Aqib Talib - Pro Football Rumors

NFL Closes Aqib Talib Investigation

April 18th, 2017 at 11:43am CST by Dallas Robinson

The NFL has formally closed its investigation into Broncos cornerback Aqib Talib‘s 2016 shooting episode, according to Tom Pelissero of USA Today (Twitter links). As was expected, the league will not discipline Talib with either a suspension or a fine.

Talib, of course, was not charged with a crime after Dallas police concluded the veteran defensive back shot himself. On the night of the incident, Talib reportedly told police he was at a park when he was shot, but the police were investigating the evening in full. “Everything was a blur and I was too intoxicated to remember what happened,” said Talib at the time. Authorities never recovered the weapon used in the shooting, and few (if any) witnesses were talking about what happened.

Talib, 31, isn’t getting off completely scot-free, however: Pelissero reports Talib must complete a firearm safety course and provide a list of the weapons he owns. Compared to the sanctions that Talib could have faced, however, those requirements seem infinitesimally insignificant. Talib is under contract with the Broncos through the 2019 campaign.

West Notes: Kelly, Rams, Broncos, Talib, Wolfe

November 22nd, 2016 at 2:58pm CST by Zachary Links

In the midst of a dreadful season, 49ers coach Chip Kelly says he hasn’t discussed his future with team brass.

“No,” Kelly said, according to Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle. “We haven’t had any conversations about that at all. About anybody’s job security.”

After losing 30-17 to New England, the Niners are now 1-9 and their nine-game losing streak ties a 38-year-old franchise worst. Still, Kelly is in his first year with the team and he did not inherit a great roster. It would be a bit surprising if Kelly was jettisoned so soon, but then again, coaches are often on a short leash in the NFL.

Here’s more from the West divisions:

In the middle of the 2015 season, the Rams canned Frank Cignetti and installed Rob Boras as the team’s offensive coordinator. Will they make a similar move this year? “Not given it any consideration,” Fisher said (link via Gary Klein of the Los Angeles Times). “I did that last year. I have confidence in Rob and the offense has confidence in Rob. And the offense right now knows they’re not doing what they should be doing.” The Rams currently rank 31st in total offense, 28th in passing, and 29th in rushing.
The Broncos expect to have cornerback Aqib Talib and defensive end Derek Wolfe back for Sunday night’s game against Kansas City, as Andrew Mason of DenverBroncos.com writes. Talib has missed three games with a back injury and Wolfe was absent in Week 10 as he dealt with an elbow issue.
The Chiefs worked out long snappers Thomas Gafford and Clint Gresham, Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star tweets.

AFC Notes: Browns, Jets, Broncos

November 11th, 2016 at 7:37pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

Cleveland fell to 0-10 on Thursday when it dropped a 28-7 decision in Baltimore, but first-year Browns head coach Hue Jackson hasn’t lost any support from ownership. “Jimmy Haslam and Dee Haslam have been outstanding,” Jackson said Friday (via Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com). “Obviously, they don’t like to lose, either, but they understand the plan and what we’re trying to accomplish.” Considering the Browns are in a full rebuild and have “the youngest team in the league with the most rookies,” as Jackson pointed out, it’s no surprise he’s safe.

Here’s more on Cleveland two other AFC clubs:

