Ronde Barber Says He Is Still Undecided
March 25th, 2013
Ronde Barber spoke about his future live on NFL Network Monday evening.
Bucs great Ronde Barber appeared live in studio tonight as a guest analyst for “Total Access” on NFL Network, and while the soon-to-be 38-year old noted (as if anyone didn’t know) that he met with Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik and coach Greg Schiano, Barber admits he has yet to make up his mind on a return to the Bucs.
Andrew Siciliano: Let’s talk about you.
Ronde Barber: What about me?
Siciliano: You are going to be 38.
Barber: I’m going to be a young 38 like I told you earlier.
Sicilians: Will you be back for a 17th season?
Barber: (Smiles) Perhaps.
Siciliano: Maybe?
Barber: I have not made a decision yet.
Siciliano: Why not?
Barber: [The Bucs] have allowed me not to rush the decision, so I’m not going to rush it.
Siciliano: When is it going to come?
Barber: I wish I could tell you.
Siciliano: Will you play for someone other than the Buccaneers?
Barber: I have had that option a couple of times before. I have been a free agent the past couple of years. We’ve had an understanding that I would always be back in Tampa.
Siciliano: So that is a “no?”
Barber: That’s basically a “no.”
Siciliano: So that’s definitely a “no?”
Barber: It’s basically a “no.”
Siciliano: Well, they signed Dashon Goldson.
Barber: He’s a pretty good player.
Siciliano: He plays your position.
Barber: He does.
Siciliano: OK, does that affect your position?
Barber: No. When I met with Mark and Coach Schiano and we had this discussion. I knew they were going to be active in free agency. This is the same discussion I had with them last year when they told me they were going to go out and get a corner in free agency which may necessitate a position change or a role change for me. I had a similar conversation [with Dominik and Schiano] this year.
Siciliano: Would you accept less playing time because you can assume if they are giving Dashon Goldson all of that money you would be playing less?
Barber: That was addressed as well.
Siciliano: OK…
Barber: Those are the types of things [the Bucs] are allowing me to weigh.
Siciliano: So what will it come down to?
Barber: Probably gut feeling and that’s what it was last year. I’m pretty non-committal, aren’t I?
Siciliano: You did a good job.
March 25th, 2013 at 7:26 pm
Don’t be a Tiki, you’re a HOF….
March 25th, 2013 at 7:35 pm
Of course hes undecided. He doesnt want to be the #1 corner anymore I bet of that revis trade went thru ronde would be signed 30 min later haha.
March 25th, 2013 at 7:40 pm
Like Deion said, Ronde said “WE” at least four times. lol 🙂
March 25th, 2013 at 7:47 pm
As much as I love Ronde he’s lost too much of a step to be a 1 CB
March 25th, 2013 at 8:20 pm
Love this website, I get more info than the other Bucs insiders and faster.I believe Ronde will be back. I know he has slowed down a bit but he is a quit leader that this team needs. Imagine if all these young guys had his passion for the game.
March 25th, 2013 at 8:28 pm
Wow, major props to Andrew Siciliano for cutting right to the chase and asking the important questions.
Siciliano: Well, they signed Dashon Goldson.
Barber: He’s a pretty good player.
Siciliano: He plays your position.
Barber: He does.
I thought that back and forth was awesome. To be honest, I would be just as happy for him to call it a career as I would be for him to be back for another season. It would kind of suck for him to call it quits though and then we promptly go on a possible Super Bowl run. (It happened to his brother). If he comes back then it says a lot about what he thinks can happen this season for the Bucs.
March 25th, 2013 at 8:46 pm
@ WestCoastBucsFan
My thoughts exactly….
March 25th, 2013 at 9:04 pm
COME BACK RONDE!!!
ONE MORE YEAR!!!
I want him sent off the right way!
March 25th, 2013 at 9:15 pm
Rhonde, make up your mind already. I love you buddy, but come on. You got your ring, your health, and if your as smart as I think you are, a nice bank roll. Kick back a year, and then get in the booth like Lynch. Its been a great run, time to start the next chapter.
March 25th, 2013 at 9:22 pm
IMO he is waiting for the team to make moves, not worrying about much else. He knows he will play nickel and dime packages (which the bucs play more than not) in the slot and wants support on the outside. He’s made enough money and he already said he feels great. Now he will come back if he likes the guys in the huddle and feels they can win. Period
March 25th, 2013 at 9:28 pm
I would retire if I were him, how many more losing seasons does he have to take?
