Longtime NFL cornerback Aqib Talib announced his retirement Wednesday and dropped some interesting information in the process. According to the one-time All-Pro, New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick was interested in a reunion with the former Patriot. Talib, of course, spent parts of the 2012 and 2013 season as New England’s top cornerback.
Aqib Talib: Bill Belichick Wanted New England Patriots Reunion
Talib claims that he entered the offseason looking for a one-year deal to re-establish his name and get his career back on the right track. Bill Belichick reportedly reached out to him, saying that he wanted Talib to come back and work as a pseudo-safety mostly covering tight ends. At first, Talib jumped on the idea and was even looking for apartments in the area. However, a closer look at the schedule changed his mind.
The Patriots face a much harder schedule in 2020 and have to go up against some of the best tight ends in the league. Talib specifically called out Travis Kelce, George Kittle, and Darren Waller as noteworthy opponents he’d have a tough time covering. Talib normally has “positive thoughts” when first joining a team, but these negative thoughts made him realize that he lost his competitive edge and needed to call it a career. At age 34, Talib acknowledged that he doesn’t move like he used and simply couldn’t compete at a high enough level. Talib went on to say that playing without the competitive edge can lead to serious injuries, and he wanted to leave the game in good health.
Talib initially started his career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers all the way back in 2008. He spent the early portion of his career with the Buccaneers before joining the New England Patriots midway through the 2012 season. He served as New England’s lockdown corner in each of the next two seasons. Following his time in New England, Talib won a Super Bowl with the Denver Broncos and spent some time with the Los Angeles Rams. New England, meanwhile, replaced Talib with Darrelle Revis, Malcolm Butler, and Stephon Gilmore.
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