HOF CB Ronde Barber calls out lack of recognition for Buccaneers - "It's sickening"
Ronde Barber loves his Tampa Bay Buccaneers very much. After all, the Hall-of-Fame cornerback spent his entire career there and was added to their Ring of Honor.
And while he savors his retirement, he cannot help but fell slighted at the disrespect the team is currently receiving despite being favorites to at least clinch the NFC South for the fifth straight season.
Speaking to Ari Meirov on Tuesday's episode of "NFL Spotlight," he said:
"They're a very well-put-together football team, and they don't get credit for it. It's kind of sickening to a degree because if you look at who they have on their roster, I don't know how you're gonna look at them and say they're not gonna be good."
In particular, Barber mentioned wide receiver Chris Godwin and the defense led by head coach Todd Bowles as key figures on the current Buccaneers:
“(Godwin) had a catch last week against Philly – people that care go back and find it. It was like a third-and-10 or something and Baker [Mayfield] double clutches and throws it into this coverage area, and (he) goes in and grabs his ball and you’re just like, if you don’t have sticky hands, you’re not making this catch.
“(Todd Bowles is) maniacal in the way that he finds ways to get pressure on people... If you get good players like Antoine Winfield Jr., probably the most versatile player in football. Lavonte David, easily the most underrated player in football. Yaya Diaby, whom you drafted last year, who’s going to be a good player. Vita Vea, by far the best nose tackle in football.”
Ronde Barber mentions which NFL figure deserves more attention
In the same podcast appearance, Ronde Barber was asked about whom he wanted to be seen more in the spotlight. He mentioned six-time Pro Bowl fullback and former teammate Mike Alstott (45:25 to begin in the quoted video above):
"People don't remember how good Mike Alstott was. It's a shame. Tampa people know; and I guarantee you, if you pit him on this show and throw on some highlights, people are gonne be like, 'Yeah, he was pretty good.' Like, he was special. Like John Riggins good."
The two spent eleven seasons together (1997-2007) in Tampa, winning Super Bowl XXXVII at the end of the 2002 season.