Ronde Barber stands the test of time

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7j257XD-9Y&w=520&h=390]
Hardy Nickerson was first, not brought back after the 1999 season as he was getting up in age, and Jamie Duncan had performed admirably when Hardy was out at the end of ’98. Warren Sapp had his contract run out, and was not offered a new one. Well, he was, but not by the Bucs. He ended up being signed by the Oakland Raiders. John Lynch offered to take a pay cut, anything to stay in Tampa Bay, but the Bucs felt his repaired shoulder could not stand the NFL any longer. Tony Dungy, Lovie Smith, and Herm Edwards also passed on Lynch before the Denver Broncos took a chance on him in what would become another 4 seasons of pro bowl level play. Simeon Rice was having dinner with fellow Bucs who also reported on first day of training camp, when he was asked to take his playbook to go see Bruce Allen who relayed the message take a pay cut or take a plain old CUT. Rice took the latter.

Mike Alstott was getting ready for his 12th season when a stinger in his neck became more serious when observed. Alstott decided to hang up his cleats rather than risk permanent injury. He watched the rest of the 2007 season on the Bucs sideline, his last as a Buc! We all remember what happened to Derrick Brooks, perhaps the best Buc of them all, was let go as part of the purge that began the youth movement under Raheem Morris and Mark Dominik. And so should Ronde Barber return to the Bucs next year, which is what is looking like is going to happen, he will be playing in not only his 15th NFL season, but standing the test of time as the ONLY Tampa Bay Buccaneer SuperBowl hero to go out on his own terms. Barber will recall a time when he didn’t even think he would make the team. He was not doing so well in his rookie year 1997, and the Bucs had veteran Corners around him. But Barber fought through it, and in 1998 injuries to Donnie Abraham and Anthony Parker have Barber the playing time he so craved. Going up against his twin brother’s team in 1998 week 5, Barber got his first interception. If we only knew back then what we know now, how many interceptions and how many sacks this sure tackling corner would count for the Buccaneers. So go ahead and take another look at the “Bookends” video for the sheer effect! Not only has Barber outlasted all the other Bucs, he as outlasted his own twin brother who came into the league at the same time. Their last game together was the Bucs @ NY Giants game of 2006 when the huge wind storm made passing a complete joke. Jon Gruden didn’t think so and ordered rookie QB Bruce Gradkowski to wing it around the meadowlands. Barber didn’t have the opportunity to get as many picks, but he did get to make some nice tackles on his brother. Probably the most famous meeting of the two twins however was the Monday Night event in 2003, made more famous by the benching for the year of WR Keyshawn Johnson, which got more air time talk than the Barbers. In this video, you’ll see the most unique Monday Night Football introduction, which continues into the talk about the game situation and whats going on with the Bucs/Giants situations.

Of course, no Ronde Barber video presentation or story is complete without the most famous moment of Barbers history. Anyone who is a Bucs fan for more than a decade remembers exactly what they were thinking when they either heard the now famous play of Ronde stepping in front of a Donovan McNabb pass and returning it for the touchdown that guaranteed the Bucs were going to the Super Bowl.

And on that note, congrats Barber for doing it your way, and here’s to a very successful 2011 NFL Season and Beyond!