Cornerback Aqib Talib

[sosa39rams]

He was notified that he would be released as soon as the CBA is back. He has loads of talent but has major red flags. Should we take a chance on him?

Here is Chris Hovan talking about the situation:

Chris Hovan believes Tampa Bay Buccaneers management has been too lenient on his former teammate, Aqib Talib, and it's time to hold the troubled cornerback accountable for his actions.

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Speaking Thursday on WQYK-AM in Tampa, Fla., Hovan called on Bucs coach Raheem Morris and general manager Mark Dominik to cut ties with Talib, who was arrested last month on assault charges in Texas. It was Talib's second arrest since 2009.

Hovan believes Morris is an enabler for Talib, who has been involved in a string of ugly incidents on and off the field since the Bucs selected him with the 20th overall pick in the 2008 NFL Draft. Talib has 15 interceptions in three seasons.

"(Talib) has been given too much leeway from Raheem Morris because, I guess, Coach Morris (the Bucs' former secondary coach) has favoritism towards him because he played defensive back," said Hovan, who started all but one game for the Bucs between 2005 and 2009. "Again, they are giving this young man way too much leeway. Any other individual would have been cut way before this. But Aqib's got so much talent -- his talent goes through the ceiling. But you can't have these offseason issues and you can't keep covering for this kid because they're saying it's OK for what he is doing."

Talib's troubles created speculation that the Bucs might try to draft a cornerback next week. Dominik said Thursday that "I don't think you can ever have enough cornerbacks," but that stance hasn't been influenced by Talib's situation.

"It doesn't really affect me other than it just reinforces my opinion that you can never have enough cornerbacks in the National Football League," Dominik said. "We have, right now, eight selections, and who knows where we're going to use them and at what positions."

Police in a Dallas suburb said Talib turned himself in on a warrant accusing him of firing a gun at his sister's boyfriend March 21. Talib was released after posting a $25,000 bond.

Police say they believe Talib and his mother, Okolo Talib, shot at the man, who wasn't injured. Talib denied the charges through his lawyers.

Talib was charged with simple battery and resisting arrest in connection with an assault on a taxi driver in Tampa in 2009. He was suspended by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell for the 2010 season opener as punishment for that incident, and Talib settled out of court with the cab driver.

Talib's troubles date to 2008, when he was involved in a fight with fellow Bucs rookie Cory Boyd at the NFL Rookie Symposium. In May 2009, Talib wound up inadvertently hitting teammate Torrie Cox in the face with his helmet while fighting with Donald Penn during a minicamp workout.

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Hovan said Bucs management is sending the wrong message to players by continuing to employ Talib while he gets in trouble.

"It's not fair to the other players right now because you have all these other players right now following the straight and narrow and you are letting one individual go out and do his own thing? I don't feel that is acceptable right now," Hovan said. "Raheem and Mark Dominik need to address this because they are saying that he is bigger than the team right now.

"I mean, how many times do you let this guy go off the hook, though? How many times? I mean, how many people does he have to hurt? How many times is he going to get sued? Or how many times is he going to go to jail before you get it right? Who is going to step in? Has Raheem stepped in? I have not seen Raheem step in."

Hovan believes Talib's latest arrest should be the final straw for the Bucs and the league.

"You need to suspend this individual and take his money, and that's how he'll start listening," Hovan said.

"I really think Aqib is really immature. I don't feel, for the way he plays, these off-the-field incidents are going to get him off. I really feel it is going to get him in the end, and it is going to get Bucs management in the end. And in the end, if they release him, they are going to say, 'Well, it just didn’t really pan out.' Well, that's because, how many times do you have to get arrested or hit somebody?"

[tomahawk247]

NO

I don't want this guy on the team. The Rams have a great attitude and team spirit at the moment, and I can only see this guy ruining that.

I'm all for giving guys a chance but Talib has had chances and never changed. Fighting at the rookie symposium? That's just moronic

[fliptalianstallion]

Nope, I think we're set with Bartell and Fletcher as our Dynamic Duo in the secondary. Bartell may be getting old but it's either Jerome Murphy or some future draftee/FA-pickup to succeed him. As talented as he is, I don't want to risk bringing in a cancer to our locker room.. NEXT!!!

[sosa39rams]

I agree, I'd prefer we not. I am confident in Bartell and Fletcher. They will be a great tandum for years to come.

[AtlantaRamFan]

Name for me the last Ram arrested. Exactly..this regime has build a team around high character, talented guys. It'd one thing to MAYBE talk about adding someone who is a prima donna wide receiver with some narcissism. It's a compeltely different animal when we're talking about a guy who fought with teammates on multiple occasions, assaulted a taxi driver, and shot at his sisters boyfriend. I don't care if he's the most talented player in the NFL, you couldn't find a pole long enough for me to touch him with.

[cfh128]

I'm not sure this is even worth talking about. Anybody who thinks for a second that we'd take a look at this guy really isn't grasping the whole "4 pillars" thing.

[Fettmaster]

Pass, we don't need him.

[Ramblin` Ram]

seems to be as soon as he was drafted,given money..his head went.
on field performance does not matter if you bound for a long suspension in the future.

plus we have enough at the CB position.

[Nick]

...seriously? He had character red flags coming out of Kansas that have obviously followed him to the NFL. He has no business being considered by a Rams team that prides themselves on putting a strong emphasis on character. This is an easy pass.

[richtree]

Not even I would consider this guy., lol

When you are on a team and maybe their best player on the defensive side, and they still don't want you .....nobody should !!!!

Lets focus on building the Safety position with some youth, and enjoy our CB's this year.

[ZiaRam]

The question is if his Mom would be allowed to come with him to St. Louis to bust caps with her son.

[BarronWade]

Should the Rams take a chance on Pacman Jones 2.0?

[fliptalianstallion]

Can we just close this thread now? We can all agree that it's a big NO to Aqib Talib.

[Ramblin` Ram]

...seriously? He had character red flags coming out of Kansas that have obviously followed him to the NFL. He has no business being considered by a Rams team that prides themselves on putting a strong emphasis on character. This is an easy pass.

just going off the article where it said his problems date back to `08 the year when he was drafted. if that "seriously?" was aimed at me Nick..maybe not..i`ve just finished a 12 hour college homework session so my head may be a bit frazzled.
i didn`t follow the kids college career. though i do agree we shouldn`t go anywhere near him and i don`t think we will..is not even at a position where we need help anyway.

[Nick]

just going off the article where it said his problems date back to `08 the year when he was drafted. if that "seriously?" was aimed at me Nick..maybe not..i`ve just finished a 12 hour college homework session so my head may be a bit frazzled.
i didn`t follow the kids college career. though i do agree we shouldn`t go anywhere near him and i don`t think we will..is not even at a position where we need help anyway.

It was aimed at the idea of the Rams going after him, not your response. Sorry if there was some confusion.