Tiki: Raheem Prolonged Ronde’s Career
February 1st, 2013
One giant question of the Bucs’ offseason — and one that is sure to be decided this month — is whether Ronde Barber will return.
And who better to ask than Barber’s twin brother Tiki. The two are close and Tiki opened up on the subject to “Booger and Rich” on 98.7 FM yesterday.
Tiki explained that Ronde’s dedication to his body and luck avoiding injuries, aren’t the only factors in his football longevity.
“Coupled with a coach in Raheem Morris those last couple of years that was very friendly to him. He didn’t have hard training camps. He got to do what he needed to do, but he was still playing at a high level,” Tiki Barber said. “And then the move to safety with Schiano. It’s a different position playing safety and it’s a new challenge for him. And I think that challenge, that conversion to safety, was something he took real seriously. He had a pretty good year this year. And you know, he’s going to have to make that decision again. Do they want him? And does he want to keep doing it?”
Tiki went on to say that Ronde may not return. And, in what is troubling to Joe, it seems Ronde might be getting pushed in the retirement direction.
“I’ve been telling him for three years he needs to be done,” Tiki said.
If Joe had to wager, Joe would say Barber will return for the 2013 season. Schiano already had talked about wanting Barber on his footbal team, and Joe’s going by Barber’s track record. Plus, the Bucs have been off the field for more than a month and there’s still no announcement. Joe finds it hard to believe Barber, who left the season healthy, is still making up his mind.
February 1st, 2013 at 1:35 pm
should we start a pukey facebook page,like the Falcons fans did for Tony Gonzales?
February 1st, 2013 at 2:03 pm
Sounds like Tiki might be a little jealous of Ronde’s HoF credential’s vs his own. If Ronde retired 3 years, he would have been a borderline HoF’er (like Tiki probably thinks of himself), that might have been lost in the shuffle of other very good CBs hoping to get in. Given the career numbers the Ronde has added to his resume, another solid season (3-5 picks/fumble recoveries, + 1 or 2 sacks) and I think he’s a slam dunk for the Hall of Fame (he’s very close right now, and probably should get in if he were to retire today).
Tiki’s always seemed to have the bigger mouth of the two, and been more arrogant, and I think he believes he is/was the better NFL player than Ronde. If I’m right, while I’m sure he will publicly support his brother, I think privately, it’s eating him up inside.
February 1st, 2013 at 2:07 pm
if he does decide to retire i hope its without any outside influence. i cant help but think his joke of a twin is just jealous that his brother is playing at a pretty high level for what seems to be years and years after he decided to hang it up. tiki is a joke. and its fortunate for us, that his brother is the opposite of a joke. hes a class act. and it has been a privilege to watch him play over the years.
February 1st, 2013 at 2:23 pm
The end of the football season isnt even over, why do you find it hard to believe he hasent made his mind up yet? I think at this point he has earned the right to take his time and make up his mind at his own pace. He’s 37 years old, cant be an easy decision at the end of the season when your body is tired and sore. I think it will be a lot like last year when he waited and waited to make a decision. Kind of favreish.
February 1st, 2013 at 2:24 pm
Agreed I truly believe tiki is jealous of ronde.
February 1st, 2013 at 2:40 pm
Ask the Giants – Tiki’s a quitter!
February 1st, 2013 at 2:40 pm
Agreed with Silence. Ronde has taken a nice vacation after the end of the season to really evaluate himself, and the organization, before making his decision. It wouldn’t surprise me if he hasn’t made up his mind yet, though I think he has one more solid year left in him and he’ll be done after next season.
Then again… I was saying the same thing 2 years ago, so god knows.
February 1st, 2013 at 3:18 pm
Getting Ronde back would obviously be good for the secondary in terms of veteran leadership, but it wouldn’t be the end of the world if he decided to throw in the towel. It would provide an opportunity for someone else to step up and lead. Plus having more speed at that position would certainly help on the backend. Especially with all of the read-option going on in the league these days. I hope he decides he’s got one more year though. That way we can get his great play, and also sign a replacement that can soak up knowledge from him.
February 1st, 2013 at 3:22 pm
@ Silence
Its the opposite of favreish. Favre, being the butt hole that he is, kept retiring and then unretire which made him look like a fool. Ronde, on the other hand, actually has the metal capacity to sit down and think this threw before he rushes to a decision of whether retiring.
February 1st, 2013 at 3:31 pm
LMAO at everyone who thinks Tiki is jealous of Ronde. O wait, my bad… I forgot that you guys know them on a personal level. jeez. did you ever stop to think that maybe he is looking out for Ronde’s best interest. Maybe he doesnt want to see him get hurt. but no… since you hate Tiki you guys will say any crap that will make him look like a Douche. That irritates the hell out of me.
February 1st, 2013 at 3:36 pm
I agree with everyones assessment on Ronde, especially SilenceTheCritics. Ronde has earned the right to take his time to make this career decision, because once he announces his retirement there won’t be any turning back the clock at that point. The good news is he will retire as a Buccaneer just like Brooks. Hoorah! to Ronde.
