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. 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)