March 25th, 2013 at 9:48 pm
His return or non return will be a prelimb of our up coming season. guaranteed!!
March 25th, 2013 at 10:41 pm
This whole thing is sort of brett favreish. But like Favre, he’s paid his does and should be allowed to take his time. Bucs should be preparing though as if he is retiring. I do know that at the time Joe was complaining about it, before free agency even started that was to soon to force him to make up his mind… but now midway through it and he’s still on the fence causes me to think that he is on the verge or retiring.
March 25th, 2013 at 10:48 pm
I believe the Bucs are blowing a lot of smoke and Ronde is part of the screen
March 25th, 2013 at 10:53 pm
Sounds to me like he is playing and maybe just staying out of it until they sign Free Agents.
It is obvious he will be the nickel guy to me.
Goldston, Barron, Barber, REVIS and WHOever at the other CB works for me.
March 25th, 2013 at 10:54 pm
dues*
March 25th, 2013 at 10:56 pm
SilenceTheCritics
Totally different from Farve, he left them hanging. The Bucs and Barber know he is a Nickel/ Dime guy. If he comes back, great, they are better for it. If he does not, one of the young guys can play the spot and they lose a experience but nothing else at this point.
March 25th, 2013 at 11:12 pm
Ronde 1 more year.. We need you, you proved you could play still last year and you can play this year.. maybe not in a bigger role as last but we need you for at least one more. 1) for your play making ability, you always find the ball and caused turnovers regardless of the fact that you’re getting older but you’re still a playmaker! 2) leadership in the secondary 3) just for the Bucs fans you was my childhood along with the other Bucs legends and you’re the last one left.. honestly I don’t know were I’m going with this I’m too drunk but just one more Rhonde I hope you read this and sorry for the drunkness! ~mikethedikeeatingaclondike
March 25th, 2013 at 11:23 pm
I don’t think Barber playing or not playing has much, if any, influence on what we do as far as free agency and the draft. He’s not a #1, or probably a #2 CB anymore, and he’s obviously not a starting safety either. His best value to the team at this point is leadership, which is important, but doesn’t affect what we do as far as personnel. In my opinion, he’s earned the right to miss training camp if he so desires. He’s given this organization 17 years, countless memories, and a championship. He has been everything you would ever want a player to be, both on and off the field, and he can take as much time as he needs as far as I’m concerned. It will be a very sad day when #20 is no longer on the field for the Bucs.
March 25th, 2013 at 11:39 pm
Thank you Deathaneers!
March 26th, 2013 at 12:26 am
does anyone remember that play Ronde made against the vikings on monday night football in tampa, I believe it was back in 1999 or 2000, where he came off a corner blitz while the QB was trying to throw the ball over his head to a rb in the flat and he jumped as high as he could and ended up picking off the ball in mid air and taking it to the house? that was one of the greatest plays i have ever seen. I tried searching all over the internet for that highlight but to no avail. that is def one of my favorite memories of him.
March 26th, 2013 at 12:28 am
I believe that QB was Jeff George.
March 26th, 2013 at 1:27 am
That was a great play…pretty sure it was Daunte Culpepper though
March 26th, 2013 at 5:18 am
For a time I thought Barbers status would be a distraction, but now I realize that his role would be back-up and leadership oriented. He deserves the luxury of determining his own destiny, but he is only one of a few.
March 26th, 2013 at 5:52 am
It was a great play except the player that intercepted that ball was Donnie Abraham…….if that is the play you are recalling.
March 26th, 2013 at 7:13 am
Anyone catch what Gil Brandt said last week that he predicted Ronde would play his final year for Monte Kiffin and the Dallass Cowgirls?
March 26th, 2013 at 10:18 am
If Antoine Winfield, Champ Bailey, and Charles Woodson can still play,
Then so can Ronde.
As a starting nickle back,
He would NOT be a liablilty for us!
He was one of our best players last year! From preseason to the final game.
In fact, if we had moved him back to #2 corner, and not played a rookie like Leonard Johnson,
Ronde wouldve picked off that Nick Foles pass, and wouldve returned it for a TD.
Fact. He said it after the game, he KNEW that pass was coming!