“Can’t Close The Door” On Tiki Barber
March 15th, 2011
Joe loathes Hollerin’ Gus Johnson with every fiber of his core. As the sports voice of reason Phil Mushnick has written several times, if someone sat in your home or next to you at the bar and screamed and brayed like this fool does, trying to gin up excitement, you’d either call the cops or punch the guy.
But if there was one sport Joe not only would pay attention to but also watch if Hollerin’ Gus Johnson called, it would be golf. To see serial adulterer Eldrick Woods and the rest of those constipated, pampered rich boys wing a golf club at Johnson every other hole at some tournament like The Munsters would be priceless.
Think Rodney Dangerfield in Caddyshack cranking Journey, piercing the normal wake-like pall over a golf course.
Which brings Joe to Tiki Barber, in a roundabout way. It seems eye-RAH! Kaufman of the Tampa Tribune crossed paths with both Tiki Barber’s brother Ronde, along with Bucs coach Raheem Morris at some local golf outing and Raheem refused to defuse rumors that Tiki will join his twin brother on the Bucs… whenever the NFL resumes normal activities.
“You can’t close the door,” Bucs coach Raheem Morris said of the possibility of signing Tiki Barber. “Anybody that can help your team, you want to look into it. Obviously, that’s not the direction we’re heading right now – we’re about youth and building through the draft. Me and (GM) Mark Dominik will have those discussions shortly, whenever free agency opens, but Tiki is definitely an impact player.
“Right now, we have a player that looks like him, plays like him, talks like him, walks like him and has had a lot of success with us. Ronde’s an amazing player. Right now, he’s ageless. We all know it’ll catch up with him eventually, but until that day happens, we’re going to continue to enjoy Ronde Barber.”
Well. It seems like in the past few days since Tiki first announced his planned return to the NFL, teams rumored to be interested in him from the Steelers to the Patriots have denied interest.
The Bucs, a team first thought to be a lock for Tiki, haven’t exactly said “No.”
March 15th, 2011 at 9:13 am
Tiki will be getting a closer look. Pretty hard 2 deny those Barber genes
March 15th, 2011 at 9:14 am
Now wouldn’t be the time that they’d get punished for it, but I find it interesting that these teams (ours more than any) are commenting at all.
Tiki is technically under contract with the Giants. And you’re not supposed to even mention guys that are under contract with another team…
March 15th, 2011 at 9:20 am
These statements are totally baffling to me. Not sure how seriously we can take them, maybe they are just being nice to humor Ronde?
If they are seriously looking at Tiki, then Rah must have more doubts about our RB group (beyond Blount of course) that I thought. Maybe Huggy and Earnest aren’t going to be fully healthy?
March 15th, 2011 at 9:47 am
This topic is tired…
March 15th, 2011 at 10:02 am
This shows just how much control Ronde has over his little buddy Rah Rah. I am telling you – whatever Ronde wants he gets because he is the reason that Rah Rah is the coach and if he questions him publicly adios. Conversely, Ronde wants his buddy in place until he hangs it up b/c his buddy insures a job and the millions of dollars that come with it.
Ronde is a smart customer and has positioned himslef perfectly – you can only envy Ronde for positioning himself in such a powerful position.
March 15th, 2011 at 10:30 am
Matt – I agree, in a normal situation the Bucs could be fined for tampering related comments like that. But the Giants have already said they are going to release him when they can, so I doubt the NFL, Giants, or other teams are gonna care much.
Also, tampering only applies to players anybody cares about 🙂
March 15th, 2011 at 10:59 am
@Theodore: Apparently 🙂
March 15th, 2011 at 11:04 am
His twin brother is on our team and is also Rah’s best friend. You think Rah is going to come right out and say “No we are not interested. He is old and only back for the money.” Of course not. Why do or say anything to piss Ronde off and create a riff?
Rah did say “Obviously, that’s not the direction we’re heading right now – we’re about youth and building through the draft.” which is the nicest way of saying no we are not interested without any disrespect.
He also said ”Right now, we have a player that looks like him, plays like him, talks like him, walks like him and has had a lot of success with us. Ronde’s an amazing player. Right now, he’s ageless. We all know it’ll catch up with him eventually, but until that day happens, we’re going to continue to enjoy Ronde Barber.” which is a nice way of saying we are happy we got the good Barber twin and we’ll stick with him.
It’s not that hard to read between the lines.
March 15th, 2011 at 11:05 am
Morris is wrong .. Ronde does not talk like Tiki because that would make him an a**hole !! 🙂
March 15th, 2011 at 11:39 am
Nobody else has come back from such a lay off. Ricky Williams was only gone one season I think.
This guy has been out for years and is a lot older than Ricky.
Best to say nice things about him to pacify Ronde and decline. Ronde ought to feel fortunate he is on the team himself, and avoided the purge.
March 15th, 2011 at 11:55 am
Again, not an issue. It doesn’t hurt if they sign him. He’ll either fail and get cut, Lose heart and quit, or look great and make the team. I don’t mind him coming to camp. Just in case he has something left.
Poor Thomas 2.1 or 2.2( depending on how hard he pulls). It is a terrible and embarrassing “condition”. I’m sure it has been a source of embarrassment and humiliation your entire life. It explains your bitterness you always display. If you are only 2.2″ inches away, why not have the operation and be female? You’re practically there now!! Probably will change your outlook on life
March 15th, 2011 at 12:54 pm
LOL Capt. Tim! Could that be the reason behind his constant hatred? Gets one thinking, poor guy.
March 15th, 2011 at 1:38 pm
jdouble hit it on the head, no need to say more.
March 15th, 2011 at 2:29 pm
I read it the same way JDouble. To me, that is Raheem saying it’s not going to happen. You rarely ever hear us slam the door on any free agent, but Morris’ statement seems pretty close to me.
I am officially for bringing Tiki to Tampa, only because I’m sure it will piss off Thomas and WeNeedDefense. That alone is worth a roster spot.
March 15th, 2011 at 4:48 pm
Capt Tim +1
Lol. So true.
March 15th, 2011 at 5:38 pm
No tampering that I can see:
In fact, he basically said not interested (see bolded portion in quote). He also said “You can’t close the door…”
That’s just his way of saying that if a need arises and he is in shape, why not? Say, if our RBs get injured in the season.
I say bring him into camp. If he can survive our 120 degree camp, and come off looking good, he might be worth considering.
March 15th, 2011 at 5:39 pm
Do not open the door….
March 15th, 2011 at 6:14 pm
I’m almost positive Ricky Williams was gone for 2-4 seasons but on my phone and it’ll take to long to confirm before I post this
March 15th, 2011 at 6:18 pm
Nope, I was wrong nvm. Haha
March 15th, 2011 at 9:17 pm
Bonus points for Capt. Tim…
How would signing a 36 year old rb help this team? Is he an upgrade to the backfield at all? No way Dom even considers this…
A total non-issue…
March 15th, 2011 at 9:21 pm
@ Thomas 2.2… Don’t worry about your “condition”.
I’m only 5.0, but I hear thats thick enough…