Should the Pats consider signing Aqib Talib long-term?

[RayClay]

I'm not personally as concerned with his character issues as I was last year, and Talib seems to have turned the corner a bit in terms of attitude even winning an award in the offseason for his hard work and leadership. Belichick has commented on his leadership this season, as have other members of the team.

My only concern (outside of those 2 nagging hip and hamstring injuries every single season) would be that Talib will be looking to cash in a bit too much, which is often the main problem with any deal that cannot be agreed to.

EDIT: I see RayClay has posted the same thoughts

Of course, every player is a risk, whether character, injury or just not progressing. BB will judge.

My impression so far is Talib is taking the opportunity to be with and act like a winner. It happens.

As far as the contract goes I'll say it again and again. We rarely bid up players that only want to break the bank. However, If the Pats want him and he wants to play here, they will find a way. They have signed a lot of players to big contracts that posters here thought couldn't be signed.

If Talib continues, he's worth a large contract as a top corner with size and they will negotiate something in that neighborhood if that's what both sides want. They'll need to save money somewhere else and they're good at budget management.

 

[jsull87]

If he has a probowl year and say gets 9 or 10 INTs..do you see the pats realistically spending 10 mill a year on the guy for say 4-5 years..becasue that's what he will be looking for

I personally think he has made a huge difference to this team and it's defensive structure.

If he has a PB type season then i would franchise him without a question. We have locked up our other elite talent like Mayo, Jones, Wilfork, Hightower and have extended Nink and Arrington.

Last on our list for D is to extend McCourty.

That frees us up to use our 1 and 2 picks for DT and WR as our only glaring needs.

Wr might not even prove to be a need if Thompkins and Dobson have good seasons and Amendola / Edelman get healthy.

Funnily enough it is looking more and more like TE has become a need with Gronk Missing time.

If Talib is let go then we will once again be forced to look for a starting calibre corner just when our d is getting where we need it.

 

[supafly]

My impression so far is Talib is taking the opportunity to be with and act like a winner.

I agree with you entirely, and stated so in my post. I'm not nearly as concerned about any character concerns that were brought up like the end of last season.

Of course it's also a long season, so we may be getting ahead of ourselves after 3 weeks, but I'd hope that they can retain Talib.

 

[supafly]

If he has a PB type season then i would franchise him without a question. We have locked up our other elite talent like Mayo, Jones, Wilfork, Hightower and have extended Nink and Arrington.

Last on our list for D is to extend McCourty.

Let's hope it doesn't come to that!

We cannot afford to have another player with a 10+ million dollar cap hit for next season, and I would think that they'll do everything in their power to try and avoid having it come to that.

Not sure if you are aware, but there are a ton of key core players who are coming up in the next 18 months that are free agents here.

McCourty is just ONE of many....how about Solder? Connelly? Wendell? Edelman? Ridley? Vereen? Wilfork? Spikes? the list goes on and on....

At this point in time, the NEP are approx. 7 to 8 million under the cap for the 2014 season. Paying someone a 10+ million cap hit won't likely be in the plans, so they'll probably have to come to terms in another manner.

 

[mgteich]

IIRC, Wilfork is signed through 2014. That would put him in the same situation as McCourty.

I personally think he has made a huge difference to this team and it's defensive structure.

If he has a PB type season then i would franchise him without a question. We have locked up our other elite talent like Mayo, Jones, Wilfork, Hightower and have extended Nink and Arrington.

Last on our list for D is to extend McCourty.

That frees us up to use our 1 and 2 picks for DT and WR as our only glaring needs.

Wr might not even prove to be a need if Thompkins and Dobson have good seasons and Amendola / Edelman get healthy.

Funnily enough it is looking more and more like TE has become a need with Gronk Missing time.

If Talib is let go then we will once again be forced to look for a starting calibre corner just when our d is getting where we need it.