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.
Is ‘nickelback’ stigma what’s keeping Ronde Barber from getting into the Pro Football Hall of Fame? “He revolutionized the position…People don’t give him credit for it. He was 10 years ahead of his time” https://t.co/hvrKtTerqw
— JennaLaineESPN (@JennaLaineESPN) January 17, 2020
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.
I’m biased, but damn right, @JennaLaineESPN!
@rondebarber
Nickelback stigma holding back Ronde Barber in Hall vote – via @ESPN App https://t.co/bsGPBvKV0w— Tiki Barber (@TikiBarber) January 17, 2020
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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