Rondé Barber: Tom Brady Will Change Culture And Restore O.J. Howard

March 19th, 2020

Man, Joe hears all the projections of incredible feats Tom Brady will accomplish with the Bucs, and Joe wonders whether Brady also can fix beach traffic and whoever is in charge of evaluating running backs at One Buc Palace.

Bucs legend Rondé Barber is 100 percent confident Brady can still lead a team to the Super Bowl, so he told CBS Sports Radio yesterday.

Joe presumes Barber was thinking of our beloved Bucs.

“Anybody that has seen Tom Brady practice knows what that does to a football team,” Barber said, referencing his experience in two joint practices with Brady back in 2012.

“”I think just that accountability raises the tide of everybody in an organization. I’m sure that’s why Bruce Arians wanted this kind of guy to be his quarterback. He’ll make Mike Evans be even better. He’ll help Chris Godwin continue to develop as that slot receiver.

“And he’ll help O.J. Howard kind of reach his potential. People here talk about O.J. Howard not being a good football player in the Tampa Bay area. I’m like, ‘Are you kidding me? Have you seen the guy?’ He just needs somebody to understand how to make him better. And I think that’s what Tom Brady will do.”

See what Joe means? O.J. Howard is on the team with the NFL’s biggest coaching staff and legendary offensive minds, but he needs Brady to improve his game? Perhaps that’s correct, but Joe won’t give Howard a pass for taking a step backwards last season.

Barber went on to liken Brady in Tampa to Joe Montana turning around the Chiefs and Brett Favre injecting winning ways into the Vikings.

“It’s a culture change,” Barber said. “Everybody talks about culture change. Culture change can change with one player if that one player is as impactful as I think Tom Brady will be in Tampa.”

Joe’s counting on the culture change, too. As much as Joe loves the Bucs, there is no denying they have been prolific losers under Raheem Morris, Greg Schiano, Lovie Smith, Dirk Koetter and Bruce Arians.

33 Responses to “Rondé Barber: Tom Brady Will Change Culture And Restore O.J. Howard”

  1. AlteredEgo Says: Your comment is awaiting moderation. Says:

    Koetter new how to use OJ…remember those delayed shallow crossing routes OJ took to the house…the guy his 4.5 and huge !…All of our pass catchers will have increased YACs next year because they will be hit on time in stride
    YACS will be Up HUGE in 2020 !

  2. Ndog Says:

    So now it’s Jameis’s fault OJ couldn’t catch or block or hold the football last year? This is getting deep in sh!t now.

    Ronde needs to stop talking.

  3. Ndog Says:

    What exactly did Montana win in KC or Farve win in Minnesota?

  4. LazyMoak Says:

    Stop crying like a little beeeach Nmutt

  5. Bruce Blahak Says:

    This is perfect. Brady has weapons! Howard and Brate should be more involved. 3rd down back in round 3. Right Tackle round 1. Super Bowl baby!

  6. Tampabaybucfan Says:

    The most important change IMO will be the use of our TEs……..yes, we need an improved running game and there will be more passing to the backs….but we should see the TEs deeply involved.

    Ndog……

    I feel your pain regarding the jettisoning of Winston…..but try not to take it out on Brady…..he’s our QB now and if you are a Buc fan, you should be rooting for him to succeed……

  7. JGar Says:

    I will give you that Brady will make everyone around him better but please don’t tell me how OJ Howard will finally reach his potential . I’ll say it again, there is a reason he lasted until the 18th pick. Others saw it and I can’t figure out why others think he’s going to change. I’m hoping we trade and use pick to draft OL. Brady can’t succeed if he’s on his back from the look out blocks we had on OL last year.

  8. buccinfan Says:

    “AMERICAS TRUE QB”

  9. Bucnjim5656 Says:

    Some people still blaming the offensive line really? Last year the line gave Winston plenty of time. Actually as far as pass blocking only the ranked 7th. Slow and poor decision making is the reason

  10. Tampa Bay Demon Says:

    Makes me a little uncomfortable seeing OJ in the same pic (above) as Noah Spence.

    Hopefully, that is where all things similar will end.

    I believe Brady can fire up OJ’s career.

  11. mark2001 Says:

    Ronde is right. A guy like Brady can demand the best from everyone…and inspire them to give that little extra that separates good from great. Anyone that doesn’t realize the effect has unfortunately, never worked in an organization with exceptional and inspirational leadership.

  12. Robert Says:

    OJ will be a HUGE threat stretching the field and Brate will be redzone $$

    OJ will probably make the PB.

  13. Tampa Bay Demon Says:

    Ndog Says:
    “What exactly did Montana win in KC or (Favre) win in Minnesota?”

    ~~~~~~

    Montana took the Chiefs to the AFC Championship.
    Favre took the Vikings to the NFC Championship.

  14. TSmitty3000 Says:

    OJ is a bust. I’m an Alabama fan and OJ was a bust in college. Dude is a bust in the NFL. Undrafted Cam Brate has been better.

  15. Jeebs the Honey Bear Says:

    I don’t know what an Ndog is, and I don’t care. Barber is one of the great football minds, and as far as I can tell, Ndog could not identify a football in a police lineup.

  16. Ndog Says:

    Tampa Bay Demon Says:
    March 19th, 2020 at 10:10 am
    Ndog Says:
    “What exactly did Montana win in KC or (Favre) win in Minnesota?”

    ~~~~~~

    Montana took the Chiefs to the AFC Championship.
    Favre took the Vikings to the NFC Championship.

    So again what did they win?

  17. Bucs Guy Says:

    Help OJ kind of reach his potential. That reinforces what I’ve heard about OJ.
    Trade him while he has trade value.

