Rondé Barber Says The Quiet Part Out Loud
August 15th, 2026
Kept it real about corners.
Occasionally, Bucs legend Rondé Barber, when working behind a WFLA-TV Channel 8 microphone during a Bucs preseason telecast, will speak the ugly truth, even if it may make the folks who work inside the walls of One Buc Palace squirm in their seats.
Joe doesn’t think there is any doubt the Bucs lack depth at cornerback. With bored Zyon McCollum dealing with a groin and Benjamin Morrison being perpetually hurt, the Bucs have no depth at corner right now.
And it’s not just Joe saying that. So too did Barber.
In the first quarter, with Jets rookie backup QB Cade Klubnik moving the ball on the Bucs defense, which at the time was peppered with NFL temp workers, Barber had a blunt assessment of the cornerback situation.
“When it comes to cornerback depth, Barber said, the Bucs “Don’t have much of anything.”
Right now your best cornerback was a nickel corner last year as a rookie. He has just a few games of experience outside corner in the regular season.
Sure, the Bucs got a couple of picks in the second quarter last night. That was great to see. But let’s be real: Jets No. 3 quarterback Baily Zappe is a far, far, far cry from Joe Burrow.
The depth is so poor at corner — well, there is no depth — Joe thinks the likelihood of a Vita Vea trade early next month becomes more likely as he ought to be able to bring a corner in return.
The thinner-than-thin cornerback roster of the Bucs may just doom this team.
August 15th, 2026 at 8:06 am
To bad the bust Morrison has to make the team. If he can’t suit up this camp, and preseason cut him, and put him on the PS. No one will sign him off it, and if they do, so what. I like Garnes, but the Bucs need to move on from the hope of Morrison, and get a real corner.
August 15th, 2026 at 8:18 am
The Bucs lack of urgency at CB position is concerning. Can some explain?
August 15th, 2026 at 8:18 am
Agree with your thoughts about the Vea trade Joe. Given the quality of Vea, a true impact player, one would hope to get an “impact” not just capable Corner.
But then I don’t really know the market that well.
August 15th, 2026 at 8:18 am
Someone
August 15th, 2026 at 8:21 am
Get the trade done now. Yes, there are good reasons to wait or explanations why it probably won’t happen sooner. But all of that is a really big gamble. The “ass vibe” is here now, and the DB’s are not.
August 15th, 2026 at 8:22 am
I don’t understand how Licht can let this position be so thin at Depth. It seems we draft 2 corners every year so we are either picking bad players or Bowles is too complicated in his system and players can’t grasp. It makes no sense coming
out of the end of last year with FA, the draft that we do not have enough depth. And no trading our best d lineman for a shot at maybe a good corner is not the answer. Creating less depth in one area to address another is stupid. Licht and his staff need to find some depth when final cuts come. Licht needs to get his ass working. He has good players leaving or wanting to leave… he’s sitting on his hands knowing players (starting good) are unhappy with their contracts and we have depth concerns at a position that seems to always have depth issues. Maybe Licht knows he and Bowles are done after this year. Makes no sense other teams are trying to upgrade and we sit and do nothing. Wake up Licht and go to fn work already . He goes on vacation after the draft and doesn’t wake up till the season is over .
August 15th, 2026 at 8:24 am
Hey. Who drafted these corners? Who let corners leave? Who overpays multiple corners? Who you ask?
Jason Licht
And his merry men of losers.
No accountability. Keep drafting trash and add the accelerant of Bowles coaching and scheme (lack thereof) and you have the classic dumpster fire that is the Bucs
August 15th, 2026 at 8:36 am
Licht doesn’t have Brady’s or Evans balls to swing from anymore
August 15th, 2026 at 8:38 am
Joe, I have been speaking of this early and often. Yes, our best CB , Parrish is only in his second year. This is his first year as an outside CB. Morrison again unforunately is proving he can’t stay healthy even when there is no contact. McColumn, was maybe the worst cb in the league last year, yet was given the starting job like he was incredible last year. Then as mentioned, we have no , noooo depth. it is hard to believe but Garnes maybe the best cb besides Parrish. I don’t understand, can somebody ask Bowles and Licht exactly what they are thinking with the cb position?. Yes it was nice to hear Barber bring it up besides you guys, me and other fans. It is hard to believe that Licht and Bowles would go into a season in a passing league with the cb’s we have or lack of cb’s we have on this roster.
