Aqib Talib has been named as a person of interest in a shooting that occurred on March 21 in Garland, Texas. Even though the NFL has locked out it's players and there is no collective bargaining agreement in place, Talib could still be subject to discipline by the NFL, according to Roy Cummings and Anwar Richardson of Tampa Bay Online.
"The conduct and drug policies are currently suspended," (NFL Spokesman Greg) Aiello said in an email to The Tampa Tribune on Monday. "However, any violations of law that occur during the work stoppage will be reviewed for potential discipline."
I can't imagine that the League would be able to punish Talib while they are locked out, so I'm assuming that any punishment would be handed down after a new CBA is agreed upon and the lockout ends. It is important to remember that no charges have been filed and no arrests have been made. And Talib has simply been named a person of interest, not a suspect.
The only definite thing on the NFL schedule during a lockout is the draft, and Talib's actions may change the Bucs plan of attack for that, according to Pat Yasinskas of ESPN.com.
Safety Tanard Jackson already is serving a one-year suspension and isn’t eligible to apply for reinstatement until late September. The Bucs have some promising young players in cornerbacks E.J. Biggers, Elbert Mack and Myron Lewis and safeties Cody Grimm and Corey Lynch, but the possibility of being without their two best players in the secondary could change their thinking.
Our Buccaneers blog Bucs Nation made a list of draft needs yesterday and cornerback is listed only as a luxury need. But now that Talib's immediate playing future has been put in question, the need for a another cornerback might become a little bit more dire.