Even the most ardent Denver Broncos fan can admit that Aqib Talib‘s facemask on Philly Brown during the Super Bowl probably crossed the line (wherever that may be), and apparently the NFL agrees.
According to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, the NFL is considering suspending Talib for his “admittedly intentional and blatant decision to grab, twist, yank, and pull Brown’s facemask.”
Aqib Talib facemask penalty pic.twitter.com/ikaO2MkvqO
— ✶ Ⓜ️𝕒𝕣𝕔𝕦𝕤 ▶️ ✶ (@_MarcusD_) February 8, 2016
For the Broncos, while the personal foul drew a 15-yard penalty, because the play occurred so close to the end zone, it only amounted to about a 1-yard infraction. In reality, it made little difference to the Broncos, Panthers or the game itself, and Talib admitted as much.
“It was B.S. flags,” Talib said regarding a pair of personal fouls called on him in the first half, via NESN.com. “One was on our sidelines [for taunting] — the guy [Brown] was talking on our sideline. One I just did on purpose, and I just had to show him. It’s probably going to be a fine. But, hey, we’re world champs.”
He continued: “My teammates knew what it was. He was on the three-yard line. [With] a personal foul, he was on the one-and-a-half-yard line, so it is what it is.”
He’s right. The foul will undoubtedly draw a fine, but a suspension is absolutely in play too, especially given Talib’s past conduct. Not only was he called for a personal foul earlier in the game, but he was suspended earlier in the season for poking Colts tight end Dwayne Allen in the eye.
The fact that he has shown little remorse won’t help either.