Buccaneers cornerback Aqib Talib was officially indicted Friday morning on felony charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

From Rotoworld.com:

The next step is to schedule hearings then a trial, where Talib could face 2-20 years in prison if convicted of firing multiple shots at his sister’s boyfriend. If he’s found not guilty, it’s not hard to imagine coach Raheem Morris going to bat for him in the Bucs front office. Considering his history, Talib will face NFL discipline regardless of the outcome.

The key here is that an indictment doesn’t mean Talib is guilty of any crime. It just means that there has been an official charge made and now both sides will build a case.

As I wrote yesterday, the league can’t punish players during the lockout but Roger Goodell is still keeping tabs on legal situations like Talib’s. The cornerback obviously has a much bigger issue on his plate than what kind of punishment Goodell is going to dole out, but it’s worth noting that he’ll probably be disciplined once his trial wraps up.

It’ll be interesting to see if he’ll serve much – if any – jail time. Usually when there’s a time frame of X amount of months/years an athlete is facing in prison (which is 2-20 years in Talib’s case), they usually wind up spending anywhere from zero to about half a second behind bars. Assuming he’s guilty of breaking the law, I doubt Talib’s situation will be any different but I could be wrong.

The St. Petersburg Times is reporting that Buccaneers cornerback Aqib Talib will be indicted by a Dallas grand jury on felony charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

However, the indictment is not expected to officially be reported until Friday. Earlier this week, an examining trial determined there was enough evidence in the shooting case involving Talib to be heard by the grand jury Wednesday.

Talib is charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, a second degree felony which carries a punishment of 2-20 years in prison, for his role in a March 21 shooting in Garland, Texas.

Police say Talib attempted to pistol whip and later fired gunshots at his sister’s boyfriend, Shannon Billings. Nobody was injured. Talib’s mother, Okolo, also faces similar charges.

While the league can’t dole out punishment during the lockout, Roger Goodell is said to be documenting players’ legal issues and will act accordingly once the labor dispute ends. That said, Talib’s issues go far beyond his playing career or the NFL. After all, the guy is facing 20 years in prison.

Of course, I have a hard time believing that Talib will serve a long stint behind bars. So many athletes in various sports (especially the NFL) have faced jail time before, only to get off with a slap on the wrist. I’m not saying it’s right. But if history is any indication, I doubt Talib will be put away for very long, if at all.

Besides, his defense team may have a strong case for self-defense since he acted on behalf of his sister, who was allegedly attacked by her boyfriend before Talib, uh, stepped in. I’m not a lawyer so excuse my ignorance here, but it would seem like Talib’s defense team could get him out of any real jail time. (Again, I’m not rooting for or against Talib going to jail. If he broke any laws, then he deserves to pay the time.)

Either way, the young cornerback is in some serious trouble and his career is in jeopardy.

Bucs’ head coach Raheem Morris refuted a St. Petersburg Times report that the team has already decided to move on from troubled cornerback Aqib Talib.

“Just to say that we’ve come out and made a decision about what’s going to happen with Aqib Talib’s future is completely false and bad information,” Morris said.

“The NFL has a discipline policy for our players that is also part of the collective bargaining agreement. Discipline throughout the league and off-the-field issues are always handled through the league office,” Morris said. “There are extra things internally that we do. We might fine people, we may take money, we may sit you out of practice, we may sit you out of games, we may not allow you to participate in certain things.

“The public stuff and the public knowledge is always handed down by the NFL, usually. Right now, the guy has not been judged. Once he gets judged, I’m sure the NFL, or whatever happens there, will step into play. Then we will step into play also.”

This is smart on Morris’ part. You don’t want to even suggest that you’re going to cut a guy that hasn’t been proven guilty of anything (even though the odds are clearly stacked against Talib). If Morris and the Bucs did, they would be inviting the media and fans to scrutinize their decision-making.

If or when Talib is found guilty and the NFL makes a decision on his future, then Morris and the Bucs can get involved. Until then, Morris has it right: We (Bucs) haven’t made a decision about anything regarding Aqib Talib.

According to the St. Petersburg Times, the Bucs are expected to release troubled cornerback Aqib Talib, who is currently being investigated for a shooting dating back to last month.

Barring a last-minute change of heart — or perhaps his exoneration — the Bucs are expected to release troubled CB Aqib Talib.

