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Talib Set To Play, Talks Only Football |
 Bucs cornerback Aqib Talib (Getty) |
Bucs CB Aqib Talib is going to be ready to play against the Packers. Talib responded to questions about the alleged argument with head coach Raheem Morris in London. Talib said his focus is on football, and the challenge of another dynamic receiver in Week 9. Plus, the Bucs game will not be blacked out this Sunday and injury reports.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a healthy team after their bye week and entering their Week 9 game with the Green Bay Packers. The Bucs did not have a player sit out Thursday's practice, and it was the second straight day where every member of the team had some level of participation in practice.
On Wednesday the only players limited in practice were cornerback Aqib Talib (ankle) and guard Jeremy Zuttah (shoulder). Bucs head coach Raheem Morris said both were able practice on Thursday.
"Aqib [Talib], was back to full practice," Morris said. "Jeremy Zuttah was full practice. Antonio Bryant was limited. Michael Clayton was full practice. Elbert Mack was limited in practice today."
The Bucs starting wide receivers of Bryant and Clayton have had some nagging injuries all season. Bryant has had to deal with a knee injury the whole year, and Clayton has dealt with a variety of issues while presently nursing a wrist injury. Cornerback Elbert Mack rolled his ankle during Thursday's practice, but Morris said it wasn't serious.
"I'm pretty good, it was just a basketball turn," Talib said of his ankle injury. "I went out there and covered real [well]. I'll be good for the game."
After practice Talib spoke to the media for the first time in a while. Talib had been the center of some controversy lately as he was rumored to be involved in a loud explicit-laden argument with Morris the night of the Bucs loss to the Patriots in London. Talib and other players came in late after the team curfew. Morris downplayed the incident on Tuesday. He said Talib has never disrespected him.
When asked for his version of the events, and if the incident was minor and blown out of proportion, Talib would not comment on anything outside of football.
"Raheem already told you guys what happened so I'm not really going to get into that," said Talib. "I'm sticking to football questions. Rah kind of already explained to you guys what happened, so I'll leave it at that.
"I'm not going to get into it all".
On the field Talib has had a successful season through seven games. Talib has 30 tackles with four interceptions and eight passes defensed. He leads the team in interceptions and passes broken up. The Buccaneers have been relying on Talib in man coverage to take away the best receiver on the opposing team each game.
"I'm challenged every week," Talib said. "Coming into the NFL this is what I dreamed of doing. Playing against the best receiver on the other team week in and week out. I got another challenge coming up this week. It is going to be Greg Jennings, 85, and he is a premier receiver in the league. He gets a lot of balls and catches a lot of touchdowns. He's a pretty good receiver, so I'll have my hands full again this week."
Talib will have to try and shutdown the connection of Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers to Jennings. Rodgers has completed 65.3 percent of his passes for 1,989 yards with 14 touchdowns and two interceptions. The ability of Rodgers to protect the football has led the Packers produce a NFL-best plus-12 turnover ratio. Jennings is averaging 15 yards per catch. He has 29 receptions for 437 yards and two touchdowns.
"I think what [Rodgers] has is two [interceptions] on the season," Talib said. "He doesn't throw lots of picks. He's smart. He'll take a sack before he'll throw an interception. He is pretty smart quarterback when it comes to throwing interceptions. We have to put our game plan together and try to make plays on him."
Talib said that Rodgers' mobility to break out of the pocket and extend plays with his feet is a challenge for the Bucs secondary.
"Definitely, we call it plaster," Talib said. "We have to stick with our receivers, and keep our eyes on our receivers and be ready for him to run the playground routes. We've been practicing that all week."
Thus far in 2009 Talib has faced some of the best wide receivers the NFL features. Some of the daunting wideouts that he has matched up against have included: Buffalo's Lee Evans, Carolina's Steve Smith, Washington's Santana Moss, Philadelphia's DeSean Jackson, and most recently New England's Randy Moss. The Patriots future Hall-of-Fame receiver Moss had five receptions for 69 yards against Talib. The Bucs second-year corner also intercepted a pass from New England quarterback Tom Brady intended for Moss.
"Moss might have been the best guy I went against all year," said Talib. "I did my best against him.
"When you against guys like Steve Smith, Randy Moss, Santana Moss, you have no choice but to get better every week."
