Aqib Talib's arrest on gun charges led to speculation that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are ready to part ways with their 2008 first-round draft pick. But Bucs coach Raheem Morris said any talk of Talib's exit is premature.
"We have not talked about that," Morris told WHBO-AM radio on Wednesday. "That has not taken place. We will, but that time has not come yet."
Police in a Dallas suburb said Talib turned himself in on a warrant accusing him of firing a gun at his sister's boyfriend March 21. Talib was released after posting a $25,000 bond.
A Dallas County grand jury will hear evidence regarding the incident on May 18, attorney Frank Perez told the *St.Petersburg Times*.
Police say they believe Talib and his mother, Okolo Talib, shot at the man, who wasn't injured. Talib -- who has denied wrongdoing -- is charged with assault with a deadly weapon, a second-degree felony which is punishable by 2 to 20 years in prison.
This isn't Talib's first brush with trouble.
He was charged with simple battery and resisting arrest in connection with an assault on a taxi driver in Tampa in 2009. He was suspended by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell for the 2010 season opener as punishment for that incident, and Talib settled out of court with the cab driver.
Talib's troubles date to 2008, when he was involved in a fight with fellow Bucs rookie Cory Boyd at the NFL Rookie Symposium. In May 2009, Talib wound up inadvertently hitting teammate Torrie Cox in the face with his helmet while fighting with Donald Penn during a minicamp workout.
Former Bucs defensive tackle Chris Hovan spoke out about Talib last month, saying he believed team management has been too lenient on his ex-teammate.
"(Talib) has been given too much leeway from Raheem Morris because, I guess, coach Morris (the Bucs' former secondary coach) has favoritism towards him because he played defensive back," said Hovan, who started all but one game for the Bucs between 2005 and 2009. "Again, they are giving this young man way too much leeway. Any other individual would have been cut way before this. But Aqib's got so much talent -- his talent goes through the ceiling. But you can't have these offseason issues and you can't keep covering for this kid because they're saying it's OK for what he is doing."