I am beginning to hope Garnes starts opening day!!
I really don’t understand
August 15th, 2026 at 8:42 am
I’ve been saying it since May!
Scott is not an outside CB. He’s a safety/nickle/moneybacker.
Josh Hayes is a #7 CB and gunner. He’s not an outside CB.
So we had
1. Zion
2. Parrish
3. Twinkle Toes Morrison
4. UDFA
5. UDFA
6. UDFA
7. Hayes
Do you guys really think Cade Otton at 10 million per year was a better choice than Jamel Dean at 10 million per year?
After QB, CB is the hardest and most important position in football!
And for 10 years, I’ve seen us lack depth at CB and constantly have hurt corners!
Have we learned nothing?
What’s Einsteins definition of insanity? To repeat the same thing and expect different results!
1. We should have signed Dean and not Otton.
2. We never should have traded Carlton Davis. He played hard. Tackles hard. And is still an elite CB in the NFL.
3. We should have drafted a CB not Braswell in the 2nd.
4. MJ Stewart is still a nasty special teamer. He never should have been cut.
I said last year. I want 7 fast and feisty corners on this roster at all times.
Now we have 1! Only Parrish. Zion is not feisty. Morrison is a pretty boy, rich boy. Not feisty at all.
Zion was a great pick in the 5th round. He’s a solid #2 CB. But we overpaid for him.
Ayden Garnes is our new Zion. A very fast and athletic CB. And he was a great UDFA signing. He had top 5 CB speed according to his pro day.
I am happy with Ayden Garnes as our #6 CB.
But we are still lacking à true #4 and #5 CB.
August 15th, 2026 at 8:45 am
Vea is not going to bring a CB here.
That’s shortsighted thinking.
This team is mediocre. There is no quick fix.
August 15th, 2026 at 8:48 am
The Bucs really only have one decent CB on the roster, Parrish. The Malingering Brothers aren’t very good when healthy, which is hardy ever. Maybe that’ll be Todd Bowles excuse this year of why he should keep his job again even though his defense is a failure, but in reality a major part of the problem is simply that Bowles is a terrible coach.
August 15th, 2026 at 8:49 am
We can have an all pro at corner but when he lets the coverage roll over they just hit the gap.
Bowles is a joke
August 15th, 2026 at 8:52 am
Teacherman Says: So we had
1. Zion
2. Parrish
3. Twinkle Toes Morrison
4. UDFA
5. UDFA
6. UDFA
7. Hayes
Don’t forge we draft Keionte Scott this year who will make a great slot CB
August 15th, 2026 at 8:53 am
It is not CB depth. It is CB starters that are a concern. LB & OL depth are a concern. But the most disappointing part of the Jets game was the Special Teams. That is one area I thought the Bucs would improve on since the bar was pretty low to start with. But we saw the worse case, the bar got lowered.
August 15th, 2026 at 9:03 am
The Bucs D looked like nothing has changed last night except for the interceptions. Some of the guys fighting for the bottom roster spots did impress me.
August 15th, 2026 at 9:08 am
If the Bucs did not draft Bauer Sharp (who was a luxury pick and very well could have been an UDFA because he was the 28th out of 34 ranked TEs), Licht could have drafted 2 CBs (remember he wasted the 7th to trade up for Bauer). Here are the names of CB drafted after the Bauer pick.
RD 6 – Domani Jackson
RD 7 – TJ Hall
Toriano Pride Jr.
Andre Fuller
Michael Dansby
Not saying these guys would have been starters but at least they would try and be healthy.
August 15th, 2026 at 9:38 am
If Jets corner La Bamba ends up on practice squad then Licht needs to move on that
August 15th, 2026 at 9:40 am
Before you all run Licht out of town…. He has built:
1. A top 5 offensive line
2. Maybe the deepest receiver room in the NFL
3. A very deep running back stable
4. A top 2nd tier QB off the trash heap
5, Seems to (jury is still out) have brought in more depth and toughness to the interior DL
6, Hopefully improved the pass rush with Bain, Muhammed, Walker, Kancey (if healthy). I think we’d all like to see what Yaya will do with a pass rusher on the other end before we discard him
7. Terrific safety play for the most part in Winfield and Smith
8. Fantastic kicker; solid punter
Has he missed on CB? Absolutely. All I’m saying is that if you compare him to most GM’s around the league, this team can do MUCH worse. Atlanta and New Orleans are TRAINWRECKS organizationally for starters
August 15th, 2026 at 9:41 am
Who drafts the players?