  18. Formerly Tampa 2 Says:

    I guess we will be in the transition phase on JBF until the season begins and the new regime takes over on the field. I wish Winston well wherever he goes, but I am a Buc fan 1st, and sincerely hope that Ndog (& others) accept Brady with the passion that they have/had for our last QB.

  19. El Buco Realisto Says:

    So changing the coaches did not “change the culture”!!!!!!!!

    Now they are “fixing the roster” because they had built “around the wrong players”!!!!!!!

    The “real” fans are shocked!!! Lol!!!!!!!!!!!

    The truth was revealed long ago, but the sheep are just starting to figure it out!!!!!!!!!!!!

    go bucs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  20. Eric Says:

    Now wait a minute. BA’s offenses have never focused on tight ends. He considers them blockers.

    Now maybe Brady has the juice to get him to change that approach, but you can’t blame Winston if BA did not want to feature the tight ends in the offense.

    Might as well bring in Gronk while were at it.

  21. John Says:

    The bucs became better the second they decided to move away from “America’s Quarterback” ( can ANYONE tell me how Winston got the label “America’s Quarterback”??) and Howard hasn’t been utilized within the offence…. Either Howard is one of the next great tight ends or he’s just another physical specimen that should be great but simply isn’t… Bet anyone this: Brady will know fairly quickly if O J. is the man.. if he is as good as he is supposed to be ( Howard ) Brady will expose his upside and / or downside….my opinion anyway, thanks

  22. HomerSimpsonRocks Says:

    Ndog says Ronde needs to stop talking. Ha ha. That gave me a good laugh this morning.

  23. Tampa Bay Demon Says:

    Ndog, I get your overall point about the ultimate prize… and that’s what I want HERE too, when it was Jameis (I have been a fan)… and now with Brady.

    But seriously… at this point, would not a nice playoff run mean a hell of a lot to us as BUCS fans?

    If it falls short of the ultimate goal, there is always year 2.

  24. BradentuckeyBuc Says:

    I’ll say it again, don’t discount for a second how driven Brady will be this year to prove he can win without Belicheck!

  25. 813bucboi Says:

    someone please put this mutt back in its cage!!!!

    ndog go find a new squirrel to chase….

    GO BUCS!!!!!

  26. SOEbuc Says:

    Yeah I know Ronde. Ye Mystic Crew of Bandwagon Bucs fans are back on the boat. OJ had an impressive rookie year and after his second year with JW30/30 they want to feed him to the wolfs. People talk trading OJ under a rookie contract are dumb as f#ck. Gronk 2.0!!!

    GO BUCS!!!!!

  27. Youngbucs Says:

    Ndog yo I told u not to speak till Winston the QB on a hof trajectory finds a job ok

  28. Tampa Bay Demon Says:

    SOE, agreed on not giving up on OJ, ESPECIALLY with TB12, and his history throwing to the TE position. OJ could still be a star.

    Many were ready to give up on Vita Vea after his rookie year.
    Vita has become a FORCE inside, for us.
    Some players find their way at different paces than others.

    We should know this, given our own BUCS history. — Remember Warren Sapp & Ronde Barber in the beginning of their careers? They were NOWHERE CLOSE to what they would become.

  29. TBUC North Carolina Says:

    Ronde has forgotten more about Football than you know NDog, Lamarcus etc! Just the Facts jack !

  30. TouchDownTampaBay Says:

    I am amazed at our fans. OJ is about to prove all you dummies wrong. Brady has always been able to get the most of his tight ends. OJ will break our this year!

  31. stpetebucsfan Says:

    NDOG

    You know I’ve tried to be kind..patient…feel your pain but dude you need to start googling before you ask questions. Or as good attorneys often say..never ask a witness a question where you don’t already know the answer.

    What did HOF Montana win with KC. Did you answer your own question in your
    1022 post? DUH You do not count the first division title in 22 freaking years as something. He won two playoff games coming from behind!!!!

    Are you suggesting that if TB12 gets us to the NFL Championship but loses to the eventual SB champ this will have been a bad deal?

    During the Chiefs’ first offseason practice, the defensive players all remained behind after their session concluded to watch the offensive team practice because they wanted to see Joe Montana play. That’s what those guys thought of the trade. It gave everybody hope we could win a championship. That’s why it was such a special time.

    BTW…Montana’s signing also convinced HOFer Marcus Allen to join the Chiefs.

    What has he won? Bwaaahaaaa]

    What is the last thing JW won…a national title long long ago before blowing up and CHOKING against Oregon…needing a lecture from Jimbo on the bench…he was out of control!!

    And that describes Jameis Winston’s Tampa legacy…OUT OF CONTROL!!!

    Brady is the GOAT and will clearly represent an upgrade in culture and class.

    Now before the bigots come on here to jump me…just remember everytime you say this is about race you are insulting your black brothers. If we concede and I CERTAINLY do that black QB’s can succeed and even surpass white QB’s isn’t it just as racist to claim they can’t fail like white QB’s.

    Mike Glennon…Jameis Winston..two drafted Buc QB’s who were simply not the answer regardless of their color.

  32. Petty Officer Buc Says:

    Ndog Says:
    March 19th, 2020 at 9:17 am
    What exactly did Montana win in KC or Farve win in Minnesota?

    They won playoff games, something that Winston has yet to even SNIFF.

  33. unbelievable Says:

    I blame OJ Howard’s decline 80% on Leftwich and Arians, 20% on Howard himself (he was directly responsible for 2 or 3 INTs).

    Koetter barely used him, but when he did, he was damn effective.