Bucs Want Ronde Barber
March 9th, 2013
Less than an hour after NFL teams were allowed to talk turkey with player representatives of free agents about jobs, Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times writes that the Bucs want Ronde Barber to return.
One of the greats to ever wear a Bucs uniform spoke with Stroud at Eddie DeBartalo’s shindig Friday night and Barber said, while the Bucs want him back, he’s not so sure he wants to play another year of NFL football.
“They want me to play, but they have left it up to me like they have pretty much every year,” Barber said at the DeBartolo Family Foundation All-Star Celebrity Gala. “I’ve got time, so I’m going to take my time.”
What does this tell Joe? While the Bucs want Barber to return, Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik isn’t going to sit still about adding a safety whether that is in free agency or the draft.
Look, clubs cannot be painted in a corner like this. Would Joe love to see Barber return? You bet. But the Bucs cannot sit on their hands waiting for Barber to make a decision.
As much as Joe loves Barber, who should be a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame some day, the Bucs need to address their woeful defensive backfield ASAP. If Barber decides to be a member of that group, great.
The Bucs cannot wait on Barber’s decision — when will he decide, June? — while other teams gobble up or draft players that could fill Barber’s position.
March 9th, 2013 at 2:26 am
Fair point. I think Barber knows this too. I think they wont him back at a reduced role which is what is holding him back from giving a final answer. I think the Bucs address safety regardless of Barber’s decision.
March 9th, 2013 at 2:53 am
I think we need to build our secondary as though Barber was not coming back. If he comes back, great. That’s gravy. We just work him into the secondary rotation however it best benefits the team. But we have to build with an eye to the future.
March 9th, 2013 at 2:58 am
Guess the chances of Dominic selecting S Kenny Vaccaro with the first pick just went bye bye.
March 9th, 2013 at 3:55 am
Dom will get a safty Tuesday in FA. Barber retires.
March 9th, 2013 at 5:22 am
I hope he comes back for just one more year to tutor DJ Swearinger.
March 9th, 2013 at 7:56 am
And yesterday Tiki said he does wanna play. Now i’m confused.
March 9th, 2013 at 8:07 am
I want Ronde to return, so more of his aura can rub off on our young team.
He is like Yoda.
A Guru.
We need him for one more year, to re-establish the vibe our of old team.
But as our starting Nickel back.
People have made a good point recently.
We need Barron in the box, not deep. And we need a true Center fielder at FS.
Dashon Goldson would be SICK!!!
He hits like a SS, but he covers well like a true FS.
Also, let’s sign Charles Woodson just for fun.
Ronde Barber and Charles Woodson on the same roster mentoring young players. Two Hall of Famers together? Unheard of.
(Just kidding by the way-but it would still be better depth than most other teams in the NFL)
Or sign Ed Reed, and Charles Woodson! 🙂
We might be kinda slow, with Barber, Woodson and Reed on the field, but don’t tell me, that these 3 guys wouldn’t get the job done somehow someway!
March 9th, 2013 at 8:08 am
No way Barber would be that selfish and not let them know. Smokescreen again.
March 9th, 2013 at 8:26 am
Barber will play. I agree, no way he wouldn’t let them know & I think they know. This is cover for the Bucs right now. The should draft as if Barber will not return.
Ronde has too much class to pull a stunt that will hurt the Bucs.
March 9th, 2013 at 8:32 am
Joe, I think your spot on in this regard.
The Bucs really should be giving Ronda a time table for a decision. Maybe there is a dead line and we don’t know what it is. I think the Bucs should make players plans assuming Ronde is going to retire, that way if we decides to stay, it would be a bonus. I suspect the Rock Star GM has got contingency plans in place either way.
March 9th, 2013 at 8:38 am
Regardless of what we all think about Barber, let’s not forget that Barber WAS a part of our WOEFUL backfield.
March 9th, 2013 at 9:01 am
@ScottyinFatAntonio So was Mark Barron so whats your point? You can’t bring a whole new set of Db’s in and expect greatness. 1 new CB maybe 2 and our replacement Safety for the future and allow them to mesh. I like Barron I like Leonard Johnson as a 3rd DB him and Ronde should substitute. All we need is a true Number 1 CB and weights contract restructured
March 9th, 2013 at 10:33 am
Leonard Johnson made a few flashy interceptions, but also got burned many times, missed tackles, etc. just off the top of my head I recall the Chargers game with that big 80 yd TD and Julio Jones running right by him versus Atlanta. As Joe mentioned many times, they had no business being starters in the NFL. So many corners got released the past few days, hopefully we grab a couple, maybe even 3 for insurance. I was excited last year about Talib, Wright, and Biggers…. And look at what happened lol. Not too much word on Biggers, I suspect he’ll be back and if so would be a better nickel than Johnson. I agree though, Ronde should be the starting nickelback! You just feel confident as a Bucs fan and seeing him on the field. I love seeing him make tackles in the open field, and stripped Peterson twice in prime time.
March 9th, 2013 at 10:36 am
Update…. Dunta Robinson to the Chiefs.
March 9th, 2013 at 10:57 am
Joe,
While I agree, with you, that the Bucs need an answer, I’m not sure it’s all that urgent. They can’t sign anyone till Tuesday. I figger Barber has at least till then, and that’s assuming he hasn’t already given them one, off the cuff, and agreed to maintain a smokescreen.Not any certainty in any of this, since no-one REALLY knows whats been said, except the participants. I also feel that Barber may have earned the time, to think, that they wouldn’t give to someone who hasn’t earned that trust, over time.
March 9th, 2013 at 12:17 pm
Neil , thing about rookies is, they often get better. Many mistakes by young players are mental, & fixable. & let’s not forget that the secondary coaching left a lot to be desired in 2012.
March 9th, 2013 at 12:46 pm
I would be surprised if there isn’t an agreement in place. This time of year though, Dom doesn’t wnt to tip his hand to the other GM’s what his plans are. Smoke and mirrors is the name of the game right now.