Ronde Barber Headed To FOX Sports
May 31st, 2013
It was a virtual certainty that former Bucs great Ronde Barber would land someplace where he would be paid (handsomely) to talk about football for a living.
And that has happened. The mastermind and founder of TheBigLead.com, Jason McIntyre, learned of Barber’s move this morning.
Barber’s agent, Mark Lepselter, confirmed the Fox deal to me. “Ronde is excited to be joining the network,” he said. Lepselter wouldn’t elaborate on Barber’s role at Fox.
Later, Woody Cummings of The Tampa Tribune learned from Lepselter about Barber’s duties.
@RCummingsTBO: Ronde Barber joining FOX Sports in hybrid role per agent Mark Lepselter. Will likely do both game and studio analysis
This really is a no-brainer and we are likely to see a lot of Barber on the tube.
Fox this summer is launching Fox Sports 1, a 24-hour network to finally give fans beleaguered by the four-letter an option, sans NFL Network, MLB Network, NHL Network and the Big Ten Network and the soon-to-debut SEC Network — all worthy outlets but each pigeonholed.
Joe wouldn’t be surprised if Barber is a regular co-host of a weekday football roundtable show on Fox Sports 10.
May 31st, 2013 at 12:05 pm
Well looks like im watching fox sports a lot more this year.
May 31st, 2013 at 12:08 pm
Why are we allowing Cummings to report anything. The way he tried to get the Bucs in trouble why would u give him any notoriety at all. Of course it’s easy to see u rely don’t give a rats arse as u continue to support the marshmallow man Shaun King. I’m getting the impression this site only supports who it wants. Ridiculous ..
May 31st, 2013 at 12:11 pm
Good choice, Ronde. Fox has always been a better production and better content than CBS for football on Sundays. I’m curious if Strahan has decided his “niche” is the M-F morning talk show circuit and Ronde takes his place on Fox NFL Sunday each week, with Strahan making the occasional appearance. Either that, or he’s going to follow Lynch as a broadcaster. Lynch actually does a very good job, but I think Ronde is better suited in the studio.
May 31st, 2013 at 12:13 pm
Brad: It’s Joe’s site… of course Joe will put whatever he wants on his site. It’s not your site or my site to pick and choose what content is put here, that’s for Joe. What you can choose is whether or not you want to get your Bucs news here or elsewhere…
May 31st, 2013 at 12:14 pm
I am sure RCumming ” REPORTED ” when his brother or sister would take cookies before dinner when he was a kid. Obviously he did not learn the man rules back then or knows them now.
May 31st, 2013 at 12:15 pm
Doesn’t Lynch work for fox? Could we see a Lynch/Barber teamup?
May 31st, 2013 at 12:21 pm
Would LOVE to see and hear Barber/Lynch calling Buc games on sundays.
May 31st, 2013 at 12:24 pm
Bonzai: I seriously doubt we see Lynch/Barber team. Most former players are color analysts, not play by play. Lynch is the color analyst on his team. Barber will be (if in the booth) a color analyst. Play by play takes a different kind of skillset. Players are better at the color, because they know the ins and outs of the game, have been there before, draw from experience. Play by play is more technical. Keeping the pace, knowing when to break into the color to call the play, timing of commercials, statistics, player names and numbers. Two color guys would be a horrible team in the broadcast booth.
May 31st, 2013 at 12:42 pm
Brad is the same buffoon who a few weeks back told us to get a life instead of commenting on a blog, while at the same time he was commenting on a blog and obviously is continuing to do so.
“Why are we allowing Cummings to report anything”
“WE” aren’t, the Tampa Tribune is allowing him to report, which is his job.
May 31st, 2013 at 12:56 pm
I think it would be a terrific ideal to have Barber and Lynch call the Bucs games. But in retrospect it might hurt ticket sales if more people stay at home instead.
May 31st, 2013 at 1:28 pm
Thank you lightningbuc!
May 31st, 2013 at 1:42 pm
@BuccaneerBonzai
You beat me to it. Would LOVE to see Lynch and Barber cover a game.
May 31st, 2013 at 1:44 pm
@BamBamBuc
I think Lynch has been doing it long enough to take over the play by play while also contributing to the “color” analysis. Probably not ideal but come on, you wouldn’t LOVE to see Barber and Lynch call a game?
May 31st, 2013 at 2:03 pm
Glad he’s not going to nfl network…..I got to where I couldnt stomach anymore of their (every 15 minute) coverage of dancing with the stars and manti teo and all other bs that should be replaced….mainly nfl am. They have some cool documentaries every now and then, but glad Ronde is going to Fox!
May 31st, 2013 at 2:18 pm
That is such a garbage show. While the chick is hot and Joe enjoys her short sundresses, she is completely clueless about football and is bored talking about it. Only until they talk about BS like dancing does she show any interest or energy.
Man, that show needs a makeover in the worst way.
May 31st, 2013 at 4:01 pm
Just as long as Ronde doesn’t think he can take over for Matt Lauer on the Today Show, I can get behind this. That route leads only to bad things.
June 1st, 2013 at 6:40 am
Looking forward to hearing the remarks from # 20. I’ve got to search on line for this book of Man Rules. No doubt the first “mandate” is: Rule # 1: Find fault with everything. Nothing should be good enough for you. This will show others how much smarter you are than those who are able to every once in a while see the ointment when only you are wise enough to focus on the fly.