Ronde Put It In Low Gear After Pick
September 12th, 2010
Joe was stunned and saddened to see Ronde Barber stop running hard about 25 yards into his 64-yard interception return late in the first half, which ended at the Browns’ 3 yard line and set up the Bucs’ first touchdown.
Joe was happy for a brief moment that the game was blacked out. The replay was ugly, showing Barber appearing to quit on the runback, running like a tired D-lineman.
So how was fit Barber unable to run hard on just the fourth play of the Browns’ drive and still in the second quarter? Barber explained to the St. Pete Times.
In his younger days, Barber would have taken the interception to the house. This time, he ran out of gas and collapsed in the driveway.
“I’m just not a young man anymore,” Barber said. “It was a hot day.”
Joe gets that Barber is “not a young man,” but it’s a bit disconcerting that Barber was gassed so quickly, given his adrenaline must have been flying immediately following his 38th career interception and a shot to get in the end zone.
Time waits for no man.
Is Barber struggling with his conditioning? Is it just a byproduct of light work in the preseason?
Again, Joe’s glad the replay of Barber’s return isn’t in the minds of most Bucs fans.
Joe, like most, would like to see Barber keep producing and remain the lone link to the Bucs’ heyday on the roster for years to come.
September 12th, 2010 at 11:45 pm
no he didnt it was hott there were times i had to get out of the sun and watch the game by the rest rooms…funny the game wasnt black out there
September 12th, 2010 at 11:46 pm
I can forgive the run back for the thrill of the INT. The timing was perfect, the pressure was good on Delhomme. Ronde making a pick to get us back into the game is a thing of beauty. (ok, maybe not the run back, but other than that it was perfect)
September 12th, 2010 at 11:52 pm
Joe, it was very, very, very hot today. I stepped outside at 5:30 and it was blazing hot like and oven outside. The wind was hot.
Check the temp today.
That and with Raheem poorly prepairing these guys, you can’t blame the players.
September 12th, 2010 at 11:57 pm
I am not too worried about it. Its the first game of the year. None of these guys have played 4 quarters in 3/4 of a year. I saw plenty of guys around the league running out of gas today in the second half. I think Ronde will be fit enough to stay competitive this year.
September 13th, 2010 at 12:01 am
Wow Joe!!! The man has a game changing interception that he returns 64 yards and it makes you question his ability? Your an idiot.
September 13th, 2010 at 12:02 am
Joe here,
Really? – You need to work on your reading skills.
September 13th, 2010 at 12:03 am
Zero, you should change your screen name. ZeroExpectations doesn’t describe you at all. You have expectations. You expect Raheem Morris to fail. You expect him to ruin this team. You expect him to make bad decisions and not prepare the team. You should rename yourself NegativeExpectations. That would be more appropriate. Someone with Zero expectations would have been happy with the win, and the players and coaches even if we can all see there is MUCH room for improvement. They exceeded zero expectations. They exceeded negative expectations. Only difference…. someone with negative expectations only sees the need for improvement, not the good that came out of it.
September 13th, 2010 at 12:08 am
Lay off the guy – he’s pretty damn old for a starting corner.
He made a great play on the INT in the first place. I think we’re all lucky he’s still as good as he is. Great win today, btw. The second half looked very promising, especially our run D. Bigs was solid. We stole that one without Talib and Freeman’s thumb issues – we’ll only get better.
September 13th, 2010 at 12:09 am
Thats exactly what I was talking about Joe, I watched that play over and over and it looks as if Ronde assumed he was going to be able to jog it into the end zone……I like you, hope I’m wrong and he was simply tired.
September 13th, 2010 at 12:17 am
joe….you are a huge dumb ass
September 13th, 2010 at 12:18 am
No i read the article just fine. You need to stop reading WAY too much into a player getting chased down from behind on an interception return, it happens all the time. Its almost as if you cant wait to declare Ronde washed up. Why bother running a website for a team if your just going to turn around and hate on one of their Hall of fame caliber players for making a pick and ONLY returning it 64 yards. Headline of article should have read- “Ronde’s still got it!”
September 13th, 2010 at 12:21 am
Joe here,
Sorry fellas, you’re just not reading what’s written and are bringing your own bias to what’s there. There’s not an ounce of hate in the post.
