Ronde Barber’s Uphill Chances At Hall Of Fame
July 5th, 2011
If there is a Bucs fan who doesn’t love Ronde Barber, Joe has never met that person.
The Bucs cornerback stands for all that is good about football players: Smart, good citizen, durable and puts up numbers.
Bucs fans are pretty much united in their belief Barber is a Hall of Fame player and Joe doesn’t disagree. But Barber will have an uphill battle getting into Canton.
BSPN’s NFC South blogger Pat Yasinskas decided to write an extensive, reasoned, well-researched feature detailing how more likely than not, Barber and the Saints Darren Sharper will be forever praying to get into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, not inducted.
Yasinskas correctly points out that with Deion Sanders induction next month, it will bring the number of defensive backs to 22. The Hall of Fame does not separate safeties and cornerbacks, they are all lumped into one group.
So of the hundreds of players in the Hall of Fame inducted for the past roughly half-century, only 22 defensive backs have been enshrined.
That’s a pretty low figure.
That might be it for a Tampa Bay team that was known for its great defense in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Barber and Lynch each have a shot. But, at absolute best, maybe one of them gets in someday.
It should be pointed out Barber has transcended eras. He’s continued going strong since the departure of Kiffin after the 2008 season and has provided stability as Tampa Bay has gone through a youth movement.
Barber is 36 and has committed to at least one more season. Durability counts for something, but Barber might need a big 2011 season and maybe more to really get his résumé shining for the Hall of Fame.
It’s an outstanding point Yasinskas makes: rarely (twice, actually, if Joe’s research is accurate) will there be two defensive backs from the same team inducted. It’s pretty much a given that Lynch, after Derrick Brooks and Warren Sapp, will get in, but perhaps not for a few years. Lynch very well could cancel Barber out.
Does Joe believe Barber should be included? Yes. Does it mean he will? No. The Hall of Fame voting is political and number of Super Bowl rings does play a factor whether voters will admit to it or not.
If Barber does get in, it might be quite a few years before it happens.
July 5th, 2011 at 10:05 am
I feel the numbers are there. The INT’S, the sacks, the years played and the Super Bowl win. It can be capped off with the greatest play in Buccaneer history, the INT to ice the eagle playoff game in the Championship year.
It’s just wrong if he is not in the HOF IMO.
July 5th, 2011 at 10:27 am
I don’t know why you would think “it’s a given” that Lynch gets in……I think it’s far more likely that Ronde gets in than Lynch
July 5th, 2011 at 10:36 am
Lynch is much more of a house hold name and the HOF is as much about popularity as it is about stats. Lynch also went to 9 Pro Bowls which is pretty amazing by itself that he could continue to play so well after his neck injury. I think they should both be there, but like the article states; it will probably be one or the other.
July 5th, 2011 at 10:50 am
The combination of interceptions and sacks is unmatched and will get him in.
July 5th, 2011 at 10:51 am
Not to mention he had like 10,000 rushing yards for the Giants. I could’ve sworn that was him!
July 5th, 2011 at 11:53 am
I love John Lynch, but Barber > Lynch.
July 5th, 2011 at 12:07 pm
I agree with CBHammock.
It is far from “a given” that Lynch makes the HOF.
July 5th, 2011 at 12:31 pm
Here’s how I rank the HOF chances of the Bucs’ stars from the late 90’s / early 2000s:
Group A
1. Brooks
2. Sapp
———-
Group B
3. Barber
4. Lynch
5. Alstott
———-
Group C
6. Rice
7. Nickerson
8. Dunn
9. B Johnson
Group A = Locks for HOF
Group B = Have a shot
Group C = No chance at HOF, but deserve Ring of Honor or whatever the Bucs call it nowadays
Did I miss anyone?
July 5th, 2011 at 12:41 pm
Lynch over Barber?! Please! I’m with CreamsicleGrapeHugger!
Joke – I would also put Quarles in your Group C.
July 5th, 2011 at 12:42 pm
@Joke: Good, except that Alstott has no chance. In fact, I’d say Rice has a better chance than him if we’re basing it on production.
July 5th, 2011 at 1:32 pm
C’mon everybody, nobody is even mentioning Jeff Christy?!?! Granted he’s more likely to make it for his Vikings resume, but he was the Center on the SB Team.
July 5th, 2011 at 2:11 pm
I agree that both Lynch & Barber should make it but if they dont then theres always the “Ring of Honor”. Im just happy i got to see both of them play on the same feild, ended to soon though thanks Gruden. And befor i get bashed for that i just wana say it was Dungeys team & Johns offence that won the SB. I still love Chucky but i loved Lynch & Sapp Daddy more. Now lets build more HOF players in Tampa!!! LETS GO BUCS!!!!!!!
July 5th, 2011 at 2:58 pm
T in Orlando:
Simeon Rice has a better shot than Jeff Christy.
Christy wasn’t even the best center of his ere.
July 5th, 2011 at 3:00 pm
Matt:
Warrick Dunn has a better shot than Mike Alstott.
July 5th, 2011 at 3:57 pm
Well…….Ronde Barber has a much better shot than Todd Yoder too.
So what?
He makes it on his sacks/int’s, his ring and tremendous part in getting it as
well as his longevity in playing at a high level.
A B+ in Joke’s grouping at the least IMO.
July 5th, 2011 at 4:49 pm
Barber has a very long road ahead to be considered. 22 DB’s in the Hall of Fame. Barber wasn’t among the top 5 corners in the NFL for the majority of his career. His ballot will be against Champ Bailey and Charles Woodson that will lead the 90’s drafted corners into the HoF.
July 5th, 2011 at 6:24 pm
Lynch should not be in the HOF, Ronde will be a HOF,,,
July 6th, 2011 at 1:47 am
Most of you constantly knock Gruden and I hate it. There is one knock i have on him though. Ok, 2 things. His drafting. Back to the point. He may have single handedly kept Mike Alstott from having a Hall of Fame career.
July 6th, 2011 at 12:01 pm
Joe,
Alstott has 6 Pro Bowls, 4 All-Pros, and a Super Bowl ring. Dunn had 3 Pro Bowls, 0 All-Pros and no Super Bowl.
Yes, it’s fair to arge that Alstott got all that recognition because he wasn’t a true fullback — just a guy who got a lot of yards and caught passes in an era when other fullbacks just blocked. Heck, I’d even agree that Dunn was a better player than Alstott. But it doesn’t change the fact that Alstott got way more laurels than Dunn ever did, and I think that translates to a better shot at HOF.
July 6th, 2011 at 12:33 pm
Joke:
Warrick Dunn is No. 19 all time in rushing.
Mike Alstott is No. 111.
If anyone points that out when the Hall of Fame voters are sequestered, Alstott’s out.
July 6th, 2011 at 4:22 pm
Gruden’s fault.
July 7th, 2011 at 1:09 pm
Joe,
Alstott’s a FB, Dunn’s a RB. Rushing yards aren’t comparable for the two positions.
So I don’t see how Dunn’s got a better shot — I don’t think 19th all-time buys him many votes. That’s behind Corey Dillon. Dillon will be eligible in a year or two, what do you think his chances are at the HOF? (bearing in mind he did set the single-game rushing record back in 2000, although it’s been broken a couple times since.)
July 7th, 2011 at 1:20 pm
Joke:
Was Alstott a fullback? He played an awful lot of tailback as well.
Joe would be stunned if Alstott got into the Hall of Fame. Alstott is really not much different than Jerome Bettis and no way Alstott gets in before Bettis.