SB Nation New York - Tiki Barber: Which NFL Team Will Take A Chance On Him?https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48977/ny-fave.png2011-03-10T11:08:05-05:00http://newyork.sbnation.com/rss/stream/18022122011-03-10T11:08:05-05:002011-03-10T11:08:05-05:00Tiki Barber: Tampa Bay Buccaneers Early Favorite For His Comeback
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<p>Where will <span>Tiki Barber</span> play in 2011? We already know that the 36-year-old running back, trying to make a comeback after four years out of the game, <a href="http://www.bigblueview.com/2011/3/8/2038247/report-giants-will-not-retain-tiki-barber-comeback-rights" target="new">will not be playing for the New York Giants</a>.</p>
<p>New York does not want a Tiki sequel, but who will give him an opportunity? You know someone will, and the folks at <a href="http://bodog.com" target="new">Bodog.com</a> have, of course, placed odds on where he will end up. They are as follows:</p>
<p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bucsnation.com/">Tampa Bay Buccaneers</a> 2/1<br> <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.canalstreetchronicles.com/">New Orleans Saints</a> 3/1<br> <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.milehighreport.com/">Denver Broncos</a> 5/2<br> <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/washington-redskins">Washington Redskins</a> 5/1<br> <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.thephinsider.com/">Miami Dolphins</a> 15/2<br> <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.patspulpit.com/">New England Patriots</a> 10/1<br> <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bigblueview.com/">New York Giants</a> 15/1</p>
<p>The only one in there that makes no sense is listing the Giants as 15-to-1. Try ‘infinity-to-1’ instead. No way he returns to the Giants.</p>
<p>The Bucs make sense simply because Tiki’s brother Ronde plays there the Bucs might need an extra back and the duo have always wanted to play together. New Orleans (Sean Payton) and Denver (John Fox) are coached by guys who were assistants with the Giants during the early part of Barber’s career. They might be willing to gamble that he has something left.</p>
https://newyork.sbnation.com/new-york-giants/2011/3/10/2042081/tiki-barber-tampa-bay-buccaneers-early-favorite-for-his-comeback-giants-saints-broncosEd Valentine2011-03-09T10:51:52-05:002011-03-09T10:51:52-05:00Tiki Barber And Jim Fassel: A UFL reunion?
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<p><span>Tiki Barber</span> rose to prominence as an <span class="caps">NFL</span> running back when Jim Fassel was still the coach of the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bigblueview.com/">New York Giants</a>. Could the two re-unite in the United Football League?</p>
<p>Barber is now a disgraced former <span class="caps">NFL</span> star apparently pining for a comeback four years after retiring from the Giants — at a time he was at the top of his game and many thought he had several productive years left. His television career and personal life are in shambles.</p>
<p>Fassel is now head coach of the <span class="caps">UFL</span> Las Vegas Locomotives, and has won titles in the league’s only two seasons. Exiled to the <span class="caps">UFL</span>, Fassel has been unable to find an <span class="caps">NFL</span> team willing to give him a head-coaching job since the Giants fired him after the 2003 season.</p>
<p>Now, Fassel appears to be offering Barber a landing spot, saying he would be <a href="http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/giants/2011/03/09/2011-03-09_former_caoch_jim_fassel_says_he_would_welcome_tiki_barber_to_las_vegas_locomotiv.html?r=sports%2Ffootball%2Fgiants&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+nydnrss%2Fsports%2Ffootball%2Fgiants+%28Sports%2FFootball%2FGiants%29&utm_content=Google+Feedfetcher" target="new">“happy to have him”</a> as a member of the Locomotives if he can’t find an <span class="caps">NFL</span> team.</p>
<p>Somehow, that would make sense. The exiled coach still looking for a way back in and the player who has become a pariah hooking up to see if they can once again help each other.</p>
<p>One person not impressed by Barber’s comeback attempt was ex-teammate and former Giants linebacker <span>Antonio Pierce</span>.</p>
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<p><font face="georgia"><i>"Tiki Barber, the person, the leader, the person in the locker room, he’s not going to do anything for your team," Barber’s former teammate and current <span class="caps">ESPN</span> analyst Antonio Pierce <a href="http://www.nj.com/giants/index.ssf/2011/03/former_giants_linebacker_anton_1.html" target="new">said during an appearance on ESPN’s "NFL Live"</a> yesterday.</i></font></p>
