Greg Schiano: Bucs not interested in trading Aqib Talib

Pewter Report told us earlier today that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were trying to trade cornerback Aqib Talib. Head coach Greg Schiano has quickly shot down that report in today's press conference:

"There is absolutely zero thinking on our part as far as wanting to do that. I want him to be a Buc. I understand there's been issues before I arrived, I do know that. And I'm not naive to the fact that some of those are a heck of a lot bigger than just playing football. But I'm really hopeful, as I've said before, that that clears itself up. Because since I met him for the first time, he's done everything I've asked and he's practiced well and he's prepared well."

Well, that's clear: Schiano says the Bucs don't want to trade Talib. But does that really mean the Bucs haven't tried to trade him? No. The simple fact is that the Bucs are best served saying this, regardless of their actual intentions. Saying they want to keep him gives the impression that they're secure with Talib, which could drive up his price if they want to trade him. In addition, it helps them in (the rather likely) case they can't find a trade partner for Talib: they won't be saddled with a player who knows he's not wanted, and they won't publicly lose face if their efforts fail as they can plausibly claim they never tried to trade him in the first place.

Pewter Report is usually a reliable source of information, and they won't put out this kind of rumor without checking their sources and the information itself. I'll take their word over that of a head coach who has everything to gain by, well, lying.