What Is Ronde Barber Waiting On?
April 16th, 2013
A chipper and refreshed Bucs coach Greg Schiano met the fourth estate, the local branch of the pen and mic club, for the first time yesterday since the end of the 2012 season and the first time standing before ink-stained and coiffed masses since the NFL Combine.
Not surprisingly, one of the first questions to Schiano was about Ronde Barber’s status.
“No. 20 did not show up,” Schiano said. “He’s not under contract so he is not here. [There are] no developments which is fine. We will still keep in communication. There is no silence or anything. Just in the process of figuring it out.”
Since the end of last season, Barber, Schiano and Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik have broken bread and discussed a potential return at least twice. Yet Barber is still out there, a free agent without a home.
When Joe asked Schiano if there was a deadline for Barber to make up his mind, Schiano stated there is no deadline in the foreseeable future.
“No, at some point I guess down the road but we are not anywhere near that now,” Schiano said. “For planning purposes, down the road” there is a deadline.
Schiano did not elaborate when that deadline may be, but Joe’s going to guess — just a guess — July 1. If Barber doesn’t commit by that time, it gives the Bucs a chance to bring in someone off the street or via a trade to join the team by the opening of training camp.
But what is taking Barber so long to make a decision? Joe has no inside information on this but it sure seems like Barber is torn, understandably so.
Could it be he wants to see who Dominik brings in to bolster the cornerback unit? After that ugly loss to Philadelphia last season, Joe had never seen Barber so steamed. He was one PO’ed individual. So mad and frustrated, Barber likely questioned why he even came back.
Or is Barber getting tugged to hang it up by his wife? Look, Barber has played relatively injury-free, sans a broken arm after the 2011 season. His knees are intact, he claims he’s never had a concussion. In short, for playing so long in the NFL, he is in remarkable condition. Perhaps his wife is telling him to get out while he’s ahead of the game? He’s dodged the bullet so many times, maybe he shouldn’t press his luck.
Joe thinks it is cool that given what Barber has meant to this organization, Dominik and Schiano are allowing Barber so much time to make what Joe is sure will be a difficult and potentially emotional call.
April 16th, 2013 at 8:11 am
I’m guessing he’s waiting to see our draft moves and\or trades.
I’m guessing he comes back for a final year in the NFL.
April 16th, 2013 at 8:12 am
This is what we should have done with Brooks!
April 16th, 2013 at 8:13 am
How many players are they allowed to take to camp? Yeah, theres time to wait on Ronde. Atleast by the end of the second wave of free agency. His decision to retire should have no bearing on how they should draft since they will be drafting corners anyway.
April 16th, 2013 at 8:29 am
Good Bye Ronde
Thank You !!!
April 16th, 2013 at 8:33 am
4everBucsFan,
90
April 16th, 2013 at 8:42 am
@Buc Neckid Why are you happy if Ronde is gone? He played well last year.
April 16th, 2013 at 8:51 am
CB and TE are positions of need. By not signing until after the draft, it keeps people guessing. Rest assured, both will sign following the draft and we’ll have a first round DT.
Although Dominick does surprise from time to time, so we could end up going RT.
April 16th, 2013 at 8:59 am
Joe why is that the predraft coverage has decreased from recent years? Normally, you feature position breakdowns, mock draft, and exclusive commentary from the Commish.
I see you all are publishing the videos but that doesn’t rival the detail and frequency of posts related to predraft that we come to expect. Is there a reason or you all are just busy with other business matters that take precedence?
April 16th, 2013 at 8:59 am
The Bucs have their very own Brett Favre!
April 16th, 2013 at 9:06 am
He’s waiting for Revis lol
April 16th, 2013 at 9:14 am
Ronde is an Emeritus player now. In other words, because of his past record and continued level of high play, he has earned tenure. His decision to return is not an inflection point on which the Bucs fortunes are determined, hence his decision is not being forced and is not time sensitive as to what the Bucs will do. He has a roster spot if and when he decides to return! If he returns, he can contribute, if he decides not to, the Bucs believe they will be okay.
April 16th, 2013 at 9:36 am
Waiting on the popstar to bring in some talent. So he doesn’t waste a year like he did last year.
April 16th, 2013 at 9:38 am
Ronde is waiting because he can….simple as that! There is virtually no apparent benefit for him to decide now.
Just speculating, he is waiting to see if Revis is signed. I believe he may not want to come back with Revis there. Ronde is a team leader and he probably suspects that position will be compromised if Revis is there.
My gut tells me that he will return for one last year….Why?
Because he can.
April 16th, 2013 at 9:52 am
Sounds like lightningbug and bucnecked are both Ronde haters, we get it. I guess the question is why? All he has ever done is to play his heart out, never got in trouble, put down probowl pay and hall of fame numbers and represented Tampa Bay and The Buccaneers with class and dignity.
April 16th, 2013 at 9:56 am
Play not pay
April 16th, 2013 at 10:00 am
If the DL can deliver as is should, and we go back to running more zone, I see Ronde as the nickel CB.
He’s wants a defined role which the Bucs can’t offer right now.
He’s clearly done at safety.
April 16th, 2013 at 10:03 am
Maybe he is waiting for the draft to see what is role will be . . . He is no longer starting safety
April 16th, 2013 at 10:03 am
Vic66,
I don’t hate Ronde Barber at all. Have never said one bad thing about him. I’m just saying Brett Favre used to do this every year also, and eventually the Packers didn’t wait for him. Quit trying to read stuff into something that isn’t there VICTOR!
April 16th, 2013 at 10:07 am
if i were barber i would want some level of confidence that i’m coming back in order to finish my career with at least one postseason game
April 16th, 2013 at 10:33 am
Ronde is the Man, but if his wife is like mine she’s saying get your A$$ back on that field and make us some $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
April 16th, 2013 at 10:42 am
He doesn’t have to make a decision yet. The Bucs are not pressuring him. I’m guessing he wants to see what happens throughout the rest of the offseason. He most likely wants to see what his role will be if he comes back. A starting safety job is out of the question, barring injury, so it looks like he could be back at corner. For his last dance, it would be more appealing playing next to a veteran corner like Revis rather than playing with an inexperienced group of corners going through a learning curve.
April 16th, 2013 at 12:57 pm
if Barber dont come back they sould bring him in as a cornerbacks coach i think he would be a great coach
April 16th, 2013 at 1:35 pm
Tbuc Says: April 16th, 2013 at 9:36 am
“Waiting on the popstar to bring in some talent. So he doesn’t waste a year like he did last year.”
That is far from the truth.