Rondé Barber Named A Hall Of Fame Finalist For The First Time

January 5th, 2021

It’s official. The votes from the esteemed panel of 40-plus selectors are in.

Buccaneers icon Rondé Barber has busted into the finalist level of the Hall of Fame selection process for the first time.

Today, Barber made the cut to the final 15 modern-era candidates that will be presented for a vote later this month.

Below are the 15 ex-players who will be presented for a vote to decide the five-man (maximum) class of 2021.

Sage JoeBucsFan.com columnist Ira Kaufman is the Tampa Bay area’s lone Hall of Fame voter, and he will present the case for Barber and John Lynch.

Jared Allen, DE – 2004-07 Kansas City Chiefs, 2008-2013 Minnesota Vikings, 2014-15 Chicago Bears, 2015 Carolina Panthers
Rondé Barber, CB/S – 1997-2012 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tony Boselli, Left Tackle – 1995-2001 Jacksonville Jaguars, 2002 Houston Texans (injured reserve)
LeRoy Butler, S – 1990-2001 Green Bay Packers
Alan Faneca, Guard – 1998-2007 Pittsburgh Steelers, 2008-09 New York Jets, 2010 Arizona Cardinals
Torry Holt, WR – 1999-2008 St. Louis Rams, 2009 Jacksonville Jaguars
Calvin Johnson, WR – 2007-2015 Detroit Lions
John Lynch, S – 1993-2003 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 2004-07 Denver Broncos
Peyton Manning, QB – 1998-2011 Indianapolis Colts (injured reserve 2011), 2012-15 Denver Broncos
Clay Matthews Jr., LB – 1978-1993 Cleveland Browns, 1994-96 Atlanta Falcons
Sam Mills, LB – 1986-1994 New Orleans Saints, 1995-97 Carolina Panthers
Richard Seymour, DE/DT – 2001-08 New England Patriots, 2009-2012 Oakland Raiders
Zach Thomas, LB – 1996-2007 Miami Dolphins, 2008 Dallas Cowboys
Reggie Wayne, WR – 2001-2014 Indianapolis Colts
Charles Woodson, CB/S – 1998-2005, 2013-15 Oakland Raiders, 2006-2012 Green Bay Packers

So will Barber get in?

Well, Joe’s impressed that voters stepped up and put Barber in the final-15, so Joe believes anything is possible in this diverse and super-accomplished field.

Charles Woodson is a nine-time Pro Bowler and a Super Bowl winner who made a phenomenal transition to safety late in his career. Joe hates to type it, but Woodson had a better career than Barber. And that’s just one example of the challenge to get Barber in this year.

Ira Kaufman likes to say Barber defined the nickel corner position and has freakish statistics, in addition to the quality of his play. So he’s certainly a hell of a candidate.

Will Barber take votes from Lynch, and vice versa? Of course!

It’s a political process and that kind of thinking would define politics: a voter deciding he/she doesn’t want to vote for two Buccaneers from the same team in one year because it doesn’t feel fair.

36 Responses to “Rondé Barber Named A Hall Of Fame Finalist For The First Time”

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

    I can still see him high tailing it down the sidelines …

  2. Colonel_mp Says:

    HELL YEAH! My very first jersey in 2002.

  3. FactTeller Says:

    Hell Yeah he will!!

  4. bucfan999 Says:

    This is the year for John Lynch.

    My choice for the 5 this year are:

    1. Peyton Manning
    2. Charles Woodson
    3. Reggie Wayne
    4. John Lynch
    5. Tony Boselli

    I think Ronde will probably get in but it will take a few more years.

  5. mark2001 Says:

    It would make me extremely happy for him to get the jacket. He seems to be a great guy, and great player, that made one of the most memorable plays in Bucs history.

  6. BucThis Says:

    Peyton Manning
    Calvin Johnson
    Zach Thomas
    Charles Woodson
    John Lynch

  7. Erick Says:

    Awesome news. Congrats to Ronde on this huge step! Now it’s time for Ira to share those damn impressive stats, that will surprise the voters. Unfortunately, I don’t believe he gets in this year because two other DBs will get in.

    Manning and Woodson are locks.

    I do believe this is Lynch’s year though.

    One WR (Wayne or Holt) and I think Boselli get in.

    Side note: I think it’s a travesty that Zach Thomas hasn’t gotten in yet

  8. AlteredEgo Say: Your comment is awaiting moderation. Says:

    Ronde has many more qualifications for the HOF than Lynch… and I love #47…
    Trivia Lynch never returned a INT for a TD as a Buccaneer

  9. Roy T. Buford Says:

    Barber will get in. While I hope he gets in, I doubt Lynch will. Why? He was too good at devastating hits when they were legal. Kind of like Thomas Jefferson. Great man in his time, did everything legally WRT slavery. Like at one time smoking was great–n the 60s you were a nerd if you didn’t smoke, a social outcast. Now it’s the opposite. But, like Jefferson, hundreds of years later what was legal then and clearly viewed as wrong now will mean Lynch pays the price and his play cannot be rewarded, as he was dangerous physically for anyone who get near him with a football. Great guy and fantastic GM, but many in football want to forget his lethal, awesome play that was not so long ago. Sweep play like that under the rug. That’s my hunch.