<p><font face="georgia"><i>"If that’s the guy you think you’re bringing in, you might want to look in another direction because, from personal experience, he didn’t do anything to help the Giants the last year, especially in 2006 when he decided to retire in the middle of the season and then months later questioned our quarterback and our head coach."</i></font><i></i></p>
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https://newyork.sbnation.com/new-york-giants/2011/3/9/2039719/tiki-barber-jim-fassel-a-ufl-reunion-giants-las-vegas-locomotives-antonio-pierceEd Valentine2011-03-08T15:43:31-05:002011-03-08T15:43:31-05:00Tiki Barber Planning NFL Comeback
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<p>Incredible as it may seem, former <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bigblueview.com/">New York Giants</a> running back <span>Tiki Barber</span> <a target="_blank" href="http://www.nj.com/giants/index.ssf/2011/03/former_giants_running_back_tik.html">has filed paperwork with the NFL to return to football</a>. Even more incredibly, after all the darts he has pointed at coach <b>Tom Coughlin</b> and the New York Giants over the years, the Giants have confirmed that <a target="_blank" href="http://sports.espn.go.com/new-york/nfl/news/story?id=6193850">they would control his rights</a> if he does return to football.</p>
<p>The story <a target="_blank" href="http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/Jay-Glazer-Tiki-Barber-come-out-of-retirement-return-to-NFL-030811">was first reported by FOX Sports</a>. Barber, 36, retired after the 2006 season as the leading rusher in Giants history. Barber, a three-time Pro Bowler, rushed for 1,662 yards and five touchdowns in 2006. He totaled 10,449 yards with a 4.7 yards per carry average in his career.</p>
<p>Even though the Giants own Barber's rights, don't get the idea that Barber will ever suit up as a Giant again. Inside Football's Pat Traina addressed that topic already<a target="_blank" href="http://twitter.com/Patricia_Traina/statuses/45205082681245696"> via Twitter</a>. I will leave Pat's comment, which I wholeheartedly agree with, in Twitter short-hand.</p>
<p><i>"I don't see Barber and the #nyg reuniting. That bridge was burned when Tiki verbally teed off on TC B4 he left.</i>"</p>
<p>Ernie Palladino also opined that <a target="_blank" href="http://nyg.scout.com/2/1054222.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter">there is no chance</a> of a Giants-Barber reunion:</p>
<p><i>"One thing is for certain. He won't be back with the Giants. Coughlin was deeply hurt by his comments. And the fans showed him exactly what they thought of him last season with robust booing as the team inducted him into the Ring of Honor."</i></p>
<p>The Giants could keep Barber. Smart money, though, is that they would simply release him and let him go find a deal if anyone is interested.</p>
<p>Interestingly side note to the story. Many Giants players have come out in support of the team bringing the jailed <span>Plaxico Burress</span> back once he is released from prison this summer. Barber is not getting the same welcome mat. Check out <a target="_blank" href="http://twitter.com/SteveSmithNY/statuses/45208366716436480">this tweet from Giants wide receiver Steve Smith</a>:</p>
<p><i>"Is Tiki "No Need for a" Barber serious?? Can't wait till he play vs the Giants. They gone hear them Boooo's all way in LA"</i></p>
<p>Here is another classic tweet<a target="_blank" href="http://twitter.com/janesports/statuses/45208483582312448"> from Jane McManus of ESPN New York</a>:</p>
<p><i>Possible scouting report: "The 2011 Giants, led offensively by <span>Eli Manning</span>, Plaxico Burress and Tiki Barber..."</i></p>
<p>Similarly great tweet from <a target="_blank" href="http://twitter.com/TheBlueScreen/statuses/45210308930842624">Ralph Vacchiano of the Daily News</a>:</p>
<p>Barber, of course, left the Giants under acrimonious circumstances after 2006. At the time, many felt he had a couple of quality seasons left. Since then, Barber has seen his television career implode and had his personal life fall apart. This seems like little more than a desperate money grab from a guy who really has no other way to earn a million-dollar paycheck at this point.</p>
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https://newyork.sbnation.com/2011/3/8/2331148/tiki-barber-planning-nfl-comebackEd Valentine