Mangino says Talib is a hard worker

With talk that the New England Patriots will let  cornerback Aqib Talib walk away in free agency over what has been speculated that he is not a hard worker, Talib's college coach has come to his defense.

“Not (Talib), because he loves to play football,” Mark Mangino, who coached Talib at Kansas, told the Boston Herald. “He enjoyed practice time. He hustled, made plays, did all of his drill work full speed, played hard in the games, did what was asked of him in the weight room, got bigger and stronger when he was with us. I find that a little hard to believe.

“Things can change, obviously, but I stopped into the Tampa Bay Buccaneers training camp (last summer). I visited with several members of the staff, front office people, strength coaches, trainers, assistant coaches. To the person, they told me what a great job Aqib was doing. ‘He is showing leadership. He is working his tail off in the (organized team activities). He’s been a leader. He is really busting his butt, and he is really working hard.'"

The Patriots acquired Talib, who can be a free agent, just before the trade deadline in 2012.

Follow me on Twitter @TerryMc13

Terry McCormick covers the Titans for TitanInsider.com