Rondé Barber Says Bucs “Abandoned” Prior Draft Formula
May 22nd, 2026
“Rondé, you got a lot to say, bro.”
Joe is sharing this because Rondé Barber’s take clashes with what Buccaneers Ring of Honor general manager Jason Licht has said multiple times.
Why isn’t Barber, a franchise legend who collects checks from the Bucs, towing the company line?
This is very mysterious to Joe.
Barber is a true Bucs insider. He works for the team website, calls Bucs preseason games, has a keycard to One Buc Palace and even has/had office space in the building at Joe’s last check. And Barber is a personal friend of Licht.
Speaking on The Rondé Barber Show this week, a WFLA streaming property, Barber said the Bucs are ready to win right now. And as Barber was explaining why, he drove down I Am That Man Boulevard and let out some exhaust.
“I Am That Man” is the foundation mantra of the Bucs front office. They want players in the mold of Lavonte David: football first and nonsense later.
It’s a simple approach that Licht has said many times never meant eliminating edgy personalities and guys who might need a little time to adjust and mature.
Well, Barber said the Bucs’ front office made a change this offseason and “abandoned” some of their ways.
Here’s how Barber rolled out that fact — or fiction.
“You have hopefully three really good corners that have been taking steps, or will take steps this offseason to become really good players,” Barber said. “You have two really good safeties, one’s an All-Pro. Like, this team is ready to win. I think Rueben Bain comes in this draft class — Ted Hurst might surprise people and do some crazy good things for us — but a guy like Bain, I think Warren [Sapp] said it best. He is a “fire-starter. The guy has an attitude that this team just doesn’t possess.”
“And that was purposefully done by the way, by this franchise. They were drafting people that fit this nice narrative and were never going to be, you know, controversial. [The draft picks] were always going to have certain characteristics, personality characteristics that they liked. We abandoned that this year and we went out and got some dawgs, man. And I think they need that. They can only help this team.”
Where’s the truth here? Licht says nothing changed, though he acknowledged the Bucs were looking to get a little more physical and nasty this season. Barber says something different.
Nobody at One Buc Palace ever seems to wag a finger at Barber for any of his takes. Perhaps that is imminent. Perhaps not.
May 22nd, 2026 at 7:29 pm
You need defenders with a high motor and a hunter killer mentality. I think they accomplished that this draft.
May 22nd, 2026 at 7:31 pm
What the Bucs missed on this off-season was adding a full time defensive coordinator. When you have have a part time DC, half the time you loaf. It’s like a substitute teacher.
May 22nd, 2026 at 7:48 pm
If we have to rely on Lichts drafted players…….
May 22nd, 2026 at 8:01 pm
All I really heard is that you’ve got to love football. And Bain does very much. That’s a sensible idea for drafting because people that don’t love it will let any one of several life’s distractions get in the way.
May 22nd, 2026 at 8:21 pm
That episode of the ronde barber show was must see. He had Warren Sapp as a guest and he is always must see as usual. If u haven’t seen it go check it out bucs fans.
May 22nd, 2026 at 8:33 pm
I’m happy Licht reads this site and our comments.
At least he’s open minded.
We are all tired of “nice” guys on defense.
And I think we are all tired of players who want to have “fun.”
Brady was right. There is a way to win a Super Bowl.
And it’s not by “having fun”
It’s by having players who are insane about winning.
Players who HATE losing.
Players who are QB Killahs like Sapp.
I want players who love football.
But I also want players on defense who love to hit people.
I want players on defense with huge chips on their shoulders.
Kill “the fun”
I want players who are Killahs!
May 22nd, 2026 at 8:33 pm
They just added a 6 descriptor.
Accountable, Competitive, Confident, Passionate, Resilient & A Badass.
They did exactly what the fans have been calling for. Don’t make it a bad thing.
May 22nd, 2026 at 8:35 pm
They just added a 6 descriptor.
Accountable, Competitive, Confident, Passionate, Resilient & A BadA55.
They did exactly what the fans have been calling for. Don’t make it a bad thing.
May 22nd, 2026 at 8:35 pm
Its obvious what Barber is saying is true. Didnt the Bucs bring JPP off the couch not to rush the passer but to bring “energy” or “juice”. You’d think thats something the HC and GM would notice a few seasons ago but oh well, the bar is very low here.
