Bucs’ Talib arrested for hitting cabbie
August 20, 2009
TAMPA, Fla. (AP)—Tampa Bay cornerback Aqib Talib(notes) was held out of practiceThursday after police say he punched a taxi driver and was jailed on charges ofsimple battery and resisting arrest without violence.
The Bucs said the second-year pro, who fought with a teammate during lastyear’s NFL rookie symposium and then had another confrontation with a teammatethis offseason, would not be suspended by the team.
Instead the club referred the matter to commissioner Roger Goodell.
“It’s unfortunate, certainly, what happened last night,” general managerMark Dominik said.
“I’ve been in contact with the league office. This falls under the personalconduct policy. Certainly whatever decision’s made, the commissioner’s decisionsupersedes anything the club does at this time.”
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Talib posted $300 bail early Thursday. A Florida Highway Patrol arrestreport said the 23-year-old punched a cab driver in the neck and ear after hepicked up Talib and two other men outside a St. Petersburg nightclub.
Talib, accompanied by Dominik, walked onto the practice field about 30minutes into an afternoon workout, but did not participate in drills. He leftbefore the end of the session and was not available for comment.
“Obviously you’re concerned, obviously you’re disappointed,” coach RaheemMorris said. “The real deal of the matter is it’s a league issue. … You haveto let it go through due process.”
Morris said Talib did not practice for “obvious reasons,” though lastyear’s No. 1 draft pick is expected to play in Saturday night’s preseason gameat Jacksonville.
“Right now all I can do is mentor and help him, get him going the rightway,” the first-year coach said. “Make sure stuff like this doesn’t happen tohim again.”
Shortly after being drafted by the Bucs, Talib clashed with then-teammateCory Boyd(notes) at the rookie symposium.
In May, he apologized for letting emotions get the best of him and swinginga helmet at offensive tackle Donald Penn(notes) and accidentally striking cornerbackTorrie Cox(notes) instead during an offseason workout.
Cox, who was acting as a peacemaker, was cut on the face and receivedstitches. Morris said at the time the matter would be handled internally, thoughTalib said the entire team ran as punishment.
“We’re trying to help him. It may not seem like it’s working, but we’regoing to continue to work with him,” Dominik said. “If he needs counseling,he’s going to get counseling. We’re going to work and try to catch hisattention.”
The arrest was the second jolt to the Bucs’ defense in three days. SafetyTanard Jackson(notes) on Tuesday was suspended for the first four games of the regularseason for violating the NFL’s substances of abuse policy.
“We’ve got to make better decisions. It’s up to those guys to make thosedecisions,” Morris said.
“We’ve got 78 guys doing it right. You’ve got to coach the 78 guys who aredoing the right things, we’ve got to believe in the 78 guys that are doing theright things, and (Talib and Jackson) have got to go out there and do the rightthings.”
Asked what it will take to get through to Talib, who the Bucs are countingon to be a major contributor in a revamped defense, Morris replied “continuedgrowth” on the young player’s part.
“He has to age every day, get better every day. He’s goes a long time doingthe right thing, then he messes up. We have to see what’s going on,” Morrissaid.
“You’ve got a young man trying to do the right thing putting himself in acab. He obviously made a bad decision once he did that. So, he’s made steps.He’s made progress. But we’ve got to finish this thing off. That’s up to me andhim to get together and figure out how to do it.”
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