August 15th, 2026 at 9:45 am
And a head coach (IMO) that runs a WAY too complicated defense for young players to play fast.
History will tell you that if the pass rush goes from horrible to above average, the CB play should be much less of an issue. It’s way easier to defend a WR for 2.5 seconds as opposed to 5 or 6.
August 15th, 2026 at 9:51 am
Licht and this entire staff should be unemployed come January. I’m always intrigued by players, who the Bucs passed on in the draft or players in free agency who passed on the Bucs, succeed. Granted there are many variables at play (scheme, cap, ego, etc.) that influence that success, but it makes one realize, outside of TB12 coming to town 6 years ago and that run they had for two years, it was crap before and it’s been crap since. That falls on the shoulders of Mr. AC/DC, Mr. Kit Kat, and the Glazer noobs who lack the stones to do what their father did to Father Dungy 25 years ago.
August 15th, 2026 at 9:56 am
I think our CB depth is pretty good actually. McCollum, Parrish, Morrison, Scott and Garnes are all potentially very good players, if healthy. It’s hard to have deptch at CB in the NFL. Even so, I would not be opposed to a veteran corner signing once final cuts happen around the NFL.
August 15th, 2026 at 9:59 am
I can already see Week 1 will test my sobriety!
August 15th, 2026 at 10:05 am
All you “in retrospect” GM’s, repeat this loud and often:
I we Todd did
Sofa king
We Todd did
Anybody can say what should have been done after the events have played out.
When you have a problem, you seek efforts to fix it. Dwelling on the unchangeable cause of the problem does nothing to repair the issue at hand.
We have Morrison and Braswell. What can be don’t to make those situations better? Shedding tears over the picks is a waste of energy.
August 15th, 2026 at 10:07 am
I just don’t understand
Terrion Arnold literally was sitting right there for pennies on the dollar and Jason Light still doesn’t sign him
Everything we needed, former first round pick, probably would’ve been our CB1
And Jason Light sits there and acts like he’s never heard of him or something
Do you want to win???
Or do you want to DRAFT
I’ll even go back to our Super Bowl winning year , they say tom Brady had to convince Jason Light to go sign AB… like yo Jason turn on the film… it’s frickin AB for Christ sake. How much convincing do you possibly need? It’s A.B. !!!!
Why do you need convincing to go sign a great player???
Diggs doesn’t sign him, Arnold doesn’t sign him, Clowney doesn’t sign him
VERY FRUSTRATING
“Our Young Guys need the reps” “We like the guys we got”
August 15th, 2026 at 10:08 am
Teacherman – that is a fantastic question. Spot on. Paying Otton who is the very definition of average (or below average since he isn’t really a top 20 TE) is pretty incredible when an upper tier corner could’ve been had at the same price. Cade Otton is far more easily replaceable. Sure would be nice to have Carlton Davis and Dean as starting corners right about now
August 15th, 2026 at 10:09 am
“Hey what’s up
It’s Jason Light, GM of the Bucs.
We finna waste a second round pick on you right here. You’re gonna be a Buc”
August 15th, 2026 at 10:10 am
Does it have anything to do with the corners consistently playing 8-12 yards off the LOS? I’d like to know Barbers take on that or is it just because they lack the talent to play
August 15th, 2026 at 10:21 am
Gaynes is good in coverage. He is horrible against the run and tackling. He missed two last night. If he is starting we are in trouble. And as for go get Arnold and or washed up names that have been available all year there’s a reason there not on a team. You guys just hear dogs and think of 11 interceptions 5 years ago. Not 2 knee surgeries on the same knee that Green Bay just cut in the middle of the season. Teams don’t just cut good players. Arnold was a first round pick who wasn’t that good yet as a corner. You really are wanting a guy that is facing life in prison on your team that as soon as you sign him he is going on the exempt list and can’t play but still gets paid. Not to mention the crimes happened right here in our area just a bad situation. Do you think the lions really would have cut him if he was an all pro talent.
