It was 1997, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers had completed one of the most successful seasons in their 20 year history, tying the franchise record for the 4th best record ever.
The Bucs went 6-10 that season. But when you are the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, your past dictates your future, and only a 5-4, 9-7 and 10-6 season surpassed Tony Dungy’s rookie campaign of 6-10. Besides, the Bucs at two separate junctures in the year were 0-6 and 1-8. To finish 6-10 was nothing short of miraculous, but the team, the fans, the media, all knew something was on the horizon.
The new coach, Tony Dungy was an assistant for the Minnesota Vikings well known for creating good defenses, and the Bucs were blossoming. The team was getting ready for the 1997 draft with some needs, mostly a running back to replace Errict Rhett whose hold out left a bad taste with the Bucs. Mike Alstott was drafted the year before, and led the team with receptions, but he was a fullback.
Bucs general Manager Rich McKay started off the big day looking for a speedy back. The ACC had two good ones, and you had the opportunity to watch the 1996 Virginia vs Florida State game, they were both shining on the stage that day. Tiki Barber was available, but so was Warrick Dunn. The Bucs choose Dunn in the first round, then took Barber in the third.
But not Tiki, The Bucs got their running back, they went with Tiki’s identical twin Brother Ronde, who played corner for the Cavaliers. He would not start his rookie year, he was too green, but Dungy and Bucs DC Monte Kiffin saw enough of him that he had a better shot in 1998 and when Bucs corners got injured that season, Barber took the opportunity and ran with it.
He is still running; Barber is now in his 15th season with the team, and he is not missing a beat.
To be sure, both Barbers have been successful on the field; Barber has more defensive TDs than anyone not named Darren Sharper. He is part of the 25 sack 40 interception club. He has returned a blocked punt, interception and put for a touchdown in his career. He is the model of consistency, and he is not only headed to the Hall of Fame, part of him is already there; his jersey and gloves from the 21-0 win over San Francisco in 2010 when he got the 25/40 were taken immediately to Canton.
Tiki also had great on-field success; he is the NY Giants rushing leader. That is no small accomplishment for such a storied franchise. He didn’t set the league on fire, like his twin brother he gradually took to the position. By 1999 he had over 1600 all purpose yards, and that number just got higher over time. In 2005 Barber broke the Giants single game rushing record by running for 220 yards against the KC Chiefs, a mark still held by Barber.
But unlike Ronde, Tiki cut short his career on his own accord, retiring from football at the end of the 2006 season, and it wasn’t a quiet retirement. Ronde, who is seldom ever quoted or outspoken, is different in that regard from his brother. Tiki became an employee of NBC, went on the offensive almost from the get-go. He criticized Giants QB Eli Manning for his presume speeches he said were almost comical. He laid into his former coach Tom Coughlin who helped him end his fumbling problem that plagued Barber earlier in his career. These criticisms backfired though as the Giants won the Super Bowl, one year after Tiki left the team.
While Ronde continued to play at a high level for the Buccaneers, Tiki made matters worse for himself. He left his wife while she was 8 months pregnant for an employee at NBC. While that was bad enough, a clause in his contract cost him his job with the network for causing a public scandal with a fellow employee. Barber claims he is now broke, and has filed papers to end his retirement.
The Question is, who will hire him? He three his defensive teammate, QB, and Head Coach under the bus. Surely he will be looked at as a potential cancer in the locker room. Rumors of his landing with the Bucs were squashed by team officials, and former Giant Michael Stahan and former Buc Warren Sapp both publicly came out saying they felt his return was a bad move for the beleaguered running back.
Where they end up in the future no one knows for sure, but one thing is certain; Rich McKay and the Bucs organization picked the right Barber when they were drafting back in 1997.
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