While Jackson’s not in jeopardy of losing his job, he did make a head-scratching choice against the Ravens. During a 13-7 game in the third quarter, Jackson pulled rookie quarterback Cody Kessler in favor of Josh McCown. The veteran completed just 6 of 13 passes for 59 yards and two interceptions, making Kessler’s 11-of-18, 91-yard, one-touchdown performance look great in comparison. Jackson opened up about the QB switch Friday, saying (per Nate Ulrich of Ohio.com), “At the time, it was the right decision to make for our football team because I was looking for a spark, and I didn’t get it. I am not going to be perfect in everything I do, and I am not going to do what everybody thinks that I should do. I am going to do what I think is best for our football team. Last night, I made the choice, and it did not work out. I will take the heat.” The Browns will give the reins back to Kessler against the Steelers in Week 11.
Jets coach Todd Bowles announced that quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick will be a game-time decision on Sunday (Twitter link via the team). If Fitzpatrick’s knee injury prevents him from playing against the Rams, the Jets will turn to second-year man Bryce Petty for his first-ever NFL start.
Defensive end Derek Wolfe and cornerback Aqib Talib will miss the Broncos’ game against the high-flying Saints on Sunday, but head coach Gary Kubiak is optimistic the banged-up pair will return after the team’s Week 11 bye. “I think we’re lucky with Derek, and Aqib has kind of been trending in that direction that whole time,” said Kubiak (via Nicki Jhabvala of the Denver Post). “He’s been out there all week. He’s been a part of what we’re doing, but just not ready to get turned loose yet.” Talib’s back injury also kept him out last week for the Broncos’ 30-20 loss to the Raiders, while Wolfe suffered a hairline fracture in his right elbow.

Zach Links contributed to this post.

AFC Notes: Jaguars, Talib, Browns, Bengals

November 4th, 2016 at 7:13pm CST by Zachary Links

Could the Jaguars hire Tom Coughlin as their next coach? No conversations have taken place between the two parties, but Adam Schefter of ESPN.com wonders if the Jags could be interested in Coughlin, who was their very first coach as an expansion franchise. Coughlin – who coached the Jags from 1995-2002 – still has a home in Jacksonville, his charity is based there, and he has made it clear that he wants to coach. One source close to the situation told Schefter that “it’s not the craziest idea in the world.” One obstacle, however, could be Coughlin’s age (71 next August), as well as the fact that he enjoys his current role with the league, tweets Tom Pelissero of USA Today.

More regarding Jacksonville and three other AFC teams:

Broncos cornerback Aqib Talib will not play on Sunday night against Oakland due to his back injury, James Palmer of NFL.com tweets.
The grievance for cornerback K’Waun Williams against the Browns is expected to be heard around February, his agent tells Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal (on Twitter). Williams just had ankle surgery on Monday and 12-week recovery period is expected.
The Bengals tried out kicker Travis Coons, according to Katherine Terrell of ESPN (Twitter link). The club also auditioned Zach Hocker, Kai Forbath, and Randy Bullock this week, but Mike Nugent remains in place as its lone option at kicker. The 34-year-old Nugent is on notice, though, having connected on just 14 of 19 field goals. In the Bengals’ 27-27 tie with the Redskins last week, Nugent missed a field goal and an extra point.
The Browns are considering switching second-year man Cameron Erving from center to right tackle, head coach Hue Jackson said Friday (via Nate Ulrich of Ohio.com). The 2015 first-round pick struggled at guard as a rookie, starting in just four of 16 appearances, and has performed poorly at center this season while battling injuries. Erving, who has appeared in five of the Browns’ eight games, is currently Pro Football Focus’ worst-ranked center.
The Jaguars worked out punter Brock Miller, as Adam Caplan of ESPN.com tweets. Miller is the second punter to audition for Jacksonville this week, joining Cody Webster.

AFC Notes: Gronk, Broncos, Raiders

October 6th, 2016 at 4:52pm CST by Zachary Links

Appearing on CSNNE (video link), Albert Breer of TheMMQB said that he wouldn’t be totally shocked if the Patriots decided to eventually trade tight end Rob Gronkowski. When healthy, Gronkowski is a game-changing force who can terrorize any defense. However, he has had trouble staying healthy and he can sometimes be a high-maintenance player. In the past, Breer notes that those types of players have not lasted long in New England.