NO BLACKOUT
The Buccaneers throwback game against Green Bay will not be blacked out. The Bucs' home contest isn't sold out, but enough tickets have been sold to allow the game to be broadcast locally in the Tampa Bay area. A limited number of tickets remain available to purchase through ticketmaster.com
GREEN BAY INJURY REPORT
The Packers had six players sit out of Thursday's practice: wide receiver Donald Driver (neck), tight end Jermichael Finley (knee), wide receiver Jordy Nelson (knee), quarterback Aaron Rodgers (feet), center/guard Jason Spitz (back), and safety Derrick Martin. Limited in practice was fullback Korey Hall (calf). Linebacker Brandon Chillar has been out the past two days with a hand injury.
On Wednesday the only players limited in practice were cornerback Aqib Talib (ankle) and guard Jeremy Zuttah (shoulder). Bucs head coach Raheem Morris said both were able practice on Thursday.
"Aqib [Talib], was back to full practice," Morris said. "Jeremy Zuttah was full practice. Antonio Bryant was limited. Michael Clayton was full practice. Elbert Mack was limited in practice today."
The Bucs starting wide receivers of Bryant and Clayton have had some nagging injuries all season. Bryant has had to deal with a knee injury the whole year, and Clayton has dealt with a variety of issues while presently nursing a wrist injury. Cornerback Elbert Mack rolled his ankle during Thursday's practice, but Morris said it wasn't serious.
"I'm pretty good, it was just a basketball turn," Talib said of his ankle injury. "I went out there and covered real [well]. I'll be good for the game."
After practice Talib spoke to the media for the first time in a while. Talib had been the center of some controversy lately as he was rumored to be involved in a loud explicit-laden argument with Morris the night of the Bucs loss to the Patriots in London. Talib and other players came in late after the team curfew. Morris downplayed the incident on Tuesday. He said Talib has never disrespected him.
When asked for his version of the events, and if the incident was minor and blown out of proportion, Talib would not comment on anything outside of football.
"Raheem already told you guys what happened so I'm not really going to get into that," said Talib. "I'm sticking to football questions. Rah kind of already explained to you guys what happened, so I'll leave it at that.
"I'm not going to get into it all".
On the field Talib has had a successful season through seven games. Talib has 30 tackles with four interceptions and eight passes defensed. He leads the team in interceptions and passes broken up. The Buccaneers have been relying on Talib in man coverage to take away the best receiver on the opposing team each game.
"I'm challenged every week," Talib said. "Coming into the NFL this is what I dreamed of doing. Playing against the best receiver on the other team week in and week out. I got another challenge coming up this week. It is going to be Greg Jennings, 85, and he is a premier receiver in the league. He gets a lot of balls and catches a lot of touchdowns. He's a pretty good receiver, so I'll have my hands full again this week."
Talib will have to try and shutdown the connection of Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers to Jennings. Rodgers has completed 65.3 percent of his passes for 1,989 yards with 14 touchdowns and two interceptions. The ability of Rodgers to protect the football has led the Packers produce a NFL-best plus-12 turnover ratio. Jennings is averaging 15 yards per catch. He has 29 receptions for 437 yards and two touchdowns.
"I think what [Rodgers] has is two [interceptions] on the season," Talib said. "He doesn't throw lots of picks. He's smart. He'll take a sack before he'll throw an interception. He is pretty smart quarterback when it comes to throwing interceptions. We have to put our game plan together and try to make plays on him."
Talib said that Rodgers' mobility to break out of the pocket and extend plays with his feet is a challenge for the Bucs secondary.
"Definitely, we call it plaster," Talib said. "We have to stick with our receivers, and keep our eyes on our receivers and be ready for him to run the playground routes. We've been practicing that all week."
Thus far in 2009 Talib has faced some of the best wide receivers the NFL features. Some of the daunting wideouts that he has matched up against have included: Buffalo's Lee Evans, Carolina's Steve Smith, Washington's Santana Moss, Philadelphia's DeSean Jackson, and most recently New England's Randy Moss. The Patriots future Hall-of-Fame receiver Moss had five receptions for 69 yards against Talib. The Bucs second-year corner also intercepted a pass from New England quarterback Tom Brady intended for Moss.
"Moss might have been the best guy I went against all year," said Talib. "I did my best against him.
"When you against guys like Steve Smith, Randy Moss, Santana Moss, you have no choice but to get better every week."
