Tag: Tiki Barber

Ex-Giants Michael Strahan, Tiki Barber join All In Challenge

Retired New York Giants legends, Michael Strahan and Tiki Barber, have officially joined the All In Challenge.

On Tuesday, several current and former members of the New York Giants joined the “All In Challenge,” which was set up by Fanatics founder Michael Rubin to help provide food for children, the elderly and frontline workers during the coronavirus pandemic.

Retired Giants quarterback Eli Manning offered up a package including his Super Bowl XLVI MVP Corvette, running back Saquon Barkley offered up a gameday experience and private workout, while quarterback Daniel Jones, on behalf of the organization, offered an exclusive VIP gameday experience at MetLife Stadium.

Now, even more former Giants are stepping up, including retired running back Tiki Barber.

Acknowledging he doesn’t have anything flashy to offer up, Barber got creative and will be auctioning off a three-hour radio and television spot where the winner can join him in studio and discuss whatever it is their heart desires in front of a national audience.

Barber then challenged Giants legend and Pro Football Hall of Famer, Michael Strahan, who was also challenged by the Giants and Jones.

Unsurprisingly, Strahan stepped up to the plate in a big way.

Out of the gate, Strahan offered up a “Good Morning America” package, which includes a live in-studio concert from the artist of the winner’s choice.

Additionally, Strahan is offering the winner a custom suit designed by his personal tailor and a bunch of athleisure wear provided by his clothing line, as well as a private lunch with the man himself.

But wait, there’s more…

The winner will also get to hang out with Strahan in his mancave, cruise around in some of the vehicles from his extensive collection and then go to a taping of the $100,000 Pyramid as a VIP. And as if that’s not enough, Strahan is offering the winner a walk-on/background role in one of the TV shows he is currently producing through SMAC Entertainment.

If you’d like to donate, bid or enter for a chance to win some of these amazing prizes and more, check out the All In Challenge website.

Ronde, Tiki Barber remain hopeful one gets a call to Canton

Retired New York Giants RB Tiki Barber and Tampa Bay Buccaneers DB Ronde Barber remain hopeful that one gets a Hall of Fame call.

Since the NFL was founded in 1920, no two brothers have ever been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. One pair of brothers, Ronde and Tiki Barber, are probably the only ones that come to mind as possibilities.

Only issue is, neither of these identical twins have been inducted as of yet, so the odds of them both getting in at this point are getting slimmer.

Ronde, a cornerback, was a third-round pick by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 1997 NFL Draft out of Virginia and played 16 seasons there, playing in a franchise record 241 games. In his career, Ronde picked off 47 passes with eight touchdowns. He was named a five-time All-Pro and was a key contributor on the Bucs’ Super Bowl XXXVII championship team.

Tiki was the New York Giants’ second-round selection in the 1997 NFL Draft, also out of Virginia. He had a slow start to his career with fumbling issues until Tom Coughlin took over as the head coach in 2004.

Tiki’s career took off for the next three seasons until he abruptly retired after the 2006 season, finishing with 15,632 total yards from scrimmage, the 15th-most in NFL History. Of the top 19 players on that list, Barber is the only retired player not in the Hall of Fame.

Tiki recently spoke about his brother’s career, which should eventually get him into Canton.

“It’s not even a conversation because of the durability and uniqueness of his role,” Tiki told the Roanoke Times of Ronde. “The fact that some of these guys are getting in is laughable to me. When [Ronde] started playing in that Tampa -2 defense, which put a huge emphasis on the slot cornerback, that third cornerback became invaluable. There were seasons when Ronde had 100 tackles. He had — what? — 28 sacks in his career. He was asked to do so much. Now, if you look at that position, it’s one of the most valuable.”

As for Tiki himself, he falls a bit short statistically even though he is only one of three player to rush for 10,000 yards and receive for another 5,000. Hall of Famers Marshall Faulk and Marcus Allen are the others.

Tiki has another issue. Many feel he left the game too early. He was at the top of his game when he packed it in. The next season, the Giants won the Super Bowl without him.

“I was getting crap beat out of me,” he said. “The running back position hadn’t evolved into what it is now. I was getting 400 touches a season and getting all beat up. I didn’t want to get crippled. I was durable, but I wasn’t a big guy.”