August 15th, 2026 at 10:29 am
Trade Vita and we won’t need any corners because they are going to run the ball down our throats like they did last night. We were SUS in the run game WITH Vita last year. We don’t get better by Trading Vea.
August 15th, 2026 at 10:37 am
Bright Licht not looking great under this spotlight. Played games with Dean to save some shekels but voided what would have been this year’s final one under contract. Who did those savings go towards? Staying on his 2nd round heater…picks Benji Morrison with a messy CarFax report from college. But probably his biggest whiff was early extending of Zyon…causing him boredom and disinterest.
August 15th, 2026 at 10:37 am
If the Bucs trade Vea, Bain will get double teamed so even with another corner, the opponent’s QB will have all day, just like last year… back to square one
August 15th, 2026 at 10:40 am
Mike … ‘I think our CB depth is pretty good actually. McCollum, Parrish, Morrison, Scott and Garnes are all potentially very good players, if healthy.’
When I first read your first line (above), I smiled. You’re 100% correct … as DEPTH players, Bucs aren’t all that bad off. But that’s as DEPTH; we’re lacking EXPERIENCED OUTSIDE CB STARTERS.
I feel somewhat comfortable with Parrish starting outside (he didn’t really get all that many snaps outside last season as I recall) so he lacks experience. But he’s got a ton of talent, and he’ll learn fast I’m sure. I feel comfortable with Scott starting at Nickel (which Bowles uses over 60% of the time as I recall). He’s also got a ton of talent, and that seems to be his most natural position.
But that still leaves us 1 starting outside corner short. And we all know that opposing OCs will eat him alive if he’s viewed as ‘the weak link’. Bucs need to sign a veteran starter-capable outside corner in the very near future.
August 15th, 2026 at 10:42 am
Put Ronde in a role similar to Matt Ryan’s with the Falcons. He knows ball and truly wants the Bucs to be great.
August 15th, 2026 at 10:54 am
Hope for the best and prepare for the worst.
August 15th, 2026 at 10:57 am
This situation plus the contract squabbles really feels like the Bowles retention explained: Players don’t quit, teams do. It’s QQQ – quiet quit for a quarterback in next year’s rich draft.
August 15th, 2026 at 11:00 am
Right on Rondé. Nothing cuts through the BS like some cold hard truth.
Unfortunately there are no consequences for ineptitude in Tampa.
It is celebrated and extended indefinitely.
August 15th, 2026 at 11:04 am
Licht is the problem. Just keeps getting a pass like Bowles. Nothing will change here until both are shown the door.
August 15th, 2026 at 11:16 am
They should have never let it get to this point. None of those CB are stopping any elite WR. Chase going to have a field day week 1. Bowles and his crap defense is doomed before the season even begins. Chance to make money though just bet the over on every opponent WR yards this year.
August 15th, 2026 at 11:26 am
“The thinner-than-thin cornerback roster of the Bucs may just doom this team.“
This falls squarely on “ROH” GM. That and Kit Kats penchant for nepotism. Both have to go if this franchise is ever going to be anything but a middling money printing endeavor for the Glazers.
August 15th, 2026 at 11:27 am
Licht has been sitting on his butt all preseason on this. If Zyon or Parrish are hurt it will be the downfall of this team
August 15th, 2026 at 11:48 am
Hodad Says:
August 15th, 2026 at 8:06 am
To bad the bust Morrison has to make the team. If he can’t suit up this camp, and preseason cut him, and put him on the PS.
———-
This is the same type of person that would have been calling Ronder a bust and demanding he was cut from the team after his rookie year where he only played 1 game.
Calm down dramaqueen.
August 15th, 2026 at 11:53 am
Licht seems like he’s a made man with the Glazer Group.
Ronde for Team President…let him give an honest assessment from his Hall of Fame lens/experience.
August 15th, 2026 at 12:15 pm
It’s a wrap, seasons over. Back the truck up.
August 15th, 2026 at 12:17 pm
We better hope our D linemen are a bunch of crazed dawgs going after the QB this year. If not it will probably be just like it always has been, a track meet. Our offense will have to outscore the other teams offense to win games. The defensive backfield may be a sieve just like every other year. Hopefully Licht can pick up a decent cornerback after cutdowns by other teams. Of course we wouldn’t get a quality starter just another backup, unless we trade for a starter.