Here’s more from the AFC:

It appeared earlier this week that Broncos quarterback Trevor Siemian would miss at least one game because of an AC joint sprain in his non-throwing shoulder, but he could start Sunday against Atlanta, per Nicki Jhabvala of the Denver Post. Siemian resumed throwing on a limited basis during individual and seven-on-seven drills Thursday. That encouraged head coach Gary Kubiak, who called Siemian’s progress a “big step forward,” though he cautioned that the team will have to gauge the 24-year-old’s soreness on Friday. If Siemian is unable to play, rookie Paxton Lynch will make his first career start. The first-rounder from Memphis debuted in relief of Siemian in the Broncos’ 27-7 win in Tampa Bay last Sunday, completing 14-of-24 passes for 170 yards and a touchdown.
While the NFL is reviewing a June incident in which Broncos cornerback Aqib Talib shot himself in the leg, potential punishment from the league probably isn’t imminent, according to Mike Klis of 9NEWS. Talib will play Sunday, and the league is unlikely to make a decision on his status by the Broncos’ game next Thursday in San Diego. The 30-year-old has already intercepted three passes, already equaling his 2015 total, and will match up against Falcons superstar receiver Julio Jones on Sunday.
The Raiders worked out tight end Rob Housler, as Adam Caplan of ESPN.com tweets. The team has since promoted UDFA Ryan O’Malley to the 53-man roster, so Housler probably won’t be signing with Oakland at this time. The Raiders lost Lee Smith to injury earlier this week and he is likely done for the year after going on IR.

Connor Byrne contributed to this post.

Dallas Police Conclude Aqib Talib Shot Himself

October 4th, 2016 at 7:58pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Dallas Police Department has closed its investigation into Aqib Talib, and has concluded that the Broncos cornerback did in fact shoot himself, as Rebecca Lopez of WFAA tweets. A self-inflicted wound had been the prevailing theory ever since Talib was involved in a firearm incident in June. Talib will not face charges.

[RELATED: Latest On Trevor Siemian]

While one recent report indicated that Talib would not face league discipline for his involvement in the matter, Cameron Wolfe of the Denver Post reports (Twitter link) that the NFL is still reviewing the shooting. In June, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com reported that league punishment is coming for the cornerback. Commissioner Roger Goodell is not a fan of firearms, and the fact that Talib was apparently intoxicated — and has a history with weapons – could factor into any disciplinary decision.

On the night of the incident, Talib reportedly told police he was at a park when he was shot, but the police were investigating the evening in full. “Everything was a blur and I was too intoxicated to remember what happened,” said Talib at the time. Authorities never recovered the weapon used in the shooting, and few (if any) witnesses were talking about what happened.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Aqib Talib Will Not Be Disciplined By NFL

September 18th, 2016 at 12:17pm CST by Rory Parks

Broncos star cornerback Aqib Talib will not be suspended for the incident that he was involved earlier in this summer, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter). To recap, Talib was shot in the leg at a Dallas nightclub in early June, and initial reports suggested that the 30-year-old had accidentally shot himself. Days later, the Dallas Police Department said Talib was a victim of “aggravated assault.”

The report from the Dallas Police Department indicated that Talib told officers he didn’t know who shot him, and a witness claimed they only heard a single gunshot. The report further indicated that an “unknown suspect shot the complainant,” and there was no mention of Talib shooting himself. However, the Dallas PD was still investigating the incident as of the third week of August, and at that time the PD had not ruled out the possibility that Talib did, in fact, shoot himself.

If that were the case, then Talib almost certainly would be suspended, and indeed it was reported just last month that Talib would be facing discipline from the league. But now, it appears as though Talib has escaped punishment, unless the PD uncovers new evidence that might inculpate the Kansas product.

Just a couple weeks ago we learned that the Broncos were reportedly willing to trade Talib, whose off-field issues have frequently detracted from his on-field abilities. GM John Elway denied that report, and there have been no subsequent reports suggesting that opposing clubs approached Denver about a trade.

This news will surely be welcomed by the Broncos, who will likely need to rely on their defense to carry them back to the playoffs in 2016. Talib has three years remaining on his contract, and he will earn an $11MM salary this season.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images

Broncos Make Aqib Talib Available?

