Ronde Barber And Darrelle Revis
April 23rd, 2013
Despite all the hoopla over at One Buc Palace this week over the trade by Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik to land star cornerback Darrelle Revis, the mystery of Ronde Barber continues.
Barber has met at least twice with Bucs officials since the end of the season, and he’s transforming into the Tampa Bay area’s version of Brett Favre. In the latter years of Favre’s career, the star quarterback played cat and mouse with the Packers and Vikings, unable seemingly to decide if he wanted to hang up his cleats or continue to play football.
Appearing with the one and only Chris “Mad Dog” Russo on Mad Dog Radio yesterday, heard exclusively on SiriusXM Radio, eye-RAH! Kaufman of the Tampa Tribune seemed to get the idea that Revis’ acquisition may signal the end of Barber’s career.
The Bucs’ secondary “looks a lot better because they got Revis,” Kaufman told Russo. “You watched him up close and personal. You know that he is a difference maker. So all of a sudden the secondary doesn’t look so bad. [Dashon] Goldson is a good payer from San Francisco. He’s a big hitter across the middle. [Mark] Barron struggles in coverage but he is a big hitter. Look, they still need a corner.
“We don’t know about Ronde. We don’t know if this is more likely or less likely if Barber comes back for Season 17. The Bucs are a better team. That might intrigue Barber, but Chris, he will have to play a marginal role. He can play nickel and dime. I don’t know if he wants to go out that way. We have to find out about Barber but when you get a Revis, your secondary all of a sudden got better.”
Now Joe asked Bucs coach Greg Schiano if the team had a deadline when they needed to hear from Barber, yay or nay, on his return. Schiano stressed there was no immediate deadline but at some point (as training camp nears) the team may have to move on.
Remember this was before the Bucs got Revis. It’s pretty clear that as of right now, your Bucs starting secondary will be Revis, Barron, Goldson and Eric Wright. The Bucs got Barber to move to safety for a reason last season.
Would Barber want to be a second-stringer for his final NFL season? Joe confesses he is not sure. Revis said yesterday he would look forward to playing with Barber. He may not get the chance.
April 23rd, 2013 at 2:48 pm
Could the Bucs set up their base defense in a 4-2-5 format, where Revis/Wright/Barber “start” the game? If we dont get better at SLB, that might put our best 11 on the field anyway; I just don’t know if you have to list certain people as “starters” or not…does his consecutive “start” streak stay alive so long as he is on the field for the first play of the game?
April 23rd, 2013 at 3:01 pm
Ronde committing to the Bucs in 2013, and not being afforded the chance to continue his consecutive start streak? I don’t see how he’d accept that. Stats may not mean much to players, but I think this is one exception. His longevity and this streak has to be a source of pride, and one of the main tennents his HOF resume hangs on.
April 23rd, 2013 at 3:08 pm
Sadly, I think we may have seen the last of #20. Hope I’m wrong.
April 23rd, 2013 at 3:08 pm
As one of the best tackling corners ever, he could play SLB. With teams lining up with mostly 3 wides, that may be the best move to get the best players on the field
April 23rd, 2013 at 3:10 pm
Just because we have Eric Wright doesn’t mean that Barber can’t come in, compete and beat him out for the 2nd corner spot.
April 23rd, 2013 at 3:11 pm
Adding Goldson and Revis increases Barber’s chances of returning, not decreases. It shows the Bucs’ commitment to winning and I think Barber was waiting to see that. I suspect he will return for one more season.
April 23rd, 2013 at 3:14 pm
I don’t see how (or why even) he’d have to be considered/called a “second-stringer.” Like Big Picture pointed out his start streak is pretty important, historically and I would assume personally for Ronde. But if he comes back you call him a starter, you run him out there opposite Revis to open the game, and then he mans the nickel from there. Really, it’s not a big deal, but he certainly deserves to have his streak continue if he plays in 2013. Aside from that, he would be playing the nickel anyway. And sure, he wouldn’t get as many snaps as he has in the past, but with the way teams throw know he’ll see plenty of action; if anything he should stay fresher throughout the season. His tackling, blitzing ability, and overall playmaking skills are worth having around, even though he’s getting older, even if it’s in a reduced role.
Bring him back Dom.
April 23rd, 2013 at 3:21 pm
Barber will probably wait to see what happens in the draft. If Dominik drafts a corner in the early rounds I would think Barber would retire. Schiano isn’t afraid to play rookies and if a corner is taken in the 2nd or 3rd round, I would think he could be pegged a starter at nickel. He could even be a starter opposite Revis if he plays well enough throughout training camp.
However, the opportunity to play with Revis might be enough to make Barber come back. Barber could be the nickel and still be considered a starter. Either way, the Bucs need more talent at corner, considering Wright s on a 1 year deal.
April 23rd, 2013 at 3:25 pm
I will go out on a limb and say….the Bucs already know if Barber is returning or not but won’t let us know until after the draft as part of their draft strategy.
April 23rd, 2013 at 4:06 pm
Barber is enough of a competitor that drafting a corner will not deter him. His decision will purely come down to how his body, mind, and family feels. If he wants to come back he will be back. If not, he won’t. A corner in the draft will not affect that decision.
April 23rd, 2013 at 4:30 pm
I have to agree with Tackleblockwin. No need to resign or really even discuss Barber until after the draft. My guess is whoever the Bucs end up drafting will determine if Barber returns or retires (hopefully he doesn’t join another team, that would be a bummer).
April 23rd, 2013 at 4:43 pm
2nd stringer, where can he get a job making 2.5 million working 25 percent of the time.
I would think he would jump at the chance.
Me thinks he is avoiding a long practice season.
April 23rd, 2013 at 8:38 pm
Barber was paid 3M last year, I don’t think Rockstar offers anything close to that. He will be the nickel at best. On the field half as much as last year. I think they offer him Eric Wright money 1M and he takes it and announces this will be his last season. They get to the playoffs and he brings out the Flag one last time as the Bucs start the playoffs at home.
April 23rd, 2013 at 11:08 pm
bring Barber back
April 23rd, 2013 at 11:59 pm
Barber at nickel and backing up the safeties and CBs would cement the DBs as suddenly being a strong unit of the team.
I got to believe winning is what Barber was always about and he is coming back
April 24th, 2013 at 12:11 am
I think the exact opposite, Barber must be jazzed to play with Revis, I don’t think he has to be the star either. I think Schiano would throw him a bone and start him if only just for the first play of the game so he could push up his consecutive starts record.