September 13th, 2010 at 12:25 am
@BamBamBuc, you know the haters have to find something to complain about, even with a win. Poorly preparing, what an uneducated assumption! Where’s the basis for that argument? I sat behind someone (a bucs fan) that complained and complained the entire game. He yelled how horrible Freeman was and criticized every single mistake (or perceived mistake) we made. Then when we started to make a comeback, he got quiet, and even left right after we scored our last TD. It was as if he was hoping we would lose. So pathetic, I really feel sorry for people who live that kind of life.
September 13th, 2010 at 12:29 am
I find it funny when people buy tickets to the game and complain AT the game.
So even the fans going to the games can’t stand Raheem. LMAO!
September 13th, 2010 at 12:35 am
Im sorry for you Joe cuz if game breaking interceptions by your teams players cause your mind to immediately seek out something negative to say about it you must need to talk to a shrink about getting some prozac. The fact is Ronde has NEVER been fast for an NFL corner. So what!? His game was and is predicated on playing smart, jumping routes and getting interceptions. It’s just a little ridiculous to write an entire article pontificating on whether the guy has lost it based on one play that was a hugely positive play for him. I read message boards a lot and almost never comment but when I read this article my jaw dropped. Give me a break. Save the Ronde’s washed up spew for if he gets burned on a TD or something.
September 13th, 2010 at 12:39 am
the Cleveland Plain Dealer’s two Browns beat writers don’t think the Bucs are better than the Brownies.
Scoreboard!
http://www.cleveland.com/browns/index.ssf/2010/09/mary_kay_and_tony_break_down_t.html
September 13th, 2010 at 12:52 am
Hell, I don’t think the Bucs are better than the Browns. We just got really lucky with Barber’s return. REALLY lucky.
Count your blessings fellas.
So if close games that are lost, but are promising count as improvement, then what about the close sloppy games that did not demonstrate any real improvement or cohesion?
How does that all work out?
Luck? Ok. Luck it is.
Raheem is gonna need more of it.
September 13th, 2010 at 1:05 am
The OL seemed to have run out of gas after the first series. It was hot out there today, however most of the Browns in the first half looked in shape.????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
September 13th, 2010 at 1:09 am
The interception was great, the run back, which should have been taken to the house, was sad. I agree with an earlier poster, that said Ronde prob thought he could jog it in, Ronde was no where close to the goal line when he began to slow down, and he was in full stride when he caught that INT, he should have been long gone.
In the end, we won the game and that’s all that matters, it was a great INT, but no doubt about it, that play should have been 6. At that point in the game, the way they were playing, who wanted to see our offense come on the field to try to convert that 6 we should have gotten.
September 13th, 2010 at 1:15 am
Great win today. Glad ronde is on are side. I know some of you are mad the bucs won but O well they will probably win again next week. There is a lot of good things coming for this team
September 13th, 2010 at 1:17 am
Delhome’s INT with 35 seconds left in the half was a GIFT to say the least. What a dumb, dumb time to throw a pass and a bad pass like that. 14-3 and he throws that GIFT to Barber. Then Barber turns in his arrogant performance of ‘jogging’ into the endzone. Just like Talib was innocent.
Then, Freeman throws the ball into the Browns defender’s hands in the endzone, the ball pops up in the air and luckily the Bucs WR catches it.
September 13th, 2010 at 1:36 am
lol joe ur funny
September 13th, 2010 at 1:36 am
lol Joe ur funny, really??
September 13th, 2010 at 1:37 am
whoops sorry bout the duplicate
September 13th, 2010 at 2:24 am
guys it was a great play by ronde, however at the end of the play he clearly showed his age…..i was saying to a buddy while watching, it’s obvious he has lost a bit more than a step, but he will survive the season on experience, brainwork, and pure on the field expertise…he has such a high on field i.q. and thats what gets him still playing near the top of his game…however his straight line speed is clearly slipping…but hey we all love ronde barber so lets get that straight boys!……..adam from ny
September 13th, 2010 at 2:25 am
and i do believe ronde will retire after this season….he is an on the bubble hall of famer and he seems to be sticking around to get over the hump…and he will in my humble opinion……adam from ny
September 13th, 2010 at 2:32 am
If I remember, didnt Ruud also run out of gas after his pick in the Jacksonville game?
September 13th, 2010 at 2:41 am
Yes, Mr. Negative, there was some luck involved. Ask any great player that’s ever won anything and they’ll tell you it’s all about staying healthy, playing hard and getting a little luck to fall your way. Nothing wrong with that.