August 15th, 2026 at 12:28 pm
Every season this team elects to be negligent at a key position. Last year was OL depth and MLB and this year it’s CB. Same as it ever was.
August 15th, 2026 at 12:42 pm
Why would any contender trading for Vea give up a starting caliber CB?
Vea is going for picks and maybe a developmental CB that was recently drafted.
No one has enough CB depth around the league to be shipping high end ones off.
August 15th, 2026 at 12:47 pm
The rush is going to have to stabilize the secondary
August 15th, 2026 at 12:51 pm
Still don’t understand why Bowles and Licht have refused to address the CB situation. They ran Dean and Carlton off because they were injury prone and now we have two hot tub clowns who flat out suck. Looks like at some point this season guys will be called off of the practice team to start at CB. Groundhog day at OBP.
August 15th, 2026 at 12:52 pm
It doesnt necessarily need a “high end” CB. We could use a decent starter w experience.
Vita brings a lot of value to a team that is a big NT away. A team like Buffalo comes to mind. Teams like Dallas, Seattle and Baltimore who have stacked CB rooms but could use Vita come to mind.
Probably won’t happen and we will have to trade him for 2nd or 3rd rounder.
I just dont see JL caving with other bigger needs coming like Baker, Mauch, YaYa.
Vita has 1-2 good years left.
August 15th, 2026 at 1:25 pm
So this year we’re picking jabs at corner depth? Are we happy and content with the edge rushers now? I still haven’t seen enough to make me a believer when it counts, aka the regular season. So Steve & Lee, please keep your foot on the pedal about that. Don’t let a few good training camp reports make us forget what we’ve seen the last couple of years.
Also, we have a new offensive coordinator, and this time last year we had a ton of content about the young OC: reps, play calling, chemistry with Bowles, how the offense looked, etc. As soon as we got Zac, it’s like we just let an experienced guy take over and there’s nothing to talk about. That first drive had to be scripted all week long, and it was horrible. Is that how we’re going to open the season? I need more conversation and critique about what we’re seeing from Zac and this offense.
Special teams looked awful last night, yet we have an old guy with young energy running it. Where is the critique on that? If we’re going to pick apart the corners, special teams definitely deserves some attention too.
And Hurst was supposed to be one of the stars of training camp. Besides the several targets and the end zone catch that was broken up, I didn’t see much. I want him criticized as well. If we’re going to hype guys up when they’re dominating camp, we have to talk about it when that isn’t translating to the games.
August 15th, 2026 at 1:29 pm
Wait until cuts begin. There will be vet DBs available for the Bucs.
August 15th, 2026 at 1:48 pm
I’m so sick of hearing about the cornerback position. Get over it. It is what it is. There is no magic bullet. There are no Pro Bowlers just sitting on the sideline. NOBODY is releasing any STUDS before the start of the season. Neither is a legit “Contender” trading away THEIRS for Vea. The reality is we have miserably mismanaged our salary cap, AND our overall scouting, drafting, AND coaching philosophy… Also, great corners do not grow on trees. We are where we are. MOVE ON. There’s no reason to beat it into the ground all day everyday, from now until the end of the season. It’s Over. DONE.
August 15th, 2026 at 1:56 pm
There’s no reason to even worry about right now. It is what it is. Until, we are 5-1 or 5-2 and creeping up onto the trade deadline, then just FORGET IT. Good God. Now, is not the time. It’s too late in the game. Better just be thinking of other ways to compensate for it… Like, by protecting the ball and SCORING MORE POINTS. Actual Touchdowns, OVER FG’s. And, creating turnovers. RedZone Offense & Defense. The “Middle-8” of ballgames. You go to war with what YOU’VE GOT.
August 15th, 2026 at 2:01 pm
Outside of maybe, just a couple of teams… EVERYBODY ELSE, has weaknesses and glaring HOLES somewhere in their armor. It’s a Salary Cap LEAGUE. There are NO excuses. We’re NOT getting at 2-6 and saying, “well, if not for our corners, then Baker wouldn’t be forced to have to try so hard,” & bla, bla, frickin BLAH.
