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NFL did the dirty work for Bucs

Posted Sep 1, 2010 by Ira Kaufman

Updated Sep 1, 2010 at 11:25 AM

By IRA KAUFMAN

TAMPA—Aqib Talib skated past the Bucs, but he couldn’t work his way around Roger Goodell.

Tampa Bay’s talented third-year cornerback has been suspended for the season opener by the NFL commissioner, who ruled Talib violated the league’s personal conduct policy. Talib’s series of off-field incidents finally caught up with him at NFL headquarters and Tampa Bay will face Cleveland Sept. 12 at a disadvantage without their starting left corner.

But let’s remember the Bucs could have punished Talib last fall after the Florida Highway Patrol said he punched a cab driver in the neck with a closed fist during the preseason. Combined with Talib’s other indiscretions, which included an ugly scene with head coach Raheem Morris during the trip to London, Tampa Bay had every right to bench Talib at some point in 2009.

Instead, the only start Talib missed was a December matchup at Carolina when he was inactive due to a hamstring injury.

Goodell’s sanction means Talib will pay a hefty price for his past immaturity, but the Bucs weren’t pro-active. The NFL doled out the punishment instead of the franchise that pays Talib big bucks to represent them with pride in the community as well as on the field.