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It’s not a surprise at all that the NFL just announced that cornerback Aqib Talib will be suspended for the season-opening game against Cleveland. This one’s been hanging out there since Talib was involved in an altercation with a cab driver last year.



It just took some time for the legal process to play out and the NFL to do its investigation, but the Bucs have expected all along that Talib would get some sort of suspension. Talib won’t be paid for that game and he also will be fined in the amount of one more game check. For those keeping score at home, Talib’s game checks for this season are scheduled to be $83,382.35 per game. So multiply that by two and Talib’s altercation will cost him $166,764.70.



The cost to the Bucs also is high because they’ll have to open the season without their best cornerback. They’ll likely have to use Elbert Mack or E.J. Biggers in Talib’s spot, and it may force rookie Myron Lewis into some immediate playing time. But there’s been a sense within the walls of One Buccaneer Place that Talib has learned from this situation.



“Since last fall, Aqib has done all that’s been asked of him and more, on and especially off the field,’’ general manager Mark Dominik said. “We look forward to his return to the field in Week 2.’’



We don’t know all the details of what Talib did in the offseason, but coaches and team officials, who once had serious doubts about Talib’s long-term future, have been raving about the maturity he suddenly has displayed this summer.

Tony Romo’s preseason is done.

Tony Romo’s preseason is done.

Arizona Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt offered thoughts, insights and clarifications regarding his handling of quarterback Matt Leinart during an appearance Tuesday on the Scott Van Pelt Show .



I’ll pass along some highlights and offer some thoughts:

On Matt Leinart’s feeling that he needed an explanation following his benching: It was communicated with Matt last Thursday and explained that we were going to start Derek [Anderson] in Chicago, as well as the reasons behind it. I can understand if he didn’t like the explanation or if he disagreed with it. However, I am comfortable in the way it was communicated and the way we communicate to all our players in general. There were a number of other positions where we made changes. … It’s really not singling one person out. It’s about trying to find the best team for us as we go into the regular season a week and a half from now.



On Leinart in general: Matt has made a great deal of progress and there is no question in my mind that he can play quarterback in this league. Once again, that is the toughest position, in my opinion, to play in this league and there is a lot that goes with it besides just statistics. It’s more about how you handle the team, how you handle situations. There is a certain quality that you have to have in that position and that is all part of the evaluation process. And I think, more importantly, is how your team responds to that player and how you handle that role. I’m not talking about Matt. I’m just saying I feel like he has made great progress in that area, but, for whatever reason, we have not performed the way we have needed to perform as an offense. We have not made the progress that we as a coaching staff felt that we needed to do. So it’s not so much about that person as it is about trying to find the right combination. Once again, I believe Matt can play. I’m not saying that at all. I am just trying to find the best match for our football team.



On possibly releasing Leinart: That’s not something we have discussed. I can tell you that. We are going to look at our quarterback position. We have two rookies that are fighting for a position on our football team as well [Max Hall and John Skelton]. We have put a lot of time and effort in with Matt in trying to help him improve as a quarterback and fit into what we do well. I would say that would be something that would take a lot of time and thought before we made any kind of decision like that.

Whisenhunt said Anderson will start in the final exhibition game Thursday night. He said Anderson is getting more snaps because the team needs to find out more about him. Whisenhunt said he put the team on notice following the exhibition opener that jobs were on the line, and that there wasn’t enough progress in the second exhibition game.



Leinart’s reaction to Whisenhunt’s moves is understandable. He’s frustrated after putting in the time and effort he felt was necessary to keep the starting job, and it’s not like Anderson has lit up the practice field or opposing defenses. It’s also possible the Cardinals will view Leinart’s response as whining and unbecoming of a starting quarterback — in effect, more evidence Leinart isn’t suited for the role. Leinart still might be the best available option for the Cardinals heading into the season. Whisenhunt will be watching closely to see how the team responds to both quarterbacks.

John Clayton’s quarterback rankings invites discussion and further analysis.



“An elite quarterback is one who can complete better than 60 percent of his passes, has the potential to throw for 4,000 yards and has fourth-quarter comeback ability,” Clayton writes.



I’ll pass along his rankings for NFC West quarterbacks, complete with his comments and mine (see also this earlier analysis featuring Matt Williamson of Scouts Inc.):



Matt Hasselbeck, Seattle Seahawks



Clayton league rank: 17



Clayton comment: A three-time Pro Bowl selection, Hasselbeck lost his elite status because of two seasons getting rocked behind bad offensive lines. Hasselbeck is the one hope Pete Carroll has for challenging for the NFC West title.



