Aqib Talib apparently has been dealing with haters since grade school.
Talib will be playing in his first Super Bowl on Sunday when the Denver Broncos take on the Carolina Panthers at Levi’s Stadium, and it’s no thanks to one of his elementary school teachers. The Broncos cornerback told a funny story Tuesday, via the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
“I was in the NFL when I was about 6 years old,” Talib said of his childhood dreams. “I used to be Deion (Sanders). I used to be (Michael) Irvin. We used to write papers. I got in trouble one time, fourth grade, fifth grade, one of those grades. We had to write a little one-page thing on what we were going to be when we grow up, so I put, ‘I’m going to be an NFL player.’ ”
Talib didn’t exactly get in trouble for writing about his dreams. It’s what happened after he was confronted by his teacher that earned him a trip to the principal’s office.
“So my teacher told me, ‘Seriously now. We’re writing about really serious jobs,’ ” Talib said. “So I said, ‘Just because you’re not that talented and you’re not going to the NFL, that don’t mean I ain’t going.’
“Got me a little in-school suspension for that. I kind of talked back to her I guess. She pulled me into the office. I’ll never forget it. And then I said it again, ‘Just because you’re not going to the NFL don’t mean I’m not going.’ ”
Sounds like Talib to us.
Talib’s career got off to a rocky start, but since he was traded to the New England Patriots in 2012, the cornerback has come into his own. Between the Pats and the Broncos, Talib is a three-time Pro Bowl cornerback with plenty of playoff experience.
Shows how much that teacher knew.
Thumbnail photo via Kyle Terada/USA TODAY Sports Images