Only the lockout, which prevents teams from making transactions, has prevented Tampa Bay from already cutting ties with its 2008 first-round draft pick.

As the paper points out, Talib was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon in a March 21 shooting in Texas, which is a second-degree felony punishable by two to 20 years in prison. Police say the cornerback fired a gun at his sister’s 40-year-old boyfriend, although Talib has denied the accusation via his attorneys.

Talib has also been involved in several other off-field incidents, including fighting a teammate at the NFL rookie symposium. In 2009, he swung a helmet at offensive tackle Donald Penn during an argument and inadvertently struck cornerback Torrie Cox, which caused a gash. In 2010, Talib agreed to a deal with prosecutors to resolve a battery charge after he was accused of striking a St. Petersburg car driver. The incident caused NFL commissioner Roger Goodell to take action, suspending the cornerback for the first game of the regular season.

Even though the St. Petersburg Times is a reputable source, it’s important to allow the situation to play out. Often times a report like this will come out and the team will deny it the very next day (or several hours later in some cases). I have no doubt that the Bucs are considering releasing Talib, but he’s one of few shutdown corners in the league and he’s only 25. If he’s exonerated or given probation (which is likely considering he’s an athlete and the same laws don’t seem to apply to athletes as they do to regular folk), then there’s reason to believe that Tampa will keep him around.

But if they do decide to cut bait and move on, it would be hard to blame their rationale.

Quick, name the leading receiver on the Bucs last year. Nope, it wasn’t impressive rookie Mike Williams and for those who said Joey Galloway, you’ve just embarrassed yourself.

It was none other than tight end Kellen Winslow Jr., who was one of the many players that helped transform the Bucs from a 3-13 team in 2009 to a 10-6 playoff contender in 2010. Due to the tough of the Super Bowl champion Packers the final two weeks, Tampa Bay missed the postseason but there’s no doubt the Bucs are a team to be reckoned with in the NFC.

Even though he’s concentrating on becoming a father any day now, Kellen took the time to chat with us recently about the Bucs’ resurgence, what he thought the key was to Josh Freeman’s development this past year and what his take is on the lack of progress in the CBA discussions. He also talked about his role in the Bucs’ offense and what he thinks the team needs to get over the hump. As we expected, he didn’t disappoint with his answers.

For more on Kellen, check out his official website, which has a bio, photos and more.

The Scores Report: Hey Kellen, how are you?

Kellen Winslow: Hey, how’s it going, man?

TSR: Real good! How’s your offseason going?

KW: Good. I’m just chilling and having a great time.

TSR: Did you enjoy the Super Bowl?

KW: Yeah, it was real good.

TSR: Did you end up going to any of the parties or the game?

KW: Nah, I don’t go. I don’t go unless we go, you know?

TSR: (Laughs) Makes sense. What did you think of your fellow NFC counterparts, the Packers?

KW: It was a good win for them. I was kind of surprised that the Steelers didn’t show up like I thought they would, you know?

TSR: Yeah, I think a lot of people were surprised, especially considering they’re a veteran-led team.

KW: Right.

TSR: So are you working with a relatively clean bill of health this offseason or are you rehabbing anything?

KW: No, I’m good this offseason. I’ve been feeling okay and I’ve been cycling. I found out that that keeps my knee real strong so I’ve just been doing that.

TSR: What was the key to the Bucs’ one-year turn around? Because you guys had a really young team both years, but in 2010 things seemed to take off and you were able to put together a winning season.

KW: You know what? I just think it had to do with the second year. People are growing. Raheem [Morris]…you know, Raheem is obviously our leader. People are following him, they’re getting used to playing with each other and just going out and executing on game day. That’s all it pretty much is.

TSR: You get to work with him every day so I’m wondering what your take is on Josh Freeman. What did you see in him specifically this year that you didn’t see his rookie year?

KW: Just experience, you know, experience playing. I think he got into the last six games in his first year and that was kind of his rookie experience. He didn’t play his full rookie season so the second year, he was still a rookie in terms of game experience. But he did awesome. He had a couple of games where he didn’t play like he wanted to but who doesn’t? We couldn’t have asked for more from him and he played phenomenal.

TSR: You just wrapped up your seventh season in the NFL. Besides what it takes physically to get ready each year, what do you do in the offseason to mentally prepare yourself for a new season? What does a veteran tight end in the NFL do to get himself ready when he’s already played seven years in the league?