Getting into the Hall of Fame is like any other subjective exercise or campaign. You need more than career stats sometimes. You need a championship. Tiki doesn’t have too many of those.

Even though he was one of the greatest players in New York Giants history, Barber’s relationship with the team has been rocky at times thanks to some very public criticisms of Coughlin and quarterback Eli Manning.

“It’s all about someone creating a narrative for you,” Tiki said, “And, if they create one against you, then you aren’t going to get in. It’s kind of crazy.”

Tiki hasn’t even been named a finalist for the Hall. As each year passes, the odds are mounting against him. It looks like the Barbers won’t be the first pair of brothers in Canton.

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Tiki Barber: Mike Vrabel conversations with Tom Brady is ‘tampering’

Retired New York Giants RB Tiki Barber believes the conversations between Tennessee Titans coach Mike Vrabel and QB Tom Brady are tampering.

Former New York Giants great and current CBS Sports Radio host, Tiki Barber, is speaking out about the contact Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel had with New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, who is scheduled to be a free agent next week.

“It is tampering,” Barber said on the Tiki & Tierney program. “Of course it is. They have a relationship. This is the point of the rule.”

Teams and their representatives are forbidden to reach out players before March 16, the beginning of the 48-hour “legal tampering” period leading up to free agency, which begins March 18 at 4:00 p.m. ET.

“Prior to three months ago, when he was under contract and playing for the New England Patriots and we had no idea – or even questioned – where he was going to play, they could have a text conversation or a phone conversation or a video chat or whatever the heck they want to do,” Barber said. “Now that we are on the precipice of free agency and Mike Vrabel is the head coach and Tom Brady is a soon-to-be free agent, this is tampering. This is what it was created for – to break up relationships that give certain teams an unfair advantage when it comes to free agency. Because you could easily – just like in the NBA – have these conversations.”

Barber went on to say that he really didn’t care since “until you’re basically working out a deal while having a friendly conversation.”

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Tiki Barber accuses Titans’ Mike Vrabel of tampering with Tom Brady

Tiki Barber thinks the FaceTime call between Tom Brady and Mike Vrabel is tampering.

Former NFL running back Tiki Barber has accused Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel of tampering with New England Patriots quarterback and impending free agent Tom Brady.

Video surfaced of Vrabel at the other end of a FaceTime call with Brady when the future Hall of Famer and his (soon-to-be former?) teammate Julian Edelman attended the Syracuse-North Carolina game last Saturday.

It was the FaceTime heard ’round the world.

Vrabel, who was a guest on “Good Morning Football” on Friday, was asked about it and brushed it off as just old friends having an innocent conversation.

But clearly Barber doesn’t see it that way and thinks Vrabel being on FaceTime with Brady is tampering.

Of course, there is no concrete evidence that the Titans actually want to sign Brady, despite what Barber believes. All we have to go on is rumors and speculation at the moment.

It remains to be seen if the Patriots will even file a complaint about this or if the league will see it Barber’s way, but chances are it’ll at least be looked into if Brady does indeed head to Nashville.

And, if the league ultimately decides Vrabel and Brady’s FaceTime call is tampering, the Titans could be fined and lose draft picks.

This is yet another twist in the never-ending saga that has been Brady’s impending free agency.

We are less than two weeks away from when players can start negotiating with teams on March 16, with free agents being able to officially sign contracts on March 18 — and those dates can’t come soon enough.

Tiki Barber excited about Giants’ coaching staff, direction

Tiki Barber admits he’s excited about Joe Judge, his coaching staff and the direction of the New York Giants.

Former New York Giants running back and Ring of Honor member, Tiki Barber, has never been shy about holding his tongue when it comes to his opinions, especially when asked about his ex-employers.

In the past, Tiki has been publicly critical of ex-coach Tom Coughlin and quarterback Eli Manning as well as others. Lately, he’s come back into the fold.

Recently Barber was asked about the new direction the team has taken by hiring New England Patriots assistant Joe Judge as their head coach.

“You know, I’m excited for the steps they’re taking. I don’t know Joe Judge . . . but when you look at him and how he holds himself and how he carries himself and the things that he says, it gives you that belief that there is that focus on detail that coach Coughlin obviously espoused. The details and toughness,” Barber said, via SBNation.

