Aqib Talib suspended one game for eye-poke

Broncos cornerback Aqib Talib has been handed a one-game suspension for poiking Dwayne Allen in the eye in Week 9

When the Denver Broncos needed a stop late in the fourth quarter against the Indianapolis Colts in their Week 9 matchup, they were unable to come up with one. The reason as to why was a personal foul penalty picked up by Broncos cornerback Aqib Talib. As Denver linebacker Von Miller and Colts tight end Dwayne Allen were jawing back and forth, Talib involved himself in the situation by walking up to Allen and actually poking him in the eye.

It was a surreal moment that you’d be more accustomed to seeing in professional wrestling as opposed to the NFL. It was clear that Talib’s poke to the eye was a deliberate move and a dirty tactic in that kind of situation. Subsequently, the NFL has handed out its punishment accordingly. On Monday afternoon, it was announced that Talib will serve a one-game suspension for the incident:

Considering how dirty of a move poking an opposing player in the eye is and considering the fact that Talib wasn’t even involved in the initial confrontation, it was pretty clear a mere fine wasn’t going to be sufficient punishment. However, knocking him out for a game seems about right. Although completely unwarranted and underhanded, there are worse things that Talib could have done in that situation.

Ultimately, it seems like this is a good call by the NFL to suspend Talib, if only for the one game. The Broncos are surely going to miss one of their top defensive backs as they take on a Kansas City Chiefs team that gave them a fight in their first meeting of the season, but I guess that’s why NFL players shouldn’t go around poking opposing players in the eye.