Talib can buy into the Patriot Way
The "Patriot Way" is something that a lot of players buy into when they come to the New England Patriots. It does not have a simple definition and cannot be defined just by words. When asked it is usually described differently by each person who is asked of it. But, the one common factor that most answer it with is a hard work ethic and the will to win on the football field.
When the Patriots acquired cornerback Aqib Talib on November 1, 2012, many people wondered if Talib could be the guy that most people thought he could be when he was drafted 20th overall in the 2008 draft by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Talib was suspended at the beginning of the 2012 season for violating the leagues policy of performance enhancing substances. The Patriots had a recent history of picking up players with off the field trouble such as Randy Moss, Chad Ochocinco, Albert Haynesworth, among others, so trading for Talib didn't come as much of a surprise to many people with the Patriots glaring secondary needs. But the surprise came after the trade.
With Talib's first game donning a Patriots jersey, he intercepted Andrew Luck and ran 59 yards for a touchdown. He brought a certain attitude to the Patriots that they hadn't seen on defense since the days of Rodney Harrison, Tedy Bruschi and Mike Vrabel. With more than half a season under the Patriots, Talib has the potential to lead the defense like others before him and establish his own Patriot way.
So far this season, Talib has established himself as a hard worker who is ready for the upcoming season. He was one of ten offseason workout award winners this year which allows the top ten Patriots front row parking spots. Although Talib has had a sketchy history off the field, he's ready to put this all behind him. Teammate Devin McCourty came to Talib's defense on this subject.
To quote Jeff Howe of Boston Herald:
The one downside to Talib playing great this season is that the Patriots only signed him to a one year deal. He will be looking for a pay day which might scare off the Pats, but if he is willing to put the work in and buy into the Patriot Way further, he may be in a Patriots uniform for years to come as a leader.
Michael Husson
@HussBus59
When the Patriots acquired cornerback Aqib Talib on November 1, 2012, many people wondered if Talib could be the guy that most people thought he could be when he was drafted 20th overall in the 2008 draft by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Talib was suspended at the beginning of the 2012 season for violating the leagues policy of performance enhancing substances. The Patriots had a recent history of picking up players with off the field trouble such as Randy Moss, Chad Ochocinco, Albert Haynesworth, among others, so trading for Talib didn't come as much of a surprise to many people with the Patriots glaring secondary needs. But the surprise came after the trade.
So far this season, Talib has established himself as a hard worker who is ready for the upcoming season. He was one of ten offseason workout award winners this year which allows the top ten Patriots front row parking spots. Although Talib has had a sketchy history off the field, he's ready to put this all behind him. Teammate Devin McCourty came to Talib's defense on this subject.
To quote Jeff Howe of Boston Herald:
“For him, people will find whatever judgment they want,” safety Devin McCourty said. “They can look at a lot of things that occurred in his career and take them for that, but I love it because I’ve had the opportunity to watch him. He came in every day and worked his butt off, and he deserved that parking spot. I think it speaks volumes for our younger guys to watch him out there practicing hard every play, work out hard, and you see the results. He’s out there making plays because of that.”
The one downside to Talib playing great this season is that the Patriots only signed him to a one year deal. He will be looking for a pay day which might scare off the Pats, but if he is willing to put the work in and buy into the Patriot Way further, he may be in a Patriots uniform for years to come as a leader.
Michael Husson
@HussBus59