Barber said:
He is a “fire-starter. The guy has an attitude that this team just doesn’t possess.”
Barber who’s around the team all the time and is friends with the GM says this attitude is non-existent on the team. Wow. All the former players and coaches are saying the loud part out loud. Theres nothing exciting about this team and this roster isnt good. And neither are the men that built it.
May 22nd, 2026 at 8:46 pm
Wow what a click bait job. There’s absolutely nothing there. Joe spelled it out clearly. If you’re in denial of what’s written, Joe can’t help you. Barber’s quotes are Barber’s quotes — not Joe’s. –Joe
So they brought in some guys that are “dawgs”. They didn’t draft any thugs, guys with crazy checkered backgrounds.
Barber said they maybe didn’t draft a bunch of nice guys. Wow breaking news there.
I listened to lots of these kids interviewed and they all seem like great kids. Bain comes from a great family and upbringing. Trotter obviously comes from a successful football family that knows what it takes to be pros. Scott seems like a super intelligent kid.
Doesn’t mean they aren’t “dawgs” on the field.
Wow Barbe really went all out with that take. Surprised he still has keys to the crib.
May 22nd, 2026 at 8:47 pm
What is this ? Good cop bad cop ?
If it isn’t then the First Amendment is more alive at One Buc Palace than in many places throughout the Nation.
May 22nd, 2026 at 9:15 pm
Enjoy your Memorial Day Weekend, Men ? ?
May 22nd, 2026 at 9:15 pm
A player can be a good citizen in general and still be aggressive and hard hitting on the field. A really good example of that is Luke Kuechly. A player doesn’t have to be nasty or dirty, just intense and a fighter. I think Rueben Bain fits that mold.
May 22nd, 2026 at 9:35 pm
I think that’s the key…
Great person, football obsessive, amazing teamate, hard worker, solid character…
ALSO
On top of his craft, high motor, well prepared, hart hitter, QB/RB/WR assasin with a take no prisoners attitude. Like Bain said about the opponents… “hate ’em!!”
For sixty minutes… step on their throat and do not let up!
“I am that man” with some edge
May 22nd, 2026 at 10:48 pm
Well if Bain wasn’t available, the Bucs stick with their normal draft plans. But Bain unexpectedly drops, so they take the guy who might be the best player at the Bucs biggest position of need. I don’t think Licht was lying when he said he never thought Bain would get to 15 – that’s what changed things.
May 22nd, 2026 at 11:51 pm
I watched that episode and I totally agree it’s a must-see for Bucs fans! It’s a riot, and Barber and Sapp talk about tons of interesting stuff. Check it out!
May 22nd, 2026 at 11:55 pm
Football discussion about defense and “dawgs” is so outdated. Bain hits a QB, that’s going to be 15 yards. Every time until he tired of fines. It’s not the same game. This is a finesse league of overpaid delicate track stars.
May 23rd, 2026 at 12:42 am
I think the truth lies in the middle a bit.
I wouldn’t say it was abandoned. They weren’t gonna take a James Pearce in this draft.
Bain loves and is all about football but off the field isn’t squeaky clean so they weighed that then took the dawg they needed. (We hope)
May 23rd, 2026 at 3:19 am
Of course they abandoned it! Because, it was a frickin’ STUPID strategy, in the first place. This is THE NFL. Not fricken Sunday School.
May 23rd, 2026 at 4:35 am
It’s the AB rubber band effect. That freakshow, as great as he was, made them overcorrect.
May 23rd, 2026 at 6:51 am
View from 132, The Texans & Eagles strongly disagree with you!
May 23rd, 2026 at 6:55 am
We just need something between “nice guy” and dude who gets into gunfight in titty bar at 2am
May 23rd, 2026 at 7:08 am
Nothing has changed. From what I can tell from this class is they’re all nice team first guys. We still drafted a small school guy, Hurst. Only difference I see is they’re better players. Let’s not give Licht to much credit for drafting Bain, he tripped over him.
May 23rd, 2026 at 7:41 am
I understand it as Everything they look for in a player is the same, only they added that the player must also play with an edge as a visual attribute, especially a defensive player. The Bucs have said as much via public social media videos. I’m not sure what to make of that but that’s how I understand it. They sure seemed soft last year.