“And then the staff he built, I love. I’m biased because Jason Garrett is a friend of mine, but I think he’s a great offensive mind and he’s brought in a lot of experience. Not necessarily pro head coaches but people who have experience in leadership positions, and that’s going to help this team.

“The talent is there. Obviously there’s some deficiencies but the talent is there. They just need to start executing and focusing on those details.”

A fair assessment from the borderline Hall of Famer who once carried this franchise on his back. He knows what it takes to win and the personal dedication needed. Giant fans are hopeful that this latest tweak to the organization is the one that turns the worm for them.

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Tiki Barber defends brother Ronde amid latest Hall of Fame snub

See what former NFL running back Tiki Barber had to say on Twitter regarding his brother Ronde’s recent Hall of Fame snub.

It’s hard to believe that former Tampa Bay Buccaneers great Ronde Barber isn’t already in the Pro Football Hall of Fame when you consider his impressive resume.

Barber spent his entire career with Tampa Bay, all 16 seasons, collecting 47 interceptions, eight return touchdowns and 28 sacks during that time. A five-time Pro Bowler who earned first-team All-Pro status three times, Barber was the definition of consistency, playing in every single game from 1999 to 2012 and starting all but one. He was also a member of the Buccaneers’ 2002 Super Bowl-winning team.

But, when the 15 finalists for the Hall of Fame were announced earlier this month, Barber’s name was noticeably absent, while his former teammate and current general manager of the San Francisco 49ers, John Lynch, made the cut.

Jenna Laine of ESPN recently wrote a great piece on Barber’s Hall of Fame absence, blaming it on the stigma surrounding nickelbacks.

The piece by Laine is definitely worth a read.

And, for what it’s worth, Barber’s twin brother, former NFL running back Tiki Barber, came to Ronde’s defense, too, on Twitter.

Take a look.

The Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2020 will be announced on the eve of Super Bowl LIV during the NFL Honors show.

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Revisiting the Marshawn Lynch Hall of Fame debate

Will a late career playoff run help propel Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch into the Hall of Fame?

Marshawn Lynch cited “unfinished business” when he returned to the NFL with the Seattle Seahawks on Monday. His goal is to once again lead Seattle to a Super Bowl appearance, likely hoping to avenge the team’s heartbreaking loss in Super Bowl XLIX.

However, Lynch also has an opportunity to pad his already stellar case for the Hall of Fame, and while that’s not his top priority, it is worth exploring with his expected return to the field on Sunday.

Lynch had a strong case long before this reunion, which now pushes his eligibility back to 2025.

Currently, Beast Mode is 29th all-time in rushing with 10,379 yards. 17 running backs, including Gale Sayers and Terrell Davis, have fewer yards than Lynch and are in the Hall.

If Lynch is able to rush for 81 yards on Sunday (which, frankly, would be challenging) he would pass both Eddie George and Tiki Barber to move into 27th all time, just behind Thomas Jones.

Rushing yards aren’t the only thing that matters to Hall voters, but Lynch’s persona, playoff heroics and other intangibles make him a strong candidate for the Hall of Fame, and a late-career rejuvenation and playoff run would all but seal the deal for Beast Mode.

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Throwback Thursday: Giants blank Eagles, 20-0, in 1998

In the latest Giants Wire Throwback Thursday, we get in the time machine a visit 1998, when the New York Giants shut out Philly at home.

The New York Giants won the NFC East in 1997 with 10-5-1 record and appeared to be ready to build on that success in 1998. They got off to a 3-4 start and then lost three straight games after their bye to fall to 3-7.

Believe it or not, the perfect elixir for that losing streak was a home jaunt against the 2-8 Philadelphia Eagles, who after back-to-back 10-6 seasons were headed into a tailspin under head coach Ray Rhodes.

The Giants were hoping that Danny Kanell, the quarterback that led them to the playoffs in 1997, could do it again in ’98. He could not, he was benched in favor of Kent Graham after running up a 3-7 record.

Graham then led the Giants to five wins in their final six games beginning with the 20-0 shutout win on November 22 over the Eagles at Giants Stadium.

Graham was only 10-21 for 153 yards, but threw a touchdown pass to Tiki Barber. Gary Brown had 96 yards rushing and the other touchdown. Brad Daluiso kicked field goals of 49 and 40 yards and the defense sacked Bobby Hoying six times (two by Tito Wooten). Phillippi Sparks had both Giant interceptions.

