Though Bucs cornerback Aqib Talib is in heap of trouble after being arrested early Thursday for allegedly roughing up Reverend Jim and then allegedly resisting Smitty and Hoppy, one league source who previously criticized Talib has offered up a hint of praise for the second-year corner.
The source pointed out to us that, if Talib had been drinking and if he made the decision to call a cab instead of drive a car, then Talib made a very, very smart decision.
So if even the biggest of the knuckleheads has learned from the example created by suspended receiver Donte’ Stallworth, there’s hope for the rest of them.
Next time around, however, Talib needs to resist the temptation to commit battery (allegedly) against the guy giving him a ride home.
Aqib Talib needs an injection of the Cleaner, former Bucs coach, Tony Dungheap!
Not driving when intoxicated is what he’s expected to do. There’s no reason to praise anyone for that.
How long before an enterprising agent adds bonus $ language into a player contract: so many 100s of dollars each day the client does NOT kill an innocent bystander through reckless drunken idiocy.
This “story” is the perfect illustration of just how far American society has sunk.
Our expectations for decent human behavior are so low that we are supposed to PRAISE someone who called a cab instead of (possibly) driving drunk?
While we’re at it, why don’t we erect a statue of Talib for not being a serial killer?
Wow. It is proof of the pathetic and despicable state of NFL players’ decision-making history that praise is given to a player for an event that ends with a 57-year old cab driver being (allegedly) punched in the head.
As a stand-up player in the NFL, wouldn’t you be ashamed of the image the thugs in the league have given you?
And how isn’t that someone can’t slap these guys around and make them realize that all they have to do is not break the law!? It’s not that hard to comport yourself in accordance with the laws and still live a very happy and enjoyable life. Most of the rest of us do it!
These stories piss me off to no end.
“if Talib had been drinking and if he made the decision to call a cab instead of drive a car, then Talib made a very, very smart decision.”
You’re going a long way to praise a proven violent thugly idiot. Maybe the key is to give good guys (like Tony Romo and many, many others but he’s as good an example as any to throw out there) praise instead of only trying to knock them down (by, you know, implying that he can’t be competitive in the NFL because he plays a lot of competitive golf in the off-season, saying that Romo’s not a leader, they cut TO only to empower Romo, Vick’s comparable to Romo, Romo went to Mexico therefore he has no focus, Tony Romo’s not Troy Aikman, If Aikman were the QB instead of Romo TO would still be there, Tony Romo has no will power, Tony Romo doesn’t care about winning, Tony Romo is sending the wrong message, Tony Romo’s girlfriend is fat etc. you get the idea)
Praising Talib for calling a cab instead of driving drunk is like praising Chris Henry for making his child support payments on-time. What you and your source think is extraordinary behavior, most of us think of as no-brainer personal responsibility on a very basic level, particularly for people that can afford to do just about anything they want just about any way that they want to do it.
All Hail Aqib Talib for taking a cab and inexplicably pummeling the cab driver for no reason. It doesn’t end with my Eagles signing the dog killer, it just keeps getting worse. After 43 years, who should I root for? I’m going to call Tony Dungheap, he’ll know.
The NFL is filled with a bunch of thugs. As long as they don’t commit crimes. Who cares? He punched a guy. Has nobody even been inebriated and wanted to hit the cab driver driving you home? I want to hear Talib story before I start to hate on the guy.
Bahahaha!
Isn’t that pretty much like praising a killer for using a .45 instead of a .38?
Taking a cab after drinking too much is a good thing.
He still has a lot to learn though.
and yes… we should say someone did the right thing when they call a cab instead of driving drunk.
Reading this sotry, all I can think of is the Chris Rock “I take care of my kids!” bit.
Why should he be prasied for doing something any responsible person should be doing?
So if even the biggest of the knuckleheads has learned from the example created by suspended receiver Donte’ Stallworth, there’s hope for the rest of them.
Next time around, however, Talib needs to resist the temptation to commit battery (allegedly) against the guy giving him a ride home.
Baby steps…..baby steps.
The story I heard on the radio, from the cab driver, suggests the two other men he was with were much more level headed then he is (one subdued him from continuing to attack the cabbie)…..
My guess is, it wasn’t really HIS decision to take a cab.
“The NFL is filled with a bunch of thugs. As long as they don’t commit crimes. Who cares? He punched a guy.”
Um… that’s a crime.
I agree we shouldn’t give him any praise for doing the right thing. It’s also true that he’s a loose cannon, but living in Tampa, I hear there’s more to this. I think you’ll find, when the whole story comes out, teflon Aqib is cleared of charges. Word in town is that there are witnesses that tell another story. This cab driver had an agenda. His interview was as colorful as a Dan Brown novel.
This guy made Aqib pay for the cab ride up front. White guys don’t pay up front if you get what I’m saying. This guy was on the job for 3 days. He had just been fired from a job as a tow truck driver. How shady do you have to be to get fired from that job. More men are willing to shave Rosanne’s back hair than are willing to tow some drunk sasquach’s car.
As an NFL fan I have an issue with Vox’s statement, “the NFL is filled with a bunch of thugs.” I believe that the percentage of thugs in the NFL is no higher than anywhere else in the U.S. If you don’t like it, don’t watch. What are you getting at? I do know is that the perecntage of people that can’t convey a logical thought his higher on this blog. So much for your prison diplomas.
Give me a break!!! You all think you know what happened because he has history. You MUST agree that there are TWO SIDES to EVERY situation. The cab driver did not mention that he was hit until later, he has already contacted the Bucs for “payment”. What is he looking for? Maybe he felt he had a good payday in the back seat… just thinkin’
I’m surprised to see Mike Florio take a positive tune.
Very insightful.
I live in St. Pete. Chances are he was going to The Venue nightclub right here on Ulmerton Road… The cabbies are NOTHING like Chicago or NY – trust me, I’ve lived in both.
On the other hand, if the Bucs win 3 games this season, I’ll be very surprised. HA!
Trouble was, it wasn’t really a cab – some guy was driving by in a yellow car and Talib was so drunk, he just jumped in the back.