NFL

The One Guy On Earth Who Wants Tiki Barber On His Team

Tiki Barber filed reinstatement papers earlier this week, signaling the former Pro-Bowler would like to rejoin the NFL. Some say that Barber is only entertaining a comeback because he’s short on money, amid an expensive divorce. Others are saying that this won’t end well for Barber, and his time has long passed.

Barber’s former team, the New York Giants, likely aren’t interested in resigning the aging veteran, but some fans say he’s worth at least looking at: “All I can for sure is that if it was my team, Tiki Barber would get a shot,” says Allen Barra in The Village Voice. The question is – what team might take the bait and bring Barber aboard? Most bloggers say their teams should stay away…except for one.

BAD FITS:

Pittsburgh Steelers: They seem to be the frontrunners, according to reports. “It’s hard to tell if there is much meat on this bone or if Barber just likes the idea of the Steelers because they are contenders with a good coach,” warns Gregg Rosenthal at NBC Sports. But, I fear, “Barber doesn’t fit the Steelers profile.  They rarely sign aging free agents (unless they are ex-Steelers), and like most teams would expect a backup running back to contribute on special teams.”

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: “It’s a wild idea, and we wouldn’t even be thinking Bucs if Barber’s twin brother, the remarkable Ronde, wasn’t coming back for another NFL season,” says Martin Fennelly in The Tampa Tribune. However, despite the Bucs’ need for depth, “bringing Tiki in would be contrary to everything the Bucs are about right now.” The team has a solid group of young talent it should use instead.

Baltimore Ravens: Since managements has “discussions about pretty much every available player,” says Matt Vensel in The Baltimore Sun, the Ravens will surely look at Barber. But he “isn’t worth the trouble.” Instead, you should “count on the Ravens bolstering their backfield in the draft or on the free-agent market whenever the dust settles in the labor brouhaha. They will pass on a washed-up back who is just trying to cash a paycheck.”

Oakland Raiders: Someone floated their name, but “Barber with the Raiders makes close to zero sense at this point with Darren McFadden firmly locked in as the No. 1 back and the team itching to re-sign Michael Bush,” says Chuck Carroll at FootballNewsNow.com. “A crowded backfield would yield little room for an aging veteran who has been away from the game for a couple seasons.”

Cleveland Browns: “Peyton Hillis is the starter in Cleveland, and the team is hoping for a healthy return of Montario Hardesty (knee). With the Browns trying to get younger, I don’t see a 36-year-old Barber fitting in the equation,” says James Walker at ESPN.

A UFL franchise? There is “one voice has spoken up and would greet Barber with open arms, says Frank Tadych at NFL.com, and that’s Jim Fassel, who coached Barber and is now the president/GM/coach of the Las Vegas Locomotives. But “that’s probably not what Barber had in mind” with his comeback, says Tadych.

GOOD FIT:

Atlanta Falcons: “Falcons, go ahead and sign Tiki Barber. Can back up Turner for a year, for the minimum price. He’s worth the risk,” says the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Falcoholic blogger Dave Choate snarkily asks why stop there. “Terrell Owens is out there! We could get Troy Aikman to back up Matt Ryan! Raid the nursing home for cornerbacks! Exhume the remains of Otto Graham!”