Here is some footage from the game, which was broadcast on FOX with a very young Kenny Albert calling the action along with Tim Green.

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Giants’ Daniel Jones won’t use Tiki Barber’s method to cure fumbling woes

New York Giants rookie QB Daniel Jones needs to cure his fumbling woes, but he won’t take a page out of Tiki Barber’s book to do it.

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New York Giants rookie quarterback Daniel Jones leads the NFL in fumbles lost with nine this season. Week after week, the team and Jones talk about how they plan on tightening up on ball security but we haven’t seen any of whatever those methods are working so far.

When Tom Coughlin took over as head coach of the Giants in 2004, he had a chronic fumbler in the fold in running back Tiki Barber and did what prep school and college coaches do to fumblers — he made Barber hold a football practically round the clock until he stopped fumbling.

On Wednesday, Jones was asked if that drill could help him, he believes it will not.

“I haven’t done that, and I’m not sure I will,” he told reporters.

And Jones probably shouldn’t. Barber was a running back and ball security is different for the most part, except when Jones decided to tuck the ball under and make a run for it.

Coughlin’s solution for Barber was for him to hold the ball “high and tight,” perpendicular to the ground where tacklers could not get a decent shot at it. Jones can’t really do that as his fumbles mainly have come while attempting to throw the football.

“Yeah, I think for me, it’s in the pocket a lot and keeping two hands on the ball in the pocket. So, whether we’re doing drills in practice, whether we’re doing seven on seven or anything like that, I need to continue to focus on that,” he said.

Jones has a long way to go to break or set any team records. Eli Manning has 124 fumbles in his career and Phil Simms has 93. The Giants’ single season mark for fumbles is 23, set by Kerry Collins in 2001.

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Tiki Barber: Giants should not sit Saquon Barkley

Former New York Giants great Tiki Barber doesn’t believe that its beneficial to cut down star RB Saquon Barkley for the remainder of the season.

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With the 2-8 New York Giants going nowhere and star running back Saquon Barkley still dealing with the after effects of a high ankle sprain, the consensus from fans and pundits is that the Giants should either severely limit – or even bench – Barkley until he’s fully recovered to avoid further damage.

His performance against the Jets on Sunday (13 carries for 1 yard) has everyone wondering if Barkley is hurting more than the team is letting on and many would like to see Barkley play closer to 100% than what they’re seeing out of him now.

That isn’t going over well with Barkley and head coach Pat Shurmur, who have scoffed at the notion of putting the Pro Bowler on the shelf.

“I do not agree with that idea at all. One, that’s not fair to my teammates and, two, when you say running backs have so many carries, yes, the average career length of a running back is not as long as other players,” Barkley told reporters on Tuesday.

“The mindset of sitting me out and resting me for the rest of the season is beyond me. I do not agree with it and it won’t happen. I’m going to keep going until I can’t go anymore. That’s the type of player I am and I’m going to do it for my teammates.”

Giants’ Ring of Honoree Tiki Barber, the Giants’ all-time leading rusher. agrees Barkley needs to stay on the field.

From TMZ Sports:

When we saw Tiki in NYC — the best running back in franchise history — we asked him if Giants brass should force Barkley to hang up his cleats until next season.

His answer … hell no.

“I don’t think they should shut him down. I think that would be detrimental to his psyche, ’cause he wants to be out there playing,” Barber tells us.

“I think limiting his carries might be smart going forward. Get Wayne Gallman some runs, and try to keep [Saquon] as healthy as possible.”

When asked if he had any intention of shutting Barkley down for the season, Shurmur was pretty sure of his answer.

“Absolutely not,” he told reporters on a conference call on Monday. That doesn’t mean they won’t curtail his usage though. Barkley believes his recovery will accelerate with the Giants heading into their bye week.

“This week, I’m going to focus on watching film and obviously the opportunities we get in practice, take advantage, like watching film of myself,’ he said. “The time we do get off, I get to spend time with my family, I get to spend time with my teammates. When I come back, after that game, I can get back to who I am and have that mindset, no matter what happened the first half of the season, last week, I am the best player on the field and when I touch the ball I make things happen. I’m going to get back to that. ”