September 13th, 2010 at 3:35 am
First game of season, 95*, 110* on the field. I have no problem with Ronde being gassed. He was involved in several plays prior to the interception. At 40 years old, everyone has dimmished lung capacity, which actually begins diminishing around 35 years old. Normal part of aging.I don’t like negative expectations. I prefer the title I gave him. Zero intelligence. Muuuch more accurate for this idiotic ass monkey! The biggest difference in today’s game was half time adjustments- or Coaching!! After halftime. The Adjustments made by Raheem Morris completely shut down the Browns. They didn’t get a single first down til the last drive, where they had one.your stupid ass has been whining for months that the team was too young, and Morris was a joke . Turns our Morris looked good, the team won, amd you looked like the stupid little pussy I’ve said you were for the last 5 months. Enjoy being proven an idiot. Now that Morris proved he can Ciach, I have to wonder why your gay ass hates Raheem so much. You aren’t another piece of crap racist like Rahdomtheklansman, are you? Wouldn’t surprise me , loser
September 13th, 2010 at 5:38 am
NegativeZero said:
“What a dumb, dumb time to throw a pass and a bad pass like that”
Is there ever an appropriate time to throw a “bad pass like that”?
September 13th, 2010 at 7:13 am
FWIW, I’m with Joe. I actually thought he let up on purpose because he didn’t think anyone was behind him. Then, when he saw there was, he tried to put it into another gear but couldn’t.
No biggie though, we still scored. I was cursing him for a second though…
September 13th, 2010 at 7:20 am
Of course he ran out of gas! Hot or not, the man is getting up there in age. But even if he couldn’t make it all the way, he still got the pick and is of use.
I was just wondering two days ago if he would ever get another pick, so I’m happy.
September 13th, 2010 at 8:16 am
So now anytime we get an interception, it is lucky. So I guess when Ronde picked off McNabb in the NfC championship, that was lucky too? Maybe we should give back the trophy then, since it was all luck. That is seriously one of the dumbest statements I have ever heard. The bad throw was caused by pressure, but I guess that was lucky too. So let’s not give any credit, let’s just criticize our team and coach some more. We won the game, we are 1-0, be happy for a week. I’m sure we will lose a game soon enough and you will happy.
September 13th, 2010 at 8:19 am
Mangini had Delhome throwing with 30 seconds to go in the half while they were up 14-3…….. and he has Delhome thowing, of all QBs.
Well, I’ll giv Rah credit, even though luck was on his side on that first TD, he didn’t blow it like Mangina.
So technically, Raheem out coached Eric Mangini.
Bwahahahhahha. But its a start.
Now, the coach needs to win 3 division titles, get 56 more wins and at least get to a Super Bowl to be considered in the same breath as Jon or Dungy.
September 13th, 2010 at 8:20 am
Even if he did run out of steam, you dont see many cornerbacks at his age making plays like that. He was just caught from behind, it happens all the time!!
September 13th, 2010 at 8:23 am
Captain,
I can always count on you to set the slow squad straight. THANK YOU! This team had to remind everyone of the Dungy era. The Dungy day’s were very seldom pretty, but the D was always there to save the day. Sunday was Ronde’s day and as a captain of the team he proved once again he can change the course of the game. It’s not a coincidence that after that the Defense completely shut down the Browns for the rest of the game. You don’t get lucky; you create your own luck. This is exactly what they did!
September 13th, 2010 at 9:01 am
Really…Joe is just doing his job and asking a question…The guys on the NFL Network also asked the question, and Deon says to look for teams to test Barber after seeing the run back. It looked like he may have cramped or something as well, which Dave Moore pointed out…He did not give up on the run. This is not college, everyteam has a chance every week. There are no style points or BCS voodoo for rankings…It was a win, ZERO, GO AWAY!
September 13th, 2010 at 9:01 am
I thought Ronde had a really good game along with the entire defense. Ronde appeared to be jogging for the most part, but still out ran the defenders until the very end. And he managed to play well for the remainder of the game. It was hot there, but the rain cooled it off nicely in the 2’nd half, but by then Cleveland was cashed along with Delhomme.
17-14 Buc Ball at it’s finest. Well almost.
September 13th, 2010 at 9:04 am
Ronde is just baiting more QB’s into challenging him… very savvy veteran gamesmanship…”if i look old and slow after this pick, they will still try to attack me…” Ronde’s just being sly.
September 13th, 2010 at 9:06 am
Bigmac…Agreed!
September 13th, 2010 at 9:18 am
Maybe he was tired from playing lights out for the 7 plays directly before that pick?
