Talib on Patriots: 'I love the team already'

FOXBORO -- New Patriots cornerback Aqib Talib met with reporters on Thursday for the first time since being acquired in a deadline day trade with the Buccaneers and said he's already been embraced by his new teammates. 

"The guys have been great, man," Talib said of his teammates. "They've embraced me and I love the team already."

Talib, who finished his four-game suspension on Sunday for taking Adderall in violation of the NFL performance enchancing policy, sits in a locker between Ras-I Dowling and Devin McCourty. 

"I did my best to stay in pretty good shape," Talib said. "Coming in early, leaving late, just trying to learn the system. It's been all right."

Talib said he's not worried about the perceptions of his past problems, including being indicted for firing a gun at his sister's boyfiend in Texas. He also said he's not worried about perceptions and pressure of being someone the Patriots are looking toward to stabilize their leaky secondary.

"I'll let [the media] deal with all the perceptions and all that," he said. "I'm just coming in and doing what's asked of me, learn as quick as possible and see what I can do to help."

Talib was acquired, along with a seventh-round pick on Nov. 2 in a trade with Tampa Bay that sent a fourth-round pick to the Bucs. 

"Just coming in to learn as quick as possible and just work hard and see what I can do to help the team," Talib said. "I'm just coming in and doing what's asked to be done. So, if that's help right away, then help right away. If it's help down the road, then it's help down the road. I'm just doing what's asked to be done.

"I just take it one day at a time. Until I was traded, I was a Buc, now I'm a Patriot. Just taking it one day at a time, one step at a time. Of course, you're always surprised when you get traded but it's football. I've seen it happen before."

For more, visit the Patriots team page at weei.com/patriots [1] and the blog It Is What It Is [2].