February 1st, 2013 at 3:42 pm
“That irritates the hell out of me.”
There’s probably some sort antler cream for that.
February 1st, 2013 at 3:45 pm
@Andrew 1
I agree whole heartedly with you about Tiki, but I do think Tiki can’t wait for Ronde to retire while he still has his health so they can do things together as brothers during the season. Twins, as in nature tend to have this inseparable bond and I think Tiki feels lost without his brother while he’s in his own retirement.
February 1st, 2013 at 3:47 pm
4ever
I agree on Rhonde, but Brooks didn’t retire on his own terms. He was released, disrespectfully I might add, and I will never forgive Raheem and Dom for that. He could have had a big heyday like Ray Lewis and his retiring. He deserved a better “retiring”.
February 1st, 2013 at 3:49 pm
@ Andrew1
“since you hate Tiki you guys will say any crap that will make him look like a Douche”
You’re right we shouldn’t say things like that, Tiki says stuff that will make him look that way more than enough for everyone
February 1st, 2013 at 3:55 pm
@OAR
I agree with you on that too, it was an unceremonious release and Brooks did deserve better than that. But also don’t forget, Brooks was asked if he could retire and he refused. We all saw that Brooks had lost a step and the Bucs were looking toward the future. Had he accepted, they would probably have let him have his farewell season. IDK just speculation.
February 1st, 2013 at 4:03 pm
First of all Ronde prolonged his career. And Im almost positive he’s coming back. He smells another playoff run.
February 1st, 2013 at 4:39 pm
I’m with T-Orlando in the Tiki is envious camp. Hell, he tried a comeback a few years ago and got nothing and liked it. Tiki came to the NFL with way more fanfare but Ronde has since lapped him. And those of you on Tiki’s jock…he’s proven time and again through words and actions that he is a dirtbag. Unless you call cheating on your pregnant wife(with twins) with a young blonde a cool thing to do.
February 1st, 2013 at 4:41 pm
Maybe we can utilize Ronde in a similar role as; the Denver Broncos did with CB Jimmy Spencer a few years back. Spencer worked as an Assistant Defensive Back Coach/Reserve Cornerback– (1st simultaneous player/coach in the NFL since Dan Reeves in 1972).
February 1st, 2013 at 4:46 pm
It would be another notch under his belt;further cementing his legendary status.
February 1st, 2013 at 5:19 pm
I’m sure Tiki is “Flabbergasted” that Rhonde is still in the leauge
February 1st, 2013 at 5:34 pm
I’m sure Raheem did extend Barber’s career with all the soft practices. However, since Ronde was the only “old guy” on the team, it hurt all the young guys on the team. Ronde has earned those type practices, whereas the other guys haven’t.
February 1st, 2013 at 7:24 pm
Ronde has earned his right to make his retirement decesions at his own pace. I like the idea of player coach for Ronde, I do not pretend to know his feelings on anything. But hope he returns next season. I do not yet have a 20 jersey, this needs to be remedied ASAP.
I do have a 55 jersey, and it did not, was not a plesant thing to have happen to a Future Hall of Fame player, but it was needed. No disrespect to Derrick Brooks. He wanted to play every snap, and did not want to come out of the game. A true Buccaneer Warrior! I would not want to have him play and not be able to play as well as I fondly remember. Personal greedy reason I know. Brooks was a game changing LB,
February 1st, 2013 at 7:51 pm
I do not look down on Tiki for having concern for his brother.
After all it’s not surprising or farfetched he would urge his brother into retiring already out of concern for him/his health when he himself hung his cleats up when many thought he still had lots of miles left in his tank.
It’s not like he’s preaching something to Ronde that he didn’t do himself.
Ronde is his own man, If i had to bet he comes back but i don’t expect any other persons chirps to affect his decision.
February 2nd, 2013 at 9:23 am
Correct me if I’m wrong, but didn’t Tiki retire the year before NYG won their Superbowl? Tiki may have retired with some regrets. Maybe that is in Ronda’s mind set as well. Even though Ronda has a ring already, he still might be thinking….what if.
Injury is always a concern, but Ronda seems to be a Superman in that regard. Tiki’s RB position is always more violent than Ronda’s S position.
I would like to see Ronda stay another year for the veteran leadership this young team needs, but I would be happy with whatever Ronda decides to do. Ronda represents the Bucs quite well IMO.
February 2nd, 2013 at 10:29 am
Just don’t rub that Antler Cream in the wrong spot.
I would like to see Ronde come back to win another Super Bowl before he retires, but he has nothing left to prove and to leave healthy and not forced by injury is a good thing. Either way is fine with me.
I think San Fran is better than Baltimore but the Ray Lewis factor may put them over the top. Leadership is everything. Ronde has that in his own way, and when everyone looks up to you, you’re their leader and nothing has to be said.
February 2nd, 2013 at 7:35 pm
I’d like to see Ronde back but only as a positional back in certain situations….no an every down DB. We need to get someone trained to replace him and as long as Barber is playing that isn’t going to happen. Since we’re getting new CB’s anyway might as well get a new safety too and get ’em all up to speed together.