corner, who was acquired along with a seventh-round pick in 2013 for a fourth-round pick in 2013, has an excellent on-field rep — he has 18 interceptions and 53 passes defensed over the course of his four-plus years in the NFL. Talib was at his best in 2009 and 2010, when he finished with a combined 11 interceptions in 26 games played. In his career, he has 182 tackles, 53 passes defensed and 18 interceptions.

He brings an edge to the field, and if/when he gets up to speed in New England’s system, he has all the tools to become an impact player in the Patriots defense. For a secondary that has struggled mightily at times this season, the acquisition of a playmaker like Talib would be a huge addition.

He does come with some unpleasant history. A first-round pick of the Bucs in 2008, he’s already acquired a lengthy rap sheet. He was involved in a fistfight at the rookie symposium, the first of several fights with teammates over the course of his brief career, including one incident in which he swung a helmet at a fellow player. He was suspended in 2009 for an incident involving the alleged beating of a cab driver. In March 2011, police in Garland, Texas, issued a felony warrant for Talib’s arrest for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon after accusing him of firing a gun at his sister’s boyfriend.

And earlier this season, he was suspended four games for violating the league’s policy on performance-enhancing substances. He’s still under suspension for the decision — he has one game remaining on his ban. (Talib has said he took Adderall, a medication generally used to treat attention deficit disorder.)

However, it’s important to consider Talib’s current contract situation — he’s in the final year of a contract he signed as a rookie, and so the impact is minimal. Theoretically, if Talib messes up or the Patriots find he’s not a fit for their system, they can cut him and be on the hook for next to no money. (His base contract of $1.852 million breaks down to $109,000 a week. Fundamentally, he’s a nine-week rental. If he’s a fit in New England, the Patriots will revisit his contract situation at the end of the season.)

In addition, a Tampa Bay-New England swap is no real surprise, considering the cozy relationship between Patriots coach Bill Belichick and Bucs coach Greg Schiano. The two became pals when Schiano was coach at Rutgers, and Belichick has gone after several former Scarlet Knights over the last couple of years, including cornerback Devin McCourty. (For what it’s worth, it certainly appears that relationship will continue into Schiano’s pro career — Belichick took a shot with a former Buc, tight end Kellen Winslow, earlier this season.)

Read More: Aqib Talib, Print  |  Bark It Up!  |  Digg It
  • Pogo

    Runs pretty well for a guy with one leg, it looks like.

  • Stumpy

    I’d say he’s got a leg up on the rest of the Pat’s secondary…

  • Boslad

    Let’s get this party started!

  • Craig2111

    Had to do something and a 4th rd pick is not a bad risk….. This guy could really be great and in the AFC the Pats are near the top….. But when playing Giants, GB or Atlanta you better have CB’s that can cover people. The Pats have to blitz and can not do that with terrible corners.

  • http://www.mcclellandmiscellanea.wordpress.com PeterMcClelland

    Too bad Rodney Harrison isn’t around to “break” this dude in!

  • Moses Scurry

    A skinny Haynesworth. This guy is a real turd of the field.

  • Uncle Buck

    Our we really supposed to get all excited over this?? This kid has an awful on-field track record. He basically is a pretty terrible player. Stats don’t lie: Tampa Bay has won more games when this clown wasn’t dressed and lost more games that he’s started in. He’s been burned all over the field and basically couldn’t cover a toddler. If anything, this trade only hopes to patch the holes left vacant by all of the injured creampuffs currently out in the Pats’ secondary. Do not get excited for this move. You’ve been warned.

  • Hesher

     To answer your question of are we supposed to get all excited over this the answer is hell yes….If you think Sterling Moore or Kyle Arrington are better than Talib then do us all a favor and just stop watching football please.

  • Johnny Spydouche

     Drop dead new York troll douche. Using other peoples’ IDs to act like an a ss is real smart.

    Now go get your shinebox douche.

  • Johnny Spydouche

     Ignore that clown as he hijacked someone else’s ID just to act like a moron.

  • trollhunter

    there is no end to what this douche will do

  • Uncle Buck

    Hesher, you need to get a clue ugly. Kyle Arrington and Serling Moore would look like Ty Law and Deon Sanders when compared to this waste of a player named Talib. Take off them rose colored glasses you homer and look at the facts. This guy gets burned by EVERYBODY. He couldn’t cover your grandmother. Stats don’t lie boy, jokes on you.

  • Hesher

    Think it’s time you put the crayons and coloring books away. You’re like a little biscuit that needs tucking in. Youngin’ get a clue.

  • Uncle Buck = Spygate douche

     Loser….

  • Hesher

    Get a clue bud. You know nothing of football. And what’s up with your screen name…Spydouche??? Did your kid brother name you or did you coin that yourself? Obviously the moron town in Mass that you come from doesn’t exactly produce brain surgeon-like intelligence. Must be your drinking water. Oh, sorry watahh. Ohh my gawwd, wicked pissssa.

  • Kgrant6

    Ring #4!

  • Rebelguy

    If the dude keeps his nose clean, at least we’ve given opposing qb’s one less side to throw for 100 per cent completions!

  • Rebelguy

    Come on, man, nobody could be as reprehensible as that pos, that disgrace to football and the work ethic. I bet this guy is not the slouch and con Fat Al was.