  10. Jonathan Limpchimpi Says:

    I’m partial to Barber over Lynch. Still stunned that Denver put Lynch in their Ring of Honor. That’s the equivalent of putting JPP in the Bucs one after his current body of work only. Good…but not Ring of Honor worthy at this time.

  11. unbelievable Says:

    Woooooooooo! Congrats Ronde, definitely deserved!

    Highly doubtful him and Lynch would both get in the same year, but this is long overdue. I would actually put Ronde in over Lunch.

    Ira Kaufman likes to say Barber defined the nickel corner position and has freakish statistics, in addition to the quality of his play.

    Well he says that because it’s true! No other cornerback has the stats that Ronde does. No one! And a SB ring on one of the most dominant defenses ever. Cmon man!

  12. Buczilla Says:

    Manning and Woodson are no-brainers that even the corrupt buffoons (most, not all) that vote can’t mess up. I’m shocked that Barber and Lynch even made the final 15 and I’d be amazed if either makes it in this year. Having the super bowl in Tampa should help their cause, but I have zero faith that the “good ole boys/girls” will do the right thing.

  13. geno711 Says:

    Peyton Manning
    Charles Woodson
    Tony Boselli
    Calvin Johnson

    They were just the best at their position at some point.

    Not sure that I can say that about anyone else on the list.

    Not saying that is who is getting in either.

  14. Wesley Says:

    Ronde will get in soon, Lynch probably not ever.

  15. J dubb Says:

    Manning
    Woodson
    Boselli
    Faneca
    Barber

  16. WillieG Says:

    It’s political and the NFL loves a good story in a bad year. Barber and Lynch going into the hall together when the Bucs host and (hopefully play in) the super bowl would be a great storyline.

  17. Wesley Says:

    Sorry but Zack Thomas does not deserve to be on this list.

  18. Jack Burton Mercer Says:

    Barber is arguably the greatest corner to ever play. Should have been a first ballot.

  19. Robert Says:

    Long overdue. A legend

  20. FactTeller Says:

    Zach Thomas is NOT a hall of famer in ANY capacity…

    We gotta stop this ish….

  21. Jmarkbuc Says:

    Roy

    I agree💯, think what his intro highlight video would be….

    NFL won’t have that.

  22. Alvin Scissors Harper Says:

    I’m afraid John Lynch is getting a little long in the tooth. He’s been up many times and just can’t seem to get the final push. I believe both he and Barber are deserving. However, I doubt either get in this year.

  23. ModHairKen Says:

    No. Barber and Lynch are screwed by the numbers. And sorry, but Ira has not proven to be able to make a case. Get Erin Andrews, and I am dead serious.

  24. DavidBigBucFan99 Says:

    Ronde more so than Lynch. He simply made more pivotal plays than Lynch and was a better CB than Lynch was a safety. Unfortunately he’s not a no brainer like Sapp or Brooks because so many view him as a system cb no matter his stats. He was a beast never scared to tackle like HOFer Slime Time but he plays for Tampa so good chance they’ll overlook him unfortunately.

  25. Jmarkbuc Says:

    Alvin

    It’s because of the big hits…

    I know I loved having him on the team. Bad ass enforcer, who made receivers keep their head on a swivel. You know the good old days of real football…

    Hard not be proud of 47.

  26. Colonel Angus Says:

    If Ronde played in NY, Dallas, Pittsburgh or any of the other big market/NFL darling cities, he’d already be in.

  27. Clean House Says:

    Sell it Ira!!

  28. jimmay Says:

    Rice not being on the list is very sad once again.

  29. theodore Says:

    Here’s all I can say about Tony Boselli – If you know an offensive lineman’s name long after he retires, he’s a hall of famer.

  30. Bucfan81 Says:

    Barber is my favorite player of all time. I hope he gets in and it would be extra special this year since the Super Bowl is being played in Tampa.

  31. JimbobBucsFan Says:

    Yeah! Whoopie! Bravo! Great to hear, MF! 😋 🙄 😆

    CONGRATULATIONS RONDE! YOU EARNED IT! … FINALLY! 😔 🤩

    You, Brooks and Selmon epitomize the Bucs. Class acts all of the way!

  32. Jersey buc Says:

    Looks like Simeon rice gets screwed again🤦🏻‍♂️The guys numbers are fantastic

  33. rrsrq Says:

    Congrats Ronde (and John Lynch). I think Ronde should get in based on how he defined the nickel position (they will say he is a system CB), but aren’t all players part of a system (with the exception of a few dominant players in any system – Moss, Sanders, Sapp). I’m afraid Ronde may get the Ken Riley treatment who is #5 all time in interceptions, unfortunately he passed in 2020 without going in the HOF, his problem was he played his entire career for the Bengals, teams like that only get a few guys in (the politics of it all). Imagine fifth overall in a league that was a running league at the time

  34. Señor Harry in Costa Rica Says:

    Manning
    Boselli
    Woodson
    Johnson

    those are locks, IMO. The 5th choice? Tough. My guess would be Reggie Wayne, but probably not with one WR already in. Barber has a shot.

  35. Buc1987 Says:

    Great news!

  36. Nutterbuccer Says:

    Jared Allen was a beast but how does he make it this far and not Simeon Rice,just baffling.