With Aqib Talib's assault trial scheduled for March 2012, his attorney says the Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback should be permitted to play through next season uninterrupted.
"Absolutely -- Aqib has the presumption of innocence," attorney Frank Perez told the *St. Petersburg Times* this week. "Everyone should consider him innocent at this point. I would hope they let him play this season and let him have his day in court. We are very confident and strongly believe he will prevail in court."
Police in Garland, Texas, charged Talib with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, stemming from a March 21 domestic incident. The second-degree felony is punishable by 2 to 20 years in prison, and Talib is out of jail on a $25,000 bond.
The three-year veteran has been in trouble ever since he entered the league. He was involved in a fight with fellow Bucs rookie Cory Boyd at the 2008 NFL Rookie Symposium, hit teammate Torrie Cox in the face with his helmet while scuffling with Donald Penn during a minicamp workout in May 2009, and was charged with simple battery and resisting arrest in connection with an assault on a taxi driver in Tampa in August 2009. Talib received a one-game suspension for the latter incident.
Talib has started for the Bucs since he was drafted, intercepting 15 passes in his three NFL seasons. He had 50 tackles, 11 passes defended and six picks, one returned for a touchdown in 2010.