  • Rebelguy

    Bucky, you just popped my baloon. hope he knuckles under in a different system and gives the secondary a bit of an edge because we had to do SOMETHING, things weren’t improving much out there. It’s not as though there was a dearth of choices at the deadline. I applaud management for trying Something, although this has been a problem that shpould have been addressed 5 years ago.

  • Johnny Spydouche

    They have been trying to address this issue for 4 years. Check out all the high picks they have used on corners in the last 4-5 drafts. Also look at all the guys they brought in for looks in training camp. The only thing I can fault them on is not trading up in the draft to grab one but not sure their was a can’t miss guy they could have gotten. I know it’s frustrating but I’m sure bill is just as upset seeing all those big plays against his secondary. Just goes to show you how good Ty Law was.

  • Chachi

    I think Uncle Buck is spot on. It’s easy to be a homer and think this guy with a very spotty track record is going to magically fix the Pats secondary. All he was pointing out is if you take away Talib’s rookie season, he really is no better than Sterling Moore are Arrington…very mediocre at best. then you ad in all of his off-field issues. Why does Bill continue to take these headcases??? (Haynesworth, Bodden, Adalius Thomas, Derrick Burgess, Ochocinco…) I mean, you cut Brandon Merriweather for having character issues and then turn around a couple years later and pick up Aqib Talib instead??? Good luck with that one.

    That’s Belichick waving the white flag if I ever saw it.

  • Posey

    Bingo. Your last sentence says it all. Belichick is too darn proud and stubborn. His “bend but don’t break” philosphy only works when you have seasoned vets like Bruschi, Vrabel, Law, Rodney, etc.

    He should have addressed these problems a long time ago. You can’t expect 6th and 7th rounders to be shut down corners. You want top talent, you need to draft it. He will next April, guarenteed.

  • Chachi get a clue

     Yeah, he’s waving the flag….fail

  • Cano can go blow

    BTW they cut Meriweather because he couldn’t play. The Bears let him go last year and he’s not even playing for the Redskins this year. Also every player on your list was let go as soon as any problems crept up. Not sure what the problem is them trying to upgrade?

    Who do you root for? Are you an undercover Jets’ fan? The reason i ask is beacause you sound like sour grapes to me.

    Finally your pal “Uncle Buck” had his ID highjacked by A New York fan thus the reason he ripped the trade.

  • Tommybahama

    Let be serious. This guy is playing out the last year of his rookie contract. He wants to show he can play and get PAID. thats all they really care about right? Hes gonna go hard and prove hes worth top CB money. Not like a Haynesworth who already got his pay day and was just a lazy POS

  • Hbouldry

    Former N E Patriot season ticket holder 23 years, live in Tampa Bay area now. Aqib Talib is a tremendous talent with no discipline. He is in trouble every off season from bring a gun to a strip club and getting in a fight there and pulling out the gun. Another off season his sister told him her boy friend had pushed her. He went to talk to the guy with a gun and pulled it on him during the spat. he put the gun down and Agob’s mom picked it up and fired it at the guy. He ran away but the Police arrested Agib and his mom. He has had 3or 4 fights with team mates at practice and keeps getting suspended for drugs. He could help the defense to a Supper Bowl appearance and be arrested or suspended Super Bowl week.   

  • JETS rule poo

    He is you noob. Bilichick is giving up the ghost of Patriots past. Can’t do it anympre, nope. No siree’ Bob.

  • Hesher

    You’re another one of them homers. Just a realist here and I hate the Jets. Not jaded either (how could you be with three rings???) The way I see Talib, if it walks like a duck, looks like a duck, sounds like a duck… trendous talent aside, you get my point. WATE OF SPACE. WON’T CONTRIBUTE AT ALL. EPIC FAIL. Get it through your thick skulls.

  • The Rick

    Gaurantee this guy Talib won’t make through the end of the season. Sad thing is, it’ll take him nearly as long just to pick up the defenisve scheme. He has a terribly low football IQ score and many personal off & on-field issues. This guy is a bust in the making. Just hope he doesn’t shoot Brady if they get into an argument. Sheesh.

  • Johnny Spydouche

     What are you going for the record of using the most IDs posting on a story? Get a clue douche bag.

  • Flyin Elvis rocks!

    duh!! the Kellen Winslow comment came from????  whaaat?  He CAME from Seattle NOT the Bucs… AND was with the Bucs way before Schiano!  That’s like saying “Schiano and Belichick are friends–the Bucs took a shot with former Patriot Albert Haynesworth after he was released….    Mutually exclusive situations!  DUH!!!! As Schiano had NOTHING to do with either Winslow OR Hayneswortth

    OBiVOUSLY this guy has some talent.. it’s up to HIM and the TEAM, coaches and players.. to leverage and expand his skill set which can hopefully maximize the overall skill on the field!  We’ll find out shortly! 

    AGAIN ppl combined losses by 4 pts…. missed FG (AZ), 1-6 in redzone (Seattle), Long punt return – last punt of game (Ravens)… all very very winnable games!

    SF and Houston are HUGE games but I’m a homer so I’ve tasted this Pat’s KoolAide and love it!!!
    ONE GAME AT A TIME….

    I want to destroy Buffalo!!!!  that’s all that counts!  3-0 in division! and 5-1 in AFC!

  • trollhunter

    Wow how about giving this guy a chance!  He may be a bust he may be a gem i”m taking the wait and see appaoach. With the seconedary we have now what the hell roll the dice.

  • Pvs

    Talib will be more than a 9 week rental because the Pats will be playing in the postseason and possibly in the SB.

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