Once, just once, it would be refreshing to hear a player suggest he’s looking for a sub-par deal, confirming that it’s not all about the money.
That player apparently won’t be Patriots free agent cornerback Aqib Talib, at least not this year.
According to Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald, Talib “wants to be paid as a top-of-the-market corner in free agency, according to a source.”
As opposed to all the middle-of-the-market guys, naturally.
With the Dolphins setting the bar with Brent Grimes’ four-year, $32 million deal (which included $16 million guaranteed), the cost for high-end corners has been established.
And since Talib is younger and arguably better, it stands to reason (at least to the sources close to Talib) that he should make that much or more.
Talib signed a one-year deal worth $5.5 million last offseason, figuring to get his long-term deal this offseason.
Whether the Patriots are prepared to meet those demands remains to be seen.