Chance of being elite: 25 percent, according to Clayton



Mike Sando: We’ll have a much better feel for how this season might go after Hasselbeck faces the San Francisco 49ers in the regular-season opener, probably without left tackle Russell Okung. Hasselbeck appears confident in the new coaching staff’s scheming ability. He mentioned coordinator Jeremy Bates and quarterbacks coach Jedd Fisch by name during a recent news conference when I asked Hasselbeck about scheming around Okung’s potential absence. I took that as a sign of respect. Scheming goes only so far, however, and problems on the offensive line could still endanger and/or limit Hasselbeck this season. Seattle fans can be cautiously optimistic.

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Alex Smith, San Francisco 49ers



Clayton league rank: 21



Clayton comment: It’s hard to believe this is Smith’s sixth season. The pressure is on him to get the 49ers to the playoffs. He has not lived up to his No. 1 billing in the draft, obviously, but the surrounding cast is good enough to make a playoff run. One of the faults I noticed when I saw him in the preseason is that he doesn’t always hit receivers in stride.



Chance of being elite: zero percent, according to Clayton



Mike Sando: Project Smith’s 2010 numbers across 500 attempts and you’d get a quarterback completing 60.5 percent of his passes for 3,158 yards, with 24 touchdowns and 16 interceptions. He would need substantial improvement to reach Clayton’s elite parameters from a statistical standpoint. There’s also no evidence Smith can consistently demonstrate fourth-quarter comeback ability. He had one touchdown pass with three interceptions last season in fourth quarters of close games (point disparity no greater than seven). Smith did post a 91.4 rating with five touchdowns and two interceptions in the final two minutes of the halves, but he has much to prove when games are on the line.

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Matt Leinart or Derek Anderson



Clayton league rank: 28



Clayton comment: Analysis: For Anderson, this is a chance to rebuild his career after tough seasons in Cleveland in 2008 and 2009. He’s not very accurate, never completing more than 60 percent of his passes in a season in the NFL. For Leinart, this is the end of the line with the Cardinals after this season if he doesn’t regain a starting job he had no business losing.



Chance of being elite: zero percent, according to Clayton



Mike Sando: What about Max Hall? I’m half-joking, but given the uncertainty heading into this season, and given Leinart’s recent statements questioning Ken Whisenhunt’s motives, it’s natural to wonder how many quarterbacks the Cardinals might run through this season. Anderson’s low career completion percentages suggest he’ll have a hard time recapturing past Pro Bowl form. Leinart has completed better than 80 percent of his passes during the exhibition season, but those completions haven’t breathed much life into the offense.

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Sam Bradford, St. Louis Rams



Clayton league rank: 30



Clayton comment: What amazes Rams management about Bradford is his accuracy and how calm he seems in the pocket. Unfortunately, his rookie season will be tough because St. Louis lacks big-play receivers and the offensive line is struggling.



Mike Sando: The low ranking for Bradford reflects his inexperience and supporting cast in St. Louis. It’s not a stretch to think Bradford could charge up this list over the course of the season, however. Every team in the NFC West would probably trade its current starter for Bradford. Of course, talented quarterbacks are always appealing before they’ve had a chance to play.

Whether you realize it or not, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers just made a pretty strong statement to their entire roster.



Coach Raheem Morris announced after Tuesday’s practice that running back Derrick Ward has been released.



“After practice today we were able to notify Mr. Ward,” Morris said. “It’s just like any other profession when it is time for you to depart. It’s not a surprise anytime in our profession anytime we tell you to go — can’t say you’re surprised. You have every day to go out there and prove yourself. ”



I think the last part of that quote, about proving yourself, is hugely significant. Ward was signed to a big free-agent deal last year and the initial plan was for him to be the No. 1 running back. But Ward really didn’t do much last season as Cadillac Williams came back from injury and firmly grabbed the starting job. Much like former receiver Antonio Bryant, Ward didn’t always handle things the way the Bucs would have liked.



In a dismal preseason, he didn’t score any points with the coaches by pouting. The Bucs have a healthy Williams, a promising prospect in Kareem Huggins and they always can fall back on Earnest Graham, who can play fullback or tailback.



Yes, they could have hung onto Ward as insurance in case anything happened to Williams. It would have at least given them a veteran alternative that wouldn’t force a change at fullback. But Ward didn’t do anything to show the Bucs he was a guy they wanted on the field, and he put up a pretty convincing case that he wasn’t a guy they wanted in their locker room either.



Morris was hired last year and took a lot of criticism for being too friendly with his players and that label might have had some truth to it. He put up with some things last year that other coaches wouldn’t have. But it’s pretty clear Morris has learned from some mistakes in this area.



Last year, maybe he spent a little too much time trying to be everyone’s buddy. With moves like cutting Ward (and there could be some more veterans following soon), Morris is establishing himself as everyone’s coach.

The New York Giants decided they couldn’t wait for backup quarterback Jim Sorgi’s injured right shoulder to get better.