SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- Broncos cornerback Aqib Talib has an outrageous eight touchdowns during his eight-year career, including a pair of scores off three picks this season.
So what makes him such a threat with the ball?
"Because I used to play offense," Talib said Thursday. "I used to love playing offense. I played offense in high school, in college, and I don't get to play it in the league. So when I get the ball, I have to score my touchdowns like I'm on offense. I just like offensive guys, they don't practice tackling like that. It would be wrong to let those guys tackle me when I get the ball. That's kind of how I go about it."
Talib wants the ball and almost had a shot during his early career stint with the Buccaneers.
"In Tampa, I was this close, I was young, too," Talib said. "I was young and flying around. I was this close to getting an offensive package. I came to work late on a Monday. (Then-coach) Raheem Morris called me up to his office and said, 'I had a 15-play script for you on offense,' and ripped it up. That's Raheem Morris, he's my dog. He was going to give me an opportunity."
That opportunity nearly came again with the Patriots.
"Actually, when I first got to New England, I think my first practice maybe, (coach) Bill (Belichick) kept me after practice for like 20 minutes and Tom (Brady) threw me like 10 routes: stop routes, fades, a couple slants the first day I got there," said Talib. "I guess I didn't look good enough because he never did it again. I feel like I caught all of my passes though. I was working hard out there but I still want to know what happened with that, Bill."
So do we. Coach Belichick, if you're reading this, feel free to hit the comment section below.