KW: You know, I watch a ton of film. I watch, well, I watch myself but I watch other tight ends as well. I’ll watch [Antonio] Gates, I’ll watch Tony Gonzalez and I’ll watch Jason Witten. I think those are the three main guys I’ll watch just to learn how they block, or how they use their bodies to catch the ball and what moves they do. So yeah, I would say watching a lot of film of tight ends.

TSR: Well you must enjoy playing in the same division as Gonzalez because you get to see him twice a year.

KW: Yeah, especially him because I do see him twice a year and we play the same teams. I probably watch him the most. Myself, I like to read a lot of coverages. I like to know exactly the front they’re in, the coverage behind it, what blitz is coming, so I can envision it and go make the play.

TSR: How do you feel that the tight end position is evolving? Because there still seems to be a mix of guys that can block and guys that can catch, but in your opinion are there more and more guys that can do both nowadays?

KW: Yeah, there’s still a mix of tight ends though. You got a guy like Gates who is a very good receiving tight end. Tony, he does his fair share of blocking but he’s also a very good receiving tight end. A guy like Witten really has no weakness. I wouldn’t pick my routes from him as I would Gates or Tony Gonzalez, but Witten can do it all. But there are many different tight ends that you can learn from. You know, Zach Miller is a great, solid blocking tight end and a receiving tight end. So I think it’s all about what you want and what the teams need out of the position. There are tight ends everywhere now, you know?

TSR: Right, and that’s why I was asking. You take a team like the Patriots who nabbed two tight ends in Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez in the draft last year and used them both. I mean, once Bill Belichick traded Randy Moss he played to his strengths, which was at tight end. So I was just wondering if you saw the position evolving.

KW: Yeah, I do. I think it’s more of a receiving position nowadays and you can have two now. I mean, I think you could have two on every team. I do, I think the position and the game is evolving where you can have two good ones on every team.

TSR: The Bucs competed for a division title last year but came up just short. What’s the one thing that will get you guys over the hump?

KW: Honestly, I think the thing that will get us over the hump is that we need a little more pass rush – a little more pressure on the quarterback. Our defensive backfield is pretty good, our linebacker corps is pretty good, but I just think we’re a little young on the defensive line. But I would say that’s about it, man. We’re pretty loaded besides that.

TSR: I like to ask veteran players this question because they can usually spot what young players have what it takes to become future stars. So give me two players on either side of the ball that could become future stars for the Bucs. Everyone has a good idea about Mike Williams, but who else?

KW: Arrelious Benn. He’s going to be another good player. You know, he was a rookie last year but he made some plays for us late in the season. I think he’s going to be a great player.

TSR: Good call. He was real good at Illinois and I think if he had more consistent quarterback play when he was there he would have been a first rounder.

KW: Yeah, definitely. And the other one…Kareem Huggins. He’s been injured the last two years, but he’s a great player. He just needs to stay healthy and he’s going to be a great one.

TSR: You’ve led the Bucs in receptions the last two years but do you see your role expanding in the offense next year or do you think it’ll stay steady?

KW: No, I need to be more involved in the offense. You know, it’s something I’ve been patient with but my goal every year is to catch 100 balls and get 1,000 yards, or at least one or the other. It just hasn’t happened yet. I had 66 this year and 700 yards or something like that and it’s just not what I’m used to. You know, obviously I want the ball more and it’s just about timing between Freeman and I, and just getting the opportunities to go make plays. I can’t wait [for next season].

TSR: I’d be remised if I didn’t ask you about the CBA discussions and what your take is on that situation. Do you think they’ll be a season next year? As a fan I’m worried, so I’m sure as a player you must be as well.

KW: Yeah. Personally, I think a lockout is going to happen but I don’t think they’ll let it get to the season. It would be awful if there were no football. Guys would have to get second jobs and join the real world. (Laughs)

TSR: Definitely. And it ain’t pretty in the real world, let me tell you.

KW: (Laughs)

TSR: Tell me about your website and what’s new with that.

KW: Not much new yet, but I encourage people to check out my bio and photos. I plan on supporting the Plant City Eagles again and making sure they have the opportunity to play. [Editor’s Note: Kellen donated time and money last May to help the Eagles when helmets, jerseys and shoulder pads were stolen from a storage building/concession stand. You can read about the story here.]

