Barber: A Little Off the Top?

[slowkidz]

BARBER NEXT BUC TO TAKE CUT?

http://www.profootballtalk.com/

Word around the league is that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have asked cornerback Ronde Barber to take a pay cut.

The request, we're told, isn't going over well with Barber, a long-time cog in the team's Cover 2 scheme.

But new G.M. Bruce Allen has made it known through the handling of mainstays Warren Sapp and John Lynch that there are no sacred cows in Tampa as he and coach Jon Gruden try to re-tool a roster built by former G.M. Rich McKay.

The money that Barber is asked to cough up could be used to help address the demands of receiver Keenan McCardell, who is boycotting voluntary workouts due to displeasure over his contract.

We haven't heard whether the Bucs will bounce Barber if he refuses to reduce his pay, and our guess is that there would be a high demand for the 29-year-old's services in other NFL cities. The most intriguing possibility, of course, would be the Giants, where Ronde's identical twin brother, Tiki, is the starting tailback.

[mig28]

I've been surprised by the roster turnover in T.B. this off-season...Sapp wasn't any big shocker, but Lynch, and now possibly Barber?

[Buckychudd]

Moving further away from what won them the SB.

Only goes to show that Gruden's Superbowl victory was a direct result of the team that Dungy left him.

[NittanyLions]

Thatd be great if the steelers picked him up. But wow this would kill TB, I am NOT drafting their defense this year

[Dreadpaul]

If Barber left TB... there are always teams who need decent CBs. The question is who needs one NOW and has the salary cap room to get him?

On 4/22, the Steelers only had $326,000 available - so I doubt he'd go there.

There are 4 teams with lots of salary cap room and a good chance at the SB that I see as potential buyers of Barber's services.

Vikings - $13.5 million available
Chiefs - $7.2 million available
Seahawks - $5.1 million available

But if I had to bet on where Barber would end up if he left TB... I'd have to go with the Philadelphia Eagles. They have $10.4 million left to spend. They've already signed Owens and Kearse. They've lost three straight NFC championships. They just lost both starting CBs (Taylor to the Seahawks, Vincent to the Bills).

[MCG321]

I sure wouldn't mind Ronde as an Eagle. Bucs sure have had an interesting, perhaps questionable, offseason.

[Pete123444]

steelers will be clearing cap room come june 1st, but i don't think barber will end up there. my guess is that he stays in TB.

[MCG321]

I see McKenzie ending up in Pitt, with Burress going to GB.

[Flux]

Moving further away from what won them the SB.

Only goes to show that Gruden's Superbowl victory was a direct result of the team that Dungy left him.

I agree with you about TB, but OAK's appearance was a result of Gruden. I do think that the total domination in the game was a result of Gruden knowing and understanding every aspect of OAK's game that year.

If I were Gruden I would want my 'own kind' of guys in there too. He is a helluva coach, and should definitely succeed.