Patriots Acquire troubled cornerback before deadline

Aqib Talib, the troubled but talented cornerback who has spent his entire career in Tampa Bay, has been traded from the Buccaneers to the Patriots. There’s no word yet on what the Patriots gave up to acquire Talib, although it is likely a conditional draft pick.

Talib is currently serving a four-game NFL suspension for violating the NFL’s performance-enhancing drug policy, for what Talib says was taking the prescription drug Adderall without a prescription. Talib has also faced off-field legal troubles throughout his career, and there was talk that Bucs coach Greg Schiano would send Talib packing before his suspension ended, talk that Schiano dismissed — but which turned out to be true.

But despite his off-field troubles, there’s no doubt that Talib is a talented cornerback, and there’s no doubt that the porous New England secondary could use a talented cornerback. If Talib can learn Bill Belichick’s defense and stay out of trouble, he could provide a major upgrade to the Patriots.

 

Brandon Kendrick