NO BLACKOUT
The Buccaneers throwback game against Green Bay will not be blacked out. The Bucs' home contest isn't sold out, but enough tickets have been sold to allow the game to be broadcast locally in the Tampa Bay area. A limited number of tickets remain available to purchase through ticketmaster.com
GREEN BAY INJURY REPORT
The Packers had six players sit out of Thursday's practice: wide receiver Donald Driver (neck), tight end Jermichael Finley (knee), wide receiver Jordy Nelson (knee), quarterback Aaron Rodgers (feet), center/guard Jason Spitz (back), and safety Derrick Martin. Limited in practice was fullback Korey Hall (calf). Linebacker Brandon Chillar has been out the past two days with a hand injury.
Comments
cremdonado
3:39pm, November 5, 2009
Horse
Am I reading more into the Talib Articles? It seems strange two of the Talib Articles appeared at 11:11 AM, then the last one at !;45 PM. Hmm!
I'm wondering if you got a lot of negative feed back about Doug Williams responses to Leroy Selmon being honored on the same day as the 79 team? Hmm!
Strange that the article got removed so quickly from the front page. Hmm!
I'm wondering if you got a lot of negative feed back about Doug Williams responses to Leroy Selmon being honored on the same day as the 79 team? Hmm!
Strange that the article got removed so quickly from the front page. Hmm!
5:06pm, November 5, 2009
Horse
I know I was offended by Williams comments.
Leroy Selmon & Derrick Brooks arethe greatest players the Bucs ever had!
Doug I respect you, but there are many more players than did more for the Bucs. I am so sorry that Culverhouse so unfair with you. You did not deserve it.
Leroy Selmon & Derrick Brooks arethe greatest players the Bucs ever had!
Doug I respect you, but there are many more players than did more for the Bucs. I am so sorry that Culverhouse so unfair with you. You did not deserve it.
5:10pm, November 5, 2009
bucsmaniac
Williams was a fine QB even with being disrespected by the owner and most bigots at the time...i remember sitting in the old stadium watching him hook up with Giles down the middle...one of the strongest arms ever and he almost got us to the super bowl in 79 and he did win one with his new team Washington and i can also remember him thumbing his nose at Culverhouse after that SB win! good times!
8:15pm, November 5, 2009
Horse
mucmaniac, I was sitting there with you in the stadium. I was so upset that Culverhouse did what he did to Williams and the way he treated him. It wasn't right at all. If you remember most of the Fans were pissed at Culverhouse for what he did.
I do hope all the 79 guys show up to be honored and for them to show their support also for Leroy Selmon being the first one in Ring of Honor. Owners could have done it differently, but they chose not to.
go Bucs!
I do hope all the 79 guys show up to be honored and for them to show their support also for Leroy Selmon being the first one in Ring of Honor. Owners could have done it differently, but they chose not to.
go Bucs!
10:56pm, November 5, 2009
twodog
Using Talib as a feature representative of the Bucs is another fundamental mistake. Maybe he will yell in RAH'S face to highlight Sundays game. Maybe a little shove would be good. A little scrap with a teammatte or perhaps late for the game. More great quotes would be a plus. Throw a tantrum and push the Ref. The problem is none of the above spells any success for the Bucs. Trade him quick.
6:22am, November 6, 2009
scubog
Horse: It's Lee Roy, not Leroy. I was on those aluminum seats with you guys. I have mine on my patio. I also have a piece of concrete from the old stadium. A lot of memories, some good and a lot more forgettable.
Yesterday was the 42nd anniversary of the first game played at Tampa Stadium and the first date with my wife of over 40 years. That worked out.
"Giles down the middle!" was always a great play. Dougie threw that pass so effortlessly. Not all times were bad with Bucco Bruce. I dug up my Jerry Eckwood jersey for this game. People forget what a contribution he made in 1979 with over 600 yards along with Ricky Bell's 1200+.
In the Kansas City game to win the division in 1979, Eckwood streaked around the right side headed for a TD when the ball just came out of his grasp in the rain.
They were the lovable losers back then. I don't have the same sympathy now. See you at the game.
Yesterday was the 42nd anniversary of the first game played at Tampa Stadium and the first date with my wife of over 40 years. That worked out.
"Giles down the middle!" was always a great play. Dougie threw that pass so effortlessly. Not all times were bad with Bucco Bruce. I dug up my Jerry Eckwood jersey for this game. People forget what a contribution he made in 1979 with over 600 yards along with Ricky Bell's 1200+.
In the Kansas City game to win the division in 1979, Eckwood streaked around the right side headed for a TD when the ball just came out of his grasp in the rain.
They were the lovable losers back then. I don't have the same sympathy now. See you at the game.
6:26am, November 6, 2009
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