September 3rd, 2016 at 4:59pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

In surprising news, the Broncos are willing to trade star cornerback Aqib Talib if the right offer comes along, according to Dianna Russini of ESPN (Twitter link). For what it’s worth, GM John Elway denied the report when addressing the media on Saturday.

The 30-year-old Talib, a former Buccaneer and Patriot, has been a stalwart in Denver since joining the team before the 2014 season. Talib has made the Pro Bowl in each of his two Broncos campaigns and was an integral part of their Super Bowl-winning squad last season. The 6-foot-2, 202-pounder has started in all 30 of his regular-season appearances with the club and totaled seven interceptions and four defensive touchdowns along the way. For his work in 2015, Pro Football Focus rated Talib 30th among 111 qualified corners.

While Talib has been successful on the gridiron, off-field issues have clouded his career at times. The latest problem came just under three months ago when Talib suffered a gunshot wound either at a Dallas nightclub or at a park during the early morning hours of June 5. Talib told police he was “too intoxicated” to remember how he was shot. As of mid-August, they were still investigating the incident.

Regardless of what happens with the police investigation, the NFL could punish Talib down the line. Commissioner Roger Goodell is not a fan of firearms, and the fact that Talib was intoxicated — and a has a history with weapons – will likely factor into any disciplinary decision. It’s still something of an open question as to whether Talib will face legal consequences in addition to NFL penalties.

Talib still has three years remaining on his contract. He’s set to earn an $11MM salary this season.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Police Still Investigating Aqib Talib Incident

August 17th, 2016 at 12:40pm CST by Zachary Links

Police are still investigating the June shooting involving Aqib Talib, as Colleen O’Connor of The Denver Post writes. As the Dallas PD looks into the incident, they are also not ruling out the possibility that the cornerback actually shot himself in the leg.

The details of the incident could have major legal implications for the 30-year-old. Of course, if Talib fired the gun himself, he could also be facing punishment from a league office that does not look too kindly on firearm mishaps. It’s also not clear if the cornerback is licensed to carry in the state of Texas.

Talib told police he was at a Dallas park about 3:40 a.m. on June 5 when he was shot, but was “too intoxicated” to remember how he was shot. Meanwhile, there is some reason to believe that Talib was not actually shot at the park but was instead shot outside of a nightclub.

Talib has earned Pro Bowl nods in each of the last three seasons. In 2015, Talib recorded 45 tackles, 13 pass deflections, three interceptions, and two defensive touchdowns in 15 regular season games. The veteran’s performance helped propel the Broncos to a Super Bowl win to cap the year.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Latest On Aqib Talib

August 8th, 2016 at 9:27am CST by Dallas Robinson

MONDAY: 9:27am: Talib will return to practice today, according to James Palmer of NFL.com (on Twitter).

SUNDAY, 2;51pm: Two months after he was shot in the leg at a Dallas nightclub, Broncos cornerback Aqib Talib is expected to return to practice this week, according to Nicki Jhabvala of the Denver Post, who adds that Talib will only rejoin the club in a “limited capacity” and will be required to pass a physical. Talib has been on the non-football injury list since training camp began.

Few specifics about the shooting have been released in the eight weeks since the incident, and though the “working hypothesis” had been that Talib shot himself, no definitive reports have reached that conclusion. On the night of the incident, Talib reportedly told police he was at a park when he was shot, but the police were investigating the evening in full. “Everything was a blur and I was too intoxicated to remember what happened,” said Talib at the time. Authorities never recovered the weapon used in the shooting, and few (if any) witnesses are talking about what happened.

Meanwhile, reports have also indicated that league punishment is coming for Talib at some point down the road. Commissioner Roger Goodell is not a fan of firearms, and the fact that Talib was apparently intoxicated — and a has a history with weapons – will likely factor into any disciplinary decision. It’s still something of an open question as to whether Talib will face legal consequences in addition to NFL penalties.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.