TSR: That’s great.

KW: Yeah. Oh, we have a baby coming, too.

TSR: Wow, congratulations!

KW: Thank you, thank you, man. Yeah, so I’ve just trying to concentrate on that because she’s due any day now.

TSR: So you know it’s a girl?

KW: No, it’s a boy.

TSR: Oh, your wife is due any day now. Now it makes sense…

KW: Yeah, my wife is due.

TSR: That’s very exciting news. So when is he due?

KW: The due date is February 27.

TSR: That’s one day before my girlfriend’s birthday. My birthday is at the end of March so if you want to hold out…

KW: (Laughs) Man, if we wait that long something’s up!

TSR: (Laughs) No, yeah – I don’t blame you! Well Kellen, it was a pleasure to talk to you and I wish you nothing but the best with the new baby and, hopefully, a new season.

KW: Thank you, man.

TSR: Take care.

KW: You too, bye.

The top guys we chose on offense and defense should run away with these awards, but stranger things have happened.

Offensive rookie of the year power rankings

1. Sam Bradford, St. Louis Rams—Almost led the Rams to a playoff berth, but either way had a great rookie year—3512 yards, 18 TDs, with 15 picks.

2. Aaron Hernandez/Rob Gronkowski, New England Patriots—Along with their QB, these two guys are probably the biggest reason the Patriots are 14-2. Check out these combined numbers – 87 catches, 1109 yards, 16 touchdowns. For two rookies!

3. Mike Williams, Tampa Bay Bucs—Finished with 11 touchdowns and was a big reason the Bucs became relevant again this season.

4. Colt McCoy, Cleveland Browns—Can someone explain to me how this guy fell to the second half of the third round of last April’s draft?

5. Christopher Ivory, New Orleans Saints—In just 12 games, had 716 yards and 5 scores

Defensive rookie of the year power rankings

1. Ndamukong Suh, Detroit Lions—Led all DTs with 10 sacks, but more importantly, earned the respect of everyone and had O-coordinators having to game plan against him.

2. Devin McCourty, New England Patriots—Finished with 7 picks and 82 total tackles.

3. Eric Berry, Kansas City Chiefs—With Cassel, Charles and Bowe, the Chiefs now have a game-changer on defense too.

4. Joe Haden, Cleveland Browns—65 tackles and 6 picks on a team that is going to be really good in a year or two.

5. Jason Pierre-Paul, New York Giants—Everyone wondered what the Giants would do with another defensive end, but this kid exceeded everyone’s expectations.

It’s best to do this now, because surely our opinions will be skewed watching the playoffs.

1. Bill Belichick, New England Patriots—The Pats just kept getting better as the season wore on, save for that hiccup against Cleveland. This is actually one of Bill’s best coaching jobs.

2. Raheem Morris, Tampa Bay Bucs—From 3-13 to 10-6. But what might be most impressive is that Morris told everyone this team would win 10 games when he may have been the only one who believed it.

3. Todd Haley, Kansas City Chiefs—The AFC West winner has a home game Sunday. Did anyone pick KC to finish above third?

4. Lovie Smith, Chicago Bears—Kudos to Lovie for sending his A-team out there last Sunday, and either way it’s surely been quite a year for his Bears, especially with that defense.

5. Andy Reid, Philadelphia Eagles—He hasn’t hung around the city of Philadelphia for 11 years for no reason. The man just knows how to win with the talent he’s given.

6. Steve Spagnuolo, St. Louis Rams—So close to grabbing that last playoff spot, but regardless, this is a team that will be reckoned with, maybe as soon as next year.

7. Mike Smith, Atlanta Falcons—The 13-3 Falcons are sharp heading into the big dance.

8. Mike Tomlin, Pittsburgh Steelers/John Harbaugh, Baltimore Ravens—Without Big Ben for four games, and still grabbed the 2-seed in the tough AFC. The Ravens, meanwhile, snuck up on everyone by winning 12 games too.

9. Mike McCarthy, Green Bay Packers—His team was in every single game and could just as easily be 16-0 than 10-6. Keep an eye on these guys, they could win it all as a 6-seed.

10. Sean Payton, New Orleans Saints—You just can’t forget about the defending champs and that win in Atlanta a few weeks ago proved it.