Barber Says Lynchlike Hitting Has Returned
September 9th, 2010
Ronde Barber, taking a break yesterday from senselessly whining about Aqib Talib’s punishment from the NFL, gave a very intriguing take on why newcomer Sean Jones’ won the starting strong safety job.
Speaking to the Cleveland media, Barber explained that Jones is the first guy to bring a level of physicality rivaling John Lynch’s to the safety position since the Bucs icon left Tampa Bay after the 2003 season.
Barber propped up Jones and landed a swipe at Sabby Piscitelli. Not one to ascribe motives without just cause, Joe recognizes that Barber may not have meant to take a backhanded jab at Sabby here. But it’s still a jab worth noting.
“He brings a physical presence, which we haven’t really seen his type of physical play since [John] Lynch left. You know, we have Tanard Jackson; You know, he doesn’t mind throwing his body around. But he doesn’t have that body type to do it like Lynch used to do it when he was here, at least that I’ve seen,” Barber said.
“Then Sean [Jones] came in and, you know, that’s basically how he became our starting strong safety. Jimmy Lake, our DB coach, asked for physicalness at the position, and he showed it. Obviously, he’s a great teammate. You know, I think he would have accepted it either way. But he just came in and worked, you know, brought his attitude into this building, into our defensive backs room. It’s going to help us.”
First, Joe is pleased to hear that Jones is so physical. Joe saw some of that in practice, as Jones always seemed to be the only guy hitting a bit when drills weren’t live. This is high praise from Barber and should make any Bucs fan excited.
Second, Barber saying that Jones is a “great teammate” and would have “accepted” not starting, is an arrow to the gut of coach-trashing Sabby, as far as Joe is concerned.
It almost make Joe wonder if Sabby will be out to pasture when Talib returns from suspension.
September 9th, 2010 at 11:21 am
“Not one to ascribe motives without just cause….,”
HA!
September 9th, 2010 at 12:01 pm
ooh-aah. Nice sucker punch by Barber. Sabby definitely felt that one.
Looks like the Goat is running outta friends.
September 9th, 2010 at 12:07 pm
Didn’t Jermaine Phillips hit hard?
September 9th, 2010 at 12:13 pm
Mack was a hard hitter till he he was punished for an illegal hit.
September 9th, 2010 at 12:22 pm
Sometimes the truth hurts. Sabby just needs to keep his eyes and ears off of the media and concentrate on the job at hand . . . getting better at his position.
September 9th, 2010 at 6:28 pm
I Hope they cut him next week!!!Both the back up safeties can tackle and both are a lot more physical!!!Lynch is a special teams ace!!!Phillips was a hard hitter for a couple games a year…
September 9th, 2010 at 7:04 pm
Phillips was a huge hitter….guaranteed a bigger hitter than Jones. I’m glad that Ronde thinks Jones can lay a lick though, something obviously lacking with Piscitelli.
September 9th, 2010 at 7:30 pm
barber is one to talk! he didn’t make an interception and got beat every game last year. Now he takes a cheap shot at Sabby. Well, Barber, would you even be on the team if you wereen’t sucking up to Raheem? you are old, slow, and while I used to think you were great, you are has been suck-up! Show us what you have this year, Barber! Anything at all is better than you had last year!
September 9th, 2010 at 8:08 pm
People throw fits when Brooks gets released, but Barber (who is still on the team) gets fans saying he sucks now. Keep it up and Barber will wish he was Brooks (being gone from the team), and Brooks will be happy they let him go rather than put up with this abuse. You guys are pathetic.
September 9th, 2010 at 8:10 pm
And Barber didn’t say a thing about Sabby. Saying Jones is a good teammate and that he’s a team player (would accept the coaches decision) is not a direct slap at Sabby. If it were, Barber would have said “Unlike Sabby, Jones is a great teammate and wouldn’t have bitched if the coaches benched him in favor of team unity”. Put words in his mouth all you want.
September 10th, 2010 at 1:13 am
Think it was more Barber holding a teammate in high regard than dissing Sabby. I definitely would’ve like to see a veteran leader comment on speaking out against the coach, but I assume the goat wasn’t worth the wasted breath. On that note, let’s see how Jones plays out, but he seems to have that “hair on fire” mentality which makes it a hell of a lot easier to stomach when the kid makes a mistake.
September 10th, 2010 at 2:14 am
My thoughts exactly lol but Its all about getting hits on here BamBam lol. What better way than to instigate? Nothing that Barber said was about Sabby just like Barber never argues the fine against Talib just the suspension.
September 10th, 2010 at 10:24 am
BamBam..Do not pay attention to Tmapa 2. He does not like anything about the Bucs, and just spews hate every chance he gets. He is one of those TBO posters. Your comments are right on though.