Rondo Barber wasn’t big, but he was ahead of the pack.
Barber himself said: during his recent appearance Ali Meilov of the 33rd team nfl spotlight podcast.
The entire interview is worth watching, but what really caught my attention was how the now Hall of Fame cornerback talked about his NFL career and legacy.
Ronde Barber looks back on his NFL career, the ‘unachievable’ numbers he achieved
Legendary Bucks CB Rondo Barber – Photo by Cliff Welch/PR
241 games.
Total tackles: 1,251.
He had 47 interceptions.
28 bags.
Numbers don’t lie. In Rondo Barber’s case, the numbers have only gotten better over time. Bucks legend had plenty of time to reflect on himself “rare” Career and what he was able to accomplish. Barber is not only grateful to have been a Buccaneer all his life, but proud of what he did. – Even if he didn’t get the proper evaluation at the time.
“When I retired from the NFL after 2012, I — and most players would probably say this — I ended up taking inventory,” Barber said. “It can’t be helped. I was like, ‘Okay,’ and that chapter of my life was a big chapter for me because it was 16 years. When you start taking inventory, you start to wonder what it all means. Whenever you start looking at your numbers, a lot of people start saying you should be in the Hall of Fame. People were saying that before I retired, but after I’m done, all the stats and everything else finally starts to accumulate. I did it with some friends…we looked at it and said, “Nobody’s even come close to this number.”
Bucks Hall of Fame CB Rondo Barber and Hall of Famer John Lynch – Photo courtesy of USA Today
“I think I knew it at the time, but I didn’t really realize how unique it was. I think when people hear these numbers, they almost think that [impossible]. Especially when you look at the way some of the players that we consider the best in this business are playing right now, they’re never going to reach that number and it’s neither here nor there. . These numbers were unattainable and I don’t think I realized how good they were until the end, and I started taking inventory of what I had done. ”
The lack of attention Barber’s otherworldly play received continued to be a driving force for him in his post-playing career.
Barber added: “I’m glad it’s finally being recognized.” “If you ask me, it’s not that I don’t have confidence. I’ve said to people, ‘Yeah, yeah.’ I was probably better than anyone ever gave me a compliment Even when he made the Pro Bowl and All-Pro and led the league in interceptions. That’s what it was at the time, and that’s what drove me. That still drives me a little bit, I use that as a reason to say to people, “You don’t have to be the most popular guy to be considered one of the best,” and that drives me I think that defines it somewhat. “
People should not discount Tampa as a great soccer city
Former Bucks CB Rondo Barber – Photo by Cliff Welch/PR
Why didn’t Rondo Barber get the proper recognition for his play when he was on the soccer field?
Why did Barber have to wait for Hall of Famer Cole and a gold jacket?
As with other Bucs players, it comes from starring on a team that didn’t make the playoffs and gaining national attention to stay in the spotlight.
“Tampa is not like a small market,” Barber said. “I think Tampa is the 11th largest market in the country, at least from a television standpoint. There’s a lot of high-profile people in Tampa. Obviously, Tampa is very popular in the western part of the state. It’s a destination. I think some people just look down on Tampa and don’t think of it as one of the great football cities. I mean, there’s a lot of people around here who don’t think of Tampa as one of the great football cities. There are a lot of colleges that are interested. We’ve had two Super Bowl champions from Tampa. I don’t understand why people think this isn’t the case. [one] Among the league’s larger franchises.
“For me, I had some success early in my career, but after playing 16 years and not being a forever team after four or five years, I thought that was the middle of my career. We went six or seven years without making the playoffs, but I think it’s easy for people to forget what you accomplished because I accomplished so much in my first couple – maybe the second through five years. In my eyes, Tampa was kind of off the map after that.”
Bucs LB Labonte David – Photo: Cliff Welch/PR
If this sounds familiar, it’s because inside linebacker Lavonte David’s career unfolded similarly. David didn’t make the playoffs from 2012 to 2019, but during that time he was one of the best linebackers in the game. He has only been named to the Pro Bowl once, mostly because the teams around him were not up to par.
His name has only become more well-known in recent years, but even at age 34, his influence is still not being talked about enough, and probably won’t be until he retires. Ironically, David was Maylov’s first guest. nfl spotlightAnd understandably, he was furious about himself. “Underrated”
Barber was in the same position, but he can’t complain anymore.
“We weren’t a rotational quarterback, we weren’t very consistent,” Barber said of starring on lackluster Bucs teams in the mid-to-late 2000s. “The defense always felt good, but we never did anything special. I think you have to do something special and unique for people to really recognize you. In the media and in the national media. Without reporting, people don’t know about it.”
3 things that helped Rondo Barber remain one of the best cornerbacks of his time
How was Rondo Barber able to separate himself despite not being in the spotlight?
Barber boiled it down to a few things.
Former Bucks CB Rondo Barber – Photo by Cliff Welch/PR
“I’m telling you, I was on one of the three corners of this city.” [2000s] It’s an all-decade team with Charles Woodson and Champ Bailey,” Barber said. “There were a lot of good corners in my day, some of them were big flops and then faded away after big years. What separated me from them all was my consistency, longevity, and ability to stay injury free. [laughs]. I didn’t miss any games.
“There’s only one other player that could come close to this. In terms of the number of games played, that was Charles. We played for a long time and didn’t miss many games, so our stats That’s why it’s so similar.”For some reason, people didn’t want to admit that I had done it. It happened eventually, so I can’t complain now. ”
The 1997 third-round pick wouldn’t have wanted it any other way.
“I never wanted to leave,” Barber said of remaining with the Bucks until the end. “Tampa was right at home. Defense suited my personality, my playing personality. I have a lot of friends here in Tampa, in the football world, within the front office, and the owners are great friends as well. It was never an option.”
Rondo Barber overcame obstacles to make a name for himself and believed in Plan A throughout his journey.
“For me, it had to work out, so it was going to work out,” Barber said. “I am a man who has never thought of a plan B. I reject plan B. I still reject plan B. I am going to make A work until A is no longer available.”
It’s safe to say that everything went well.
