December 4, 2011; Tampa, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Aqib Talib (25) on the sidelines during the first half against the Carolina Panthers at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-US PRESSWIRE

There’s precedent for this, it regularly takes the NFL weeks to months to make decisions in these cases, but the question needs to be posed, why?

This is the crux of the players’ collective gripe against the NFL. The discipline is always going to be a part of the game, I think that’s understood, but the lack of transparency associated with it is downright troubling.

What are they doing in New York right now that it’s taken a month to determine whether they want to suspend Talib? It seems to a rational person that a decision could probably be rendered in an afternoon if someone actually cared to make it. Instead though teams and players dangle for weeks awaiting word of their fates and it begins to create disadvantages that seem unnecessarily punitive to the franchises.

Why should the Bucs be twisting in the wind right now trying to determine whether to move Ronde Barber or to move for another corner prior to training camp?

With the arrest of Eric Wright last week, things have gotten even more complicated now in Tampa. Wright’s history of incidents is a little more extensive than was advertised when he signed a few months ago and depending on what transpires there’s no guarantee he won’t face NFL discipline. That’s two corners and the Buccaneers have no idea when the NFL will get around to telling them what their statuses will be.

That’s an issue, ignoring the fact Goodell is judge and jury and also gets to rule on appeals, there needs to be some kind of end-date timetable for these decisions or at least some transparency. I’d settle for the NFL just to admit they’re still conducting their own interviews or that they’re just doing anything besides letting a file collect dust on a desk while they leave teams in a lurch as they await the information.

Who knows what happens with Aqib Talib… and who knows when we’ll know.

May 15, 2012; Tampa, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Aqib Talib (25) and cornerback Eric Wright (21) workout during organized team activities at One Buc. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-US PRESSWIRE

According to the Tampa Bay Times, the NFL is looking into the case and league offices have requested a copy of the dismissal order so that Goodell may mede out NFL justice.

An NFL spokesman declined to close the door on disciplining Talib. He said the league office will, in fact, review the case. He did not suggest what the outcome might be.

Talib’s attorney tells us Goodell’s office asked for a copy of the dismissal order issues by Dallas County authorities. Whether that’s a good or bad thing is probably debatable.

Frankly, things don’t look all that promising, even despite legal authorities admitting there is far too little evidence to prosecute. For starters Talib is a repeat offender having had multiple infractions in his past. Secondly, Goodell doesn’t need to convict Talib, he just needs to prove he embarrassed the league. That’s less hard to do considering gun charges and a star NFL corner, typically don’t connote well together in the same headline.

Thus far the league had opted to defer until the court proceedings played out, now in lieu of court proceedings Goodell and crew can do what they do best, take a few weeks and let a player dangle while they inevitably make a ruling that’s as harsh if not harsher than you expected.

I think Talib gets at least two games from the commissioner, I hope I’m wrong but I think we’ll hear something to the tune of, ‘by even being in that situation you embarrassed your team and the league.’

All things considered, that wouldn’t be terrible, if Talib can stay healthy the other 14 games he’ll still be able to make a nice impact and frankly another strike might lower the talented corner’s price tag to a place where the Bucs might be willing to extend him a couple more years.

I still feel that when he’s on his game Talib is an elite corner in this league, and with all of this behind him and pressure to prove he can return to his productive NFL form, I think we’re going to see a huge season from #25, provided Goodell lets him play the better part of it.

Aqib Talib (25) and Eric Wright (21) could be the Buccaneers starting corners next season. (Kim Klement-US PRESSWIRE)

That’s good news for Talib fans, in many ways it’s the first step because had Schiano not liked Talib he’d already be out on his ear. Things still need to unfold well for him in the legal system, but should it the path seems clear for Talib to return to the Bucs secondary.

When asked about Talib, Schiano has responded:

“Well, any time you have a guy where there’s an off-the-field situation that could affect his on-the-field situation, you’re concerned,” Schiano said, via the Tampa Bay Times.

“The thing that I can tell you is since I arrived here Jan. 26, he’s been awesome,” Schiano said. “The way he’s worked, he’s been here every day. I hope that it’s left behind him and there isn’t anything and that we can move forward because, again, I can only judge people since I’ve been involved. I can’t stick my head in the sand, as I’ve said before, but on the other hand . . . he’s been extremely focused and here, doing everything that we asked. So I’m pleased with that and hope everything can just kind of sort itself out.”

October 23, 2011; London, ENGLAND; Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Aqib Talib (25) celebrates after a safety against the Chicago Bears during the first quarter in the NFL International Series game at Wembley Stadium. The Bears defeated the Buccaneers 24-18. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-US PRESSWIRE

But should things unfold poorly or Mark Dominik decide he’s tired of giving the oft-troubled corner chances, the Buccaneers admitedly have contingencies in place as well (per PFT).

Schiano acknowledged that the Bucs have “plans just in case” Talib isn’t on the team this year, but that “I hope like heck we don’t ever have to dust them off.” So while Schiano would prefer not to have any outside distractions, he will have to be keenly interested in the events inside a Texas courtroom in two weeks.

I wouldn’t read too much into that, given his injury history the team likely would have a contingency in place already. The place you can read between the lines is when Schiano says he’s pleased with what he’s seen it means already he’s keenly aware Talib is by far his best corner. It’s not hard to see, when he’s on his game #25 is a top five or ten NFL corner. He’s the best player on the Buccaneer defense. Face it, right now Talib is the only guy on the D who’s proven to be able to make big plays.

That’s not the kind of guy you want to lose, and having his back up against the wall so he has to walk the straight and narrow and be a team-first guy means the Bucs doesn’t hurt either.

I don’t expect the Bucs to offer Talib another contract, but at the same time unless they are forced to I doubt they drop him at this point either. They didn’t take a corner in the draft, and with Ronde Barber moving to safety, the only proven commodity at corner (and I use that term loosely) is Eric Wright.

They need Talib, Schiano seems to want Talib.

I’ll bet he sticks in Tampa for another season.

And the Bucs are better for it.