Could the Pats survive without Aqib Talib?
Daily post at Sportsblog is up, taking a closer look at the Talib situation.
aqib talib
The Patriots know they have to crack open the safe if they’re going to keep cornerback Aqib Talib from hitting the open market next week. Talib wants to be paid as a top-of-the-market corner in free agency, according to a source.
The Blitz with Jeff Howe & Karen Guregian | Boston Herald
Not really that surprising, and the Pats should know what they have in Talib. If he walks they need to put additional resources into the front seven. You’re not going to get a cover corner, at least not right off the bat, in the draft where the Pats are picking. They have some good pieces in the secondary, but they’ll need to have a much better pass rush to cover up their deficiencies without Talib.
https://www.patspropaganda.com/the-patriots-know-they-have-to-crack-open-the-safe/
For New England, paying Revis a $1.5 million roster bonus, a $1.5 million workout bonus, and a $13 million base salary could be a much more desirable alternative than giving a big-money, multi-year deal to Aqib Talib.
Pats, Broncos could be trying to shake Revis free from Tampa | ProFootballTalk
I love the offseason! If you don’t know by now, the Pats are always attached to just about every juicy rumor. Most of the time I think it’s just agents trying to scare the rest of the league into getting in on the player to at least prevent Belichick from getting him.
Is there any truth to this one? Maybe. At the very least it might send a small message to Talib that they’re not married to him.
Ultimately, I’d be surprised if the Pats got Revis, but I’ve been surprised many times by BB before and I’m looking forward to it happening again.
Patriots to Meet with Aqib Talib – Pats Pulpit
Patriots to Meet with Aqib Talib – Pats Pulpit
Good sign that they’re in contact with Talib at the Combine. Don’t want to say that it’s rare for them to do something like this, but I can’t remember any non-draft business ever being reported during the combine.
Our projection on a fair Talib long-term deal for both sides would be three years, $21 million, with $12 million in bonuses and guarantees ($6 million signing bonus, $6 million 2014 option bonus/potentially paid on a per-game basis). If I’m Talib, I’d resist the structure of a per-game roster bonus payout structure, and if I’m the Patriots, I’d hope to protect the team by keeping it as part of the deal based on Talib’s injury history. I could envision that being a potential sticking point that is ultimately worked out/not worked out based on if another team is willing to up the ante on the open market in that area.
https://www.patspropaganda.com/our-projection-on-a-fair-talib-long-term-deal-for/
Source: Aqib Talib suffered no structural damage to his knee | masslive.com
Source: Aqib Talib suffered no structural damage to his knee | masslive.com
Well here’s a little bit of positive news to start the offseason, though it’s sure to spark the “well then why didn’t he go back into the game” crowd to life.
It’s totally different here,” Talib said. “It’s big games after big games. It’s Monday nights after Sunday nights, playoffs. Tom Brady is walking around here. There are countless people and media in the locker room. This is the NFL right here.
https://www.patspropaganda.com/its-totally-different-here-talib-said-its/