September 13th, 2010 at 9:22 am
I don’t believe that Barber was gassed on the play. I think he just didn’t have the fire to press the run full out. He took the interception so cleanly and opened a gap so quickly, I think he just felt he had plenty of cushion and didn’t need to spend the energy, like he was pacing himself for the game. A definite sign of age/conditioning. He’s still a player though and is not laying down in general.
September 13th, 2010 at 9:30 am
Clearly, certain individuals are blind to their own viewpoints, because luck had NOTHING to do with that pick or the win.
The Bucs refusal to give up won that game, and their ability to play the full 60 minutes.
60 MINUTES.
I cannot stress how important that is. The past few years the defense has been weak in the second half when the season started…and for at least the first 3 games.
They did not run out of gas (okay, Ronde did on that Int), and they played the full 60. That in and of itself is proof that Morris is changing this team for the better.
September 13th, 2010 at 9:33 am
Lay off Barber! It was humid and hot for Ronde, while the guy who chased him down was running in cool, 60 degree weather!
September 13th, 2010 at 9:35 am
We were at the game Joe, and it was HOTT. Hey, Ronde is getting old, and did his best. At least he made the pick.
September 13th, 2010 at 9:47 am
NegativeZero,
You’re a moron. The Browns were throwing because up to that point they had had success doing so and were trying to go up 21-3 going into half time. If they had, it would have been game over. That is why they were trying to pass the ball. Good God, I was critical of the Bucs and their moves in the offseason too and had “limited” expectations, but I’m still a big time Buc fan on Sunday and want them to win. Talking about being lucky is stupid. Luck is when preparation meets opportunity. The Browns got “lucky” when Graham fumbled at the goal line, but they didn’t take advantage.
September 13th, 2010 at 10:20 am
Good Point Pete.
As the Game went on, our team got stronger, especially the defense. Once we got the lead there was no way in hell they were going to give it up. Delhomme looked like a deer in the headlights after that. All he could do was pray, panic, and get hit again. Strong legs and I guess youth does have some advantages.
When I left the game, all the Browns had the same look on their faces “WTF?”, kinda like the Greenbay game last year. One minute you’re on top, and the next minute your out. Alvederzane.
September 13th, 2010 at 10:46 am
I wouldn’t say luck had nothing to do with the win. Of course the teams effort and play had more to do with it than luck. But I would say that when you’re moving to score and get no points because you fumble at the 2 (Graham), you have to be a bit lucky it doesn’t come back and bite you in the backside. When you completely overthrow a wide open Mike Williams that would be a TD, you’ve gotta be a bit lucky to get the right call against the right D on the very next play and score anyway. Yes, a lot of that “luck” is created through hard work and good play, but there is also some luck.
September 13th, 2010 at 11:05 am
I was there live and in person Joe…Ronde cashing it in early will live in my mind for quite some time.
September 13th, 2010 at 11:29 am
Watch the first TD pass… Freeman threw it into the Browns defenders open hands… so hard that it bounced up and turned into a birthday present for the Bucs WR.
Freeman almost threw 2 INTs in 2 passes.
September 13th, 2010 at 11:50 am
Almost does not count. Go be a fan somewhere else.
September 13th, 2010 at 12:48 pm
we are a 7-9 win team
September 13th, 2010 at 3:11 pm
Maybe Ronde should quit smoking 3 packs of Kool filters a day. He’s not the only one, Cory Lynch was sucking on oxygen and puking after his preseason pick 6. I applaud the Bucs superior coaching witnessed by their second half adjustments on offense and defense. The Bucs superior special teams play was also encouraging. Freeman has been showing flashes of brilliance in his last performances and his post game interview showed that he was quite aware of what was happening while it was happening. I believe he outplayed Brett Favre and Tony Romo in their first games. His 33 yard run down the sideline was great. I think Minnesota and Dallas would love to have a young Josh Freeman and they are bona fide contenders.
September 13th, 2010 at 9:55 pm
Sya what you want about Ronde, but he made that pick with his brains, experience and savvy. He read that play like a book, and he earned his pay with pick alone much less a run back to the 3 yd ln.
September 14th, 2010 at 12:20 am
Joe, you suggested that a couple of posters should hone their reading skills – I think that maybe you should go back and read what you wrote. Barber made a crucial interception and ran the ball back 64 yards setting up an opportunity that was converted on the next play. It’s unusual to read an article on such a game changing play that contains not a single positive word. Particularly an article by someone purporting to be a fan of the team.