August 15th, 2026 at 2:07 pm
I feel better about the cornerback depth now than I did at the start of camp. Zion has really impressed me this camp. Parrish looks even better on the outside compared to last year. It seems like they made a great choice with A. Garners in the undrafted free agent pick. Paroidie adds experience in T. Bowles’ defense at outside cornerback, plus he can play special teams and has good size. B-Mo is also getting healthy and will have a few weeks to practice and get game reps before the season starts. No doubt, cornerback depth is their weakest spot, but it’s not as bad as some fans think. Every team has a position that needs improvement.
August 15th, 2026 at 2:44 pm
Both Garnes and Williams looked good and could find a roster spot. Surprised JBF hasnt mentioned them more prior to this – according to other outlets they’ve had solid camps.
Pyburn (who the hell) looked like a man possessed for a few snaps. Quite the contrast in energy between Pyburn and our other OLBs. Never heard his name before last night.
2 picks/4 sacks for the 2nd/3rd string D – not bad.
Going to be doubly important that the pass rush is consistently effective to help protect our back end
August 15th, 2026 at 2:47 pm
@ Saskbucs – Ding-Ding-Ding-DING. 💯 They Wouldn’t.
August 15th, 2026 at 2:55 pm
Starters not that good either
August 15th, 2026 at 3:52 pm
Hopefully the corners will benefit from the additional pressure on the edge !!
Go Bucs
August 15th, 2026 at 4:32 pm
I just don’t understand
Terrion Arnold literally was sitting right there for pennies on the dollar and Jason Light still doesn’t sign him
Everything we needed, former first round pick, probably would’ve been our CB1
And Jason Light sits there and acts like he’s never heard of him or something
=====================================
He’s so great that the Lions didn’t want to keep him! Why do we need Diggs when we have Godwin? Clowney is washed up….why do we want those types of players?
August 15th, 2026 at 4:41 pm
Bowles is the best at getting the most out of the lesser knowns. This isn’t an issue. Last night, perfect example. Big win!
August 15th, 2026 at 6:03 pm
Get we had Carlton Davis, Jamel Dean, Itzien. All three are pretty good.
We just picked the wrong guys to go with.
I think Parrish looks promising.
August 15th, 2026 at 7:01 pm
David Says:
August 15th, 2026 at 4:32 pm
I just don’t understand
Terrion Arnold literally was sitting right there for pennies on the dollar and Jason Light still doesn’t sign him
————
I think the whole situation where he had a guy kidnapped and beaten – and the fact he’s facing a lifetime in jail – and it happening locally, probably made it not the no-brainer you seem to think it is.
With that said, so long as the guy who ripped off Arnold actually did steal hundreds of thousands of dollars from him, I think a solid pistol whipping really isn’t that big of a deal, and if I was on that jury – and the guy really ripped him off – I’m not finding him guilty of anything… well anything other than being a silly goose.
However the justice system doesn’t work that way, and neither does the NFL. The Seahawks just won the SB, so they can just take a flier on the guy and hope the case gets dropped or something – but they’re not actually planning on him being a key part of their team, much like the Bucs just took a chance on Antonio Brown and just hoped he didn’t implode before they won a SB. Teams like that can take those chances. Teams like this Bucs team don’t have that chance – and the fact this happened locally doesn’t help either.
August 15th, 2026 at 7:49 pm
Nobody is trading a starting caliber corner before the season starts. Thats a pipe dream.
This is just another occasion of Bowles telling the front office that he can manage without a good secondary by letting teams sprint up and down the field between the 20’s and him thinking he can hold up in the redzone.
Pass rushers will be gassed by the midway point of the 2nd and 4th quarters and opposing offensive will be playing pitch and catch during the 2-minute drill, as usual. Mark it down.
August 15th, 2026 at 9:18 pm
Yo Rob in land o lakes- no players/excec, media poll have the Bucs O line or receivers in the top ten. It’s good you’re fired up but they’re average and yes the defense will suck. O line can run block, but absolutely suck at pass blocking
August 15th, 2026 at 10:58 pm
Who needs a cb when Bowles will have Bain dropping into coverage. Our coach is a genius. Just watch. I bet hold the Bengals to less than 50 points in week one