Talib Suspended

TAMPA - Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Aqib Talib is suspended without pay for the team's first regular season game, the team announced Tuesday, because of an incident with a cab driver in August 2009.

The suspension is for violating the NFL Personal Conduct Policy.

Talib's suspension, handed down by the NFL, begins on Sept. 4. He will be eligible to return to the active roster on Sept. 13, the day after the opening game against the Cleveland Browns at Raymond James Stadium.

Talib also will be fined an additional game check.

"Since last fall, Aqib has done all that's been asked of him and more, on and especially off the field," Bucs general manager Mark Dominik said in a statement. "We look forward to his return to the field in Week 2."

TBO

I came down pretty hard on Talib last year over this incident because it seemed like trouble like this had become a pattern. So I don't really have a problem with him getting suspended a game for his actions. What I do have a problem with however is the timing. If Roger Goodell didn't let the Bucs know that it was likely he would still hand down a suspension to Talib then its a little unfair in my opinion for him to hand down such a penalty a week before the regular season begins. Now the Bucs are going to have to scramble to find someone to fill in for Talib against Cleveland when he is a big part of what our defense will be able to do this year.

Again if the Bucs had a lot of notice then they could have worked on really getting Myron Lewis ready to play because its likely he and E.J. Biggers are now going to see a lot of time in that first game. Its a double whammy because most people don't believe the Bucs will win a lot of games this year but almost universally everyone thought the Browns would be one of those few winnable games.

I guess we will all get to see now just how well the team adjusts to adversity. Thankfully the Browns don't really have a big time Pro Bowl type receiver. But then again you never know how guys will step up in that first game.