Rondé Barber Explains It’s Now On Ira Kaufman To Come Through
February 2nd, 2023
Rondé Barber
Bucs icon Rondé Barber doesn’t hide his belief that he’s 100 percent worthy of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
After two years as a Hall finalist and not getting in, Barber recently pointed to Tampa Bay’s only Hall of Fame voter/presenter, JoeBucsFan.com columnist Ira Kaufman, to knock it out of the park in his third attempt this year.
Joe has seen legions of misinformed fans, and in some cases malicious and moronic fans, hammer Kaufman on social media and elsewhere for Barber’s failures with the Hall voters.
What’s often misunderstood is Kaufman has only made two presentations for Barber, in 2021 and 2022. Previously, Barber didn’t make the cut for debate and only was a Hall semifinalist. That means the voters, before hearing any arguments for Barber, deemed him unworthy of finalist status. So Kaufman had no blame there and, in fact, it was an indication that Barber would have a long road to the Hall.
One week from today, the 2023 Hall of Fame class will be revealed. Five of the 15 finalists will get in.
Barber told the J.P. Peterson Show that the process is stressful for him and implied it increases his alcohol consumption. He also noted that it’s on Kaufman now to close a difficult deal.
“I think the voters understand what my résumé looks like, it’s just having them or getting Ira to get them to believe that I was truly unique and deserving of a gold jacket. And it’s hard,” Barber said. “There’s 15 guys every year that earned in this same conversation. So I try to handle it gracefully; last year I was a little miffed. … At the end of the day you’re in the conversation, that’s all you can ask for.”
Kaufman was handcuffed in the past by Bucs legend John Lynch being in the same finalist class with Barber. Hall voters are human and selling them on voting for two guys from the same defense in the same year was a massive challenge.
Last year, Barber made the cut to the final 10 but came up short.
Yes, Barber is correct. Barber got the job done on the field and now it’s time for Kaufman to hit this two-strike pitch out of the park.
Joe has plenty of confidence in Kaufman, considering how seasoned and respected he is among the Hall voters, the only audience he must cater to. No, haters, Kaufman isn’t there to deliver what you think is a good presentation, as you are not his audience of grumpy media guys and a few know-it-all NFL types.
Good luck, Ira!
February 2nd, 2023 at 10:04 am
Well he is like 2-10 so a lot of folks think irvs past his prime and Bay Area needs a new presenter
February 2nd, 2023 at 10:16 am
Do the right thing Ira
February 2nd, 2023 at 10:23 am
Generational talent that reinvented playing CB in the NFL, he certainly deserves the gold jacket
February 2nd, 2023 at 10:57 am
If they can let any of those nominees into the Rock n Roll HOF, then Ronde Barber in the pro football HOF is a no brainer.
February 2nd, 2023 at 12:08 pm
Personally I believe Ronde is worthy of Canton as well. But you never know. I also believe that the 90’s Buffalo Bills were worthy of a few Super Bowl victories. The older among us know how that turned out.
February 2nd, 2023 at 12:10 pm
@Alanbucsfan They let anyone in the Rock n’ Roll HOF these days. Even people/bands that have nothing to do with Rock n’ Roll.
February 2nd, 2023 at 12:32 pm
He definitely deserves to be in. I hope Ira can get him over the top.
February 2nd, 2023 at 12:34 pm
The bashing of Ira by some feeble minded ignorant morons is unfair but truly shows what Warren Sapp said a long time ago — Bucs fans at large are the dumbest in the NFL. No not all.
February 2nd, 2023 at 12:35 pm
Ronde IS deserving and eventually will make it in. Hopefully this year!!
February 2nd, 2023 at 12:41 pm
I have an inside source that has confirmed that the selections have already been made, and Ronde Barber has indeed been selected for induction. Soon, you’ll end up seeing Derrick Brooks give Ronde Barber his deserved Gold Jacket.
February 2nd, 2023 at 1:04 pm
Barber was the best player at his position in the most important defense of his era. That’s HOF worthy, without a doubt.
Also, when he finally gets the call, he needs to have McNabb present him at the HOF induction.
February 2nd, 2023 at 1:23 pm
How many times did Ira have to pitch Lynch? It seemed like a lot. I’m sure Ira will get it done. Ronde’s record is compelling.
February 2nd, 2023 at 1:43 pm
Simply the best all-around corner who ever played. Give him his damn jacket.
February 2nd, 2023 at 1:44 pm
Barber deserves it more than Lynch and some other players that have gotten in since his eligibility but it’s pure politics…. Would not be surprised if he gets passed over yet again….
February 2nd, 2023 at 1:48 pm
HOFamer on a legendary defense. He better get a jacket. If loudmouth Sapp can do it, Rondé sure can. Plus, LVD and ME13 better be inducted in the future.
February 2nd, 2023 at 2:45 pm
It’s his turn. The voters know it and you can see by past elections that it very much plays to some sort of order. First ballot guys disrupt it, but it should be Ronde’s turn. Surprisingly, his brother on WFAN in NY seems less inclined to think he will indeed get in this year. Brought up Darrel Revis as can’t miss guy and said point blank that two corners are NOT getting in. He knows more than us… Personally I think these so called cover corners get over rated due to the fact that QB’s stay away from them. Ronde on the other hand was all over the damn field. Not to say Revis doesn’t belong but I really think Ronde not only belongs but his actions actually changed the game. The slot corner is now a part of the game. He was part of that evolution.
February 2nd, 2023 at 2:46 pm
Cheat to win!
Bribe the voters!
February 2nd, 2023 at 3:43 pm
I don’t blame Ira at all. In fact, except for his 40YDash time, he’s still on the ball as well as ever.
February 2nd, 2023 at 3:44 pm
Thank you Ira
February 2nd, 2023 at 4:22 pm
Rondé should have been in before Lynch.
SB ring, multiple all pros and pro bowls, all decades team, AND STATS THAT NO OTHER CORNERBACK IN HISTORY HAS. He literally changed the game at that position!
(Lynch has everything on that list too, besides the unique stats / redefining the position)
February 2nd, 2023 at 4:24 pm
That said, they’ll prob but Revis in over him.
February 2nd, 2023 at 4:26 pm
Ira is definitely the “Custodian” of Canton as no one pays attention to the Custodian and his sway in the room seems to be not very much.
If Ronde gets in, it will be because, of Ronde or him not having very tough competition not because, of Ira. Being a finalist for a few years in a row all but says he will eventually be in just gotta wait his turn.
February 2nd, 2023 at 6:05 pm
Agree Unbelievable. Lynch was a hard hitting, fine safety. But Ronde was a game changer. Ronde should have been in first. But both guys are deserving.
February 3rd, 2023 at 11:42 am
Pressure to not call on two guys from the same defense in the same year? Anyone who picks up that podium is a goofball, not a football insider. Those two, Lynch and Barber, happened to both be on one of the best defenses of all time in the NFL. Only the Steelers’ Iron Curtain and the Bears and Ravens can truly say they had impossible defenses. He should have tapped both of these legendary defenders or none at all. Ronde, being undersized, managed to shut down almost every receiver he faced. And he faced legends (Moss, Gonzalez, Chrebet, Carter, Brown, Rice, Ward, Holmes, Fitzgerald….to name a few. Sad
February 5th, 2023 at 8:34 am
Ronde belongs in the HOF. Hopefully this is his year. All is up to Ira!