Barber Says Organization Will “Try To Win”
April 4th, 2012
It was a bizarre choice of words today by Ronde Barber after stating a minute or so earlier that the Bucs’ free agent signings had little to do with his decision to return in 2012.
“When I felt like that this team was going to make a push and try to win, that helped me make my decision to come back,” Barber said.
The comment begged the question, ‘Ronde, don’t the Bucs try to win every year?’
Regardless, Joe can’t quibble if Barber wasn’t eager to jump on a massive 2012 rebuilding project that didn’t include filling holes in free agency. Clearly, Barber can see the talented teams in the NFC South and knows the Bucs will need a great record to make the playoffs.
Barber went on to say he doesn’t know what his role will be and coyly said he’s too small to play safety.
April 4th, 2012 at 1:53 pm
I say bucs win about 10 games this year.
April 4th, 2012 at 2:17 pm
Ronde is one of my all-time favorites. Back in his second season I remember being at practice once (at the UT field) watching him get abused by Quez Green and Riedel Anthony. I was screaming for Dungy to cut Barber – I was in my early 20s and all hopped up on testosterone! I’m so glad I was wrong because it has been a privilege watching that man play. I’d like to see a picture of Ronde when he was a rookie as opposed to what he looks like now – dude looks like he’s 20 pounds thicker!
April 4th, 2012 at 2:30 pm
It’s not a curious choice of words, he basically said ” when I saw the push in free agency it seemed like Bucs management were going to give the team to tools it needs to win.” So like a previous article “Did the Bucs push in Free agency push Barber to resign?” Why yes, yes it did.
April 4th, 2012 at 2:31 pm
Damn, I was hoping Ronde would make an attempt to play safety. He’s not too small to play nickel LB on 50% of his snaps, I’m not sure playing safety is going to give him less pounding. With his smarts and playmaking ability, I could definitely see him playing in a Bob Sanders-type role at SS. But like Bob Sanders, perhaps Ronde also wouldn’t be able to hold up to the rigors of SS.
April 4th, 2012 at 2:37 pm
1) MyLew to safety please.
2) Ronde knew exactly what he was saying. The past three years the Org was not doing everything they could do to win games. Get young, get cheap, ride out the lockout and everything else is gravy. Disappointed that I didn’t see it as it was happening.
April 4th, 2012 at 2:58 pm
So…as we just cut Rudy Carpenter…what is the plan with a third QB…Draft one or just go with two?
April 4th, 2012 at 3:09 pm
Blount, Parker signed there tenders Rudy Carpenter released.
April 4th, 2012 at 5:03 pm
The Glazers were not 100% invested in winning over the past few years.
Just look at the salary cap spent, not this season, over the last few years.
The ownership didn’t want to spend money on high price/high talent guys…..
No Joe, the Bucs brass was not “ALL IN” in the past few campaigns. They were about 50% vested in their team’s salary, but yet tickets were not 50% cheaper due to a diminished product?
April 4th, 2012 at 5:09 pm
@Joe
“The comment begged the question, ‘Ronde, don’t the Bucs try to win every year?’”
Not last year they didn’t…which he clearly felt.
But maybe what he means is that they are going to try to go all the way. It is feasible that the offense is improved enough to get us to the big game…and by the post season, maybe the defense will be good enough as well.
High hopes, I know…but anything is possible.
April 4th, 2012 at 5:11 pm
Kryq Says:
April 4th, 2012 at 3:09 pm
Blount, Parker signed there tenders Rudy Carpenter released.
– – – – –
Blount is good news. Parkey had three more fumbles than Blount, so apparently fumbles are not THAT big a deal with the new staff.
Cutting Carpenter is a surprise. I would have thought they’d keep him at #3, or at least let him compete for the spot in Training Camp.
So this makes me wonder if they are going to draft a mid to low level QB on the off chance it could pay off.
April 4th, 2012 at 5:14 pm
WAAAAY too early to make a prediction like that. We haven’t even seen who gets drafted yet.
I do think they can at least go 8-8 so far, just because of offense. Maybe better.
However…not only have we not seen the draft…we have not seen how the coaching changes will work out.
April 4th, 2012 at 5:18 pm
As long as Parker isn’t returning punts we don’t have to worry about his fumbling issues. He seemed solid as a receiver
April 4th, 2012 at 5:41 pm
No Joe, when the Glazers fired Gru only to replace him with RahRah without a single interview, they were not trying to win. They were trying to pilfer money until a new CBA deal forced their hand.
If you still refuse to recognize that you probably believe the world is flat.
April 4th, 2012 at 5:56 pm
Not only is the world flat, but Marky D. is going on RockStar tour.
April 4th, 2012 at 5:57 pm
Case in point to the Glazers not spending money on the cap is: Eric Wright.
Joe, great job mentioning it prior, Eric Wright was available last year, and why didn’t we make him an offer?
Oh, thats right, the Glazers skimped on payrooll, outsourced a home game and were left to answer Q’s about their “desire/passion/give a hoot” for the longterm success of the BUCS.
April 4th, 2012 at 6:06 pm
@SteveK
They did make Eric Wright an offer last year, he chose to go with the Lions instead. Wright even said so himself. It may or may not have been a worthy offer, but they were interested in him last year.
April 4th, 2012 at 6:22 pm
I feel much better about the Bucs than I did 2 months ago.
But the Glazers still owe us an apology for the bulls*it they tried to sell us over the past 3 seasons.
April 4th, 2012 at 6:29 pm
TYVM for sharing Ronde, what many of us Tampa Football Fans already knew.
Hey, come to think of it, now that Tampa is trying to win, many of us might come back as season ticket holders too!
April 4th, 2012 at 6:37 pm
Lion,
Thanks for the confirmation on that!
Go Ronde! You are a HOFer!
April 5th, 2012 at 9:01 am
Barber is a class act and plays his A$$ off! The organization owe’s him for his dedication to this team just like with Alstott. It’s good to see they now recognize how important it is to the team and the fan’s that even though he may have lost a step; his effort and leadership are extremely valuable in moving this team in the right direction. When Barber is finally done; I’ll retire his jersey right next to 56, 55, and 40. All tough as hell!
April 5th, 2012 at 5:30 pm
Wow. Great post by all. Pretty much everyone here is spot on.