Rondé Barber Has A Message For Young Players
June 16th, 2024
So what would Hall of Fame Bucs cornerback Rondé Barber tell young players that want to be like him?
He answered that visit during a brief visit with the Alan Alford Sports Talk Show this month.
“Be different. Be uncommon,” Barber replied. “…It doesn’t always benefit yourself to follow the path everybody else is on; choose your own and make it your own. That’s how I got there.”
It’s a great message to Bucs rookies, who hopefully will seek Barber’s wisdom and guidance this summer, if not sooner. Find areas in which to be special and unique.
Barber is not only a year-round fixture in the Tampa Bay area, he’s a regular at training camp and One Buc Palace, partly because of his duties as a preseason broadcast analyst and his work for the Buccaneers’ official website.
Joe can’t imagine why a defensive player wouldn’t seek Barber’s counsel, yet that has happened many times through the years.
June 16th, 2024 at 3:27 pm
You can never have enough legacy players around the team. Ronde is at the very top with DB55.
That’s why i’m pulling for Gronk to get a job somewhere in the organization.
Two tuddies? It’s what we do!
June 16th, 2024 at 3:32 pm
It would be nice if some of those HOFers could spend some time with the team during training camp
June 16th, 2024 at 3:47 pm
Is message is please don’t suck
June 16th, 2024 at 4:16 pm
It is kismet that you just wrote this article. While you were writing it I was watching the full version of “Prototype” which is the feature movie that captures Ronde’s career. I have watched it before but it is so good. I truly hope all of our rookies have or will watch it.
June 16th, 2024 at 5:23 pm
Love Ronde. Never get tired of him.
Go Bucs!
June 16th, 2024 at 5:43 pm
Ronde wrote the book on how to play slot CB.
Barber basically revolutionized the position to where now – if you’ve got the right DB – he’s in the game 75% of all snaps – plays at the line and becomes a pass rushing, TFL run stuffing, covering over the middle, always around the ball type of hybrid swiss army knife.
The Bucs seem to think they just drafted that type of a talent in Tykee Smith.
Hopefully Tykee can develop a good relationship with Ronde as I’m sure any advice Barber would impart would be valuable….
June 16th, 2024 at 5:55 pm
This is why keeping the character guys in Tampa for the entirety of their careers is so important. They add value in so many ways to our community and the team.
June 16th, 2024 at 6:06 pm
Just make plays baby!
June 16th, 2024 at 10:58 pm
Antoine looks like he’s emulating all of Barber’s advice, either directly or indirectly. The time was yesterday for Dean to do the same.
And – crack the books. Todd’s famously complex schemes require really smart players who can also communicate rapidly on the fly. Hold each other accountable for knowing what to do when. If that could happen this could be a special defense.
June 17th, 2024 at 2:24 am
Respect to Ronde but I hope he elaborates on that message to all the young guns. Also hope he is able to sit down with them and study some film, show them how he did it.
Go Bucs!
June 17th, 2024 at 4:46 am
Words of wisdom from Ronde. He always shows character and strength. One of the best!
Agree with Dave Pear, Pickgrin, and others. Right on point about Antoine emulating Barber. With Ronde’s advice, Tykee will do well too.