Aqib Talib fought the law, and for once the law (also known as NFL commissioner Roger Goodell) lost. Or backed down, or something, because the Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback will not be suspended at this time for whatever role he played in an assault with a deadly weapon case in Texas this offseason. This news courtesy of ESPN’s Adam Schefter, which was then repeated by Bucs general manager Mark Dominik on the team’s pregame radio show leading up to tonight’s preseason match against the Miami Dolphins. Earlier reports suggested Talib might get a four-game suspension, which would have included key games against the Atlanta Falcons and Indianapolis Colts.
Goodell has previously suspended players before their day in court, but for whatever reason chose not to do the same to Talib, whose trial does not begin until next March. Perhaps he’s going soft (or fair, depending on your point of view) and letting the legal process play out first? Whatever the reason, the Bucs will be happy to have their best cornerback on the field at the start of the year.
(More information along with quotes from Dominik have been posted by Rick Stroud to his blog on the St. Petersburg Times Web site.)