May 23rd, 2026 at 8:12 am
I’m happy JL did not go with the “they have potential” picks, like the predicted bust named Braswell. The best players don’t have the best 40 yd dash times, etc. Its like Bain and his short arms BS. Like an inch shorter on the arms is going to stop him from knocking someone out. Its so mind numbingly stupid. Potential is just that, potential. I tell my kids if someone ever tells you, “you have so much potential…”, take it as an insult that you are not putting the work in.
May 23rd, 2026 at 8:49 am
Lots of changes with the D starters with additions from Carolina and Detroit adding some talent and perhaps a game changer in Bain with 2 more potential starters drafted in the 2nd and 4th rounds. Lots of coaches were replaced as well except Tampa still has the same head coach and D; I guess we are going to find out if that was a mistake this coming season and Bowles looks like he is stuck between 8 and 10 wins a season; will the changes make the Bucs relevant again? I hope so but who would be surprised if Bowles starts 2-0 or 3-1 but then has a bad 4 game losing streak on either side of the bye and goes 1-2 or 0-3 in the primetime games????? that is what worries me.
May 23rd, 2026 at 8:56 am
Just so you know Joe it is T-O-E the line not T-O-W the line. Like Greg Schiano always said Toes on the line.
May 23rd, 2026 at 9:22 am
Yeah, it’s like moot point is correct but mute point isn’t.
May 23rd, 2026 at 9:50 am
Licht has made some great moves in free agency. That is his strong suit.
In the draft, he’s picked some good players, some mid players, and some terrible players.
I don’t consider him to be a top 10 GM.
He needs to get back to the SB without a QB named Tom Brady.
TB12 made a career of making sub standard coaches and players look great.
The same can’t be said about Licht. Fire Bowles and get a real HC and DC.
I’ll reevaluate him after that happens.
May 23rd, 2026 at 4:34 pm
Sapps Monster effort to against Green Bay allowed him to get in the head of Brett Farve……… I think Sapp is the only defensive player that actually got in the head of Brett Favre, which ultimately got in the head of every single quarterback, they faced………… so basically every game thereafter, every Bucs defensive player had a slight edge.
D White and McCoy never played hard and mean enough to get in the head of anybody……….. well take that back except themselves !!
Suh and Nickerson ,,,, Ya !! those are the players you want ,no ice cream trucks for them !!
May 23rd, 2026 at 5:41 pm
Hey Joe
It sounds like Jason Licht took a play outta the Jarrett comment section playbook on Joe Bucs fans dot com LOL
That nice guy stuff just doesn’t cut it in the NFL
Now go get some darn Free Agents
Stefon Diggs, Lattimore , Clowney, Bosa
But only get these players if you’re serious about going to the playoffs
HOW MANY TIMES I GOTTA SAY IT
DIGGS IS BETTER THAN ANY RECEIVER WE GOT
LATTIMORE IS BETTER THAN ANY CORNER WE GOT
BOSA AND CLOWNEY BETTER THAN ANY PASS RUSHER WE GOT
Todd Bowles be like “we like the guys we got” and “Our young guys need the reps”
MAN LISTEN. GO GET SOME SAVVY VETS AND WE CAN BE A REAL TEAM, A REAL THREAT
May 23rd, 2026 at 7:05 pm
Never understood the fan obsession of needing a roster full of sociopaths to be successful. The reality is that great teams are primarily filled with very talented, high socially intelligent and accountable guys.
May 24th, 2026 at 9:41 am
Licht himself acknowledged that by the free agents he signed. AshawnRobinson ain’t no choirboy !!
May 24th, 2026 at 6:01 pm
The Buccaneers / Licht draft picks since 2007 have the highest number of players who have or do start AND were or are on the 53 man roster of ANY NFL team. No other GM has had as much success in the talent of the player drafted and their continued carrer in the NFL. That statistic alone helps define the parameters Licht has used in his decision of drafting players and the draft moves that have made on draft day for over a decade. Whether or not Barber says Licht went outside the box on this draft doesn’t matter.. We didn’t draft a kicker.. lol.. and we didn’t draft a TE within the first two rounds. Besides Howie (Philly) and Lynch (SF), Licht has done the best job of acquiring talent within the draft.