Talib Traded to New England

By Parvez Fatteh, Founder of http://sportingummah.com, sports@muslimobserver.com

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers traded troubled cornerback Aqib Talib, who is currently still suspended due to a violation of the league’s substance abuse policy, to the New England Patriots in exchange for a 2013 fourth-round draft pick. The Patriots also received a 2013 seventh-round pick from the Buccaneers.

Patriots head coach Bill Belichick said at his weekly press conference, when asked about Talib. “So we’ll take that as it comes. When he gets here, we’ll deal with it.” “I think he’s a good player,” Belichick later added. Patriots’ defensive coordinator Matt Patricia was also asked about his thoughts on Talib, and what sort of role he could have with the team once he returns from suspension. “I think we’re obviously going to focus on Buffalo and who’s on the team right now, but he’s a good player and when we do get a chance to work with him, we’ll address those issues at the time,” he said at the same press conference.

Buccaneers coach Greg Schiano called the trade in both teams’ best interests. “Just like any move we make, we put a lot of thought into everything we do, and at the end of the day, our main motivation, our sole motivation is what’s best for the organization,” Schiano said via ESPNBoston.com. “With all factors considered, we had an opportunity to make a trade and be compensated in some way, a fourth-round pick. At the end of the day, when we did all of the comparisons and different things, we think this is what’s best for the Tampa Bay Bucs moving forward. That’s really, like I’ve told you guys, every decision is made with the same criteria. …

“I appreciate, the time that I was here, other than this incident that happened when he was suspended, I enjoyed really coaching Aqib,” Schiano continued. “And for me, he’s done a — he worked his tail off. Everybody didn’t play great at times. I didn’t coach great at times. But as far as what he did for us while I was here, and I’ve said it many times, I’m not naive to what happened before, I do appreciate it and I wish him well going forward.”

14-46