Giants? Barber Says He Is Making His Retirement Plans http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/18/s...1161182543-Q/xOLquJsLzn7E/u8vVtEA&oref=slogin By JOHN BRANCH Published: October 18, 2006 Giants running back Tiki Barber, the leading rusher in the N.F.L. this season, said yesterday that he was likely to retire at season?s end to pursue his ample off-field opportunities. During a promotional book tour in Manhattan, Barber said he was ?leaning toward? retiring, and that he had ?pretty much? made up his mind. Asked what would force him to reconsider, he said, ?Nothing.? Barber stopped short of announcing his retirement from football. His business agent, Mark Lepselter, who manages Barber?s off-field career, said it was possible that Barber could change his mind. ?He?s seriously leaning toward it,? Lepselter said of retirement. ?I think he feels he?s perfected his craft, in a way, and is ready for something else.? Ernie Accorsi, the Giants? general manager, said yesterday that he did not want to comment on Barber?s retirement plans until he heard them from Barber. ?You do not replace Tiki Barber, he?s a Hall of Famer,? Accorsi said. ?You have to go beyond the statistics to completely appreciate him, but I think he qualifies on numbers alone.? Accorsi, who had announced that he would retire after this season, said Barber was multitalented on and off the field. ?Frankly, it would be terrific for both of us to go out with a Super Bowl,? Accorsi said. Barber, 31, is the leading rusher in Giants history and has been named to the Pro Bowl the past two seasons. This season, he has rushed for 533 yards, including 186 in Sunday?s victory over the Atlanta Falcons. But he admitted that he had been particularly sore after a couple of games this season, and that his body needed more time now to recover from the weekly beating it took. Barber, who is married and has two toddler-age sons, would also like to be the rare football player who retires while still being considered one of the game?s best. ?For the longest time, I thought I had to win a Super Bowl to define my career,? Barber said. ?I would like to, but I don?t have to, because I can walk away knowing I did the best I could.? He says he has spent most of his career pondering his post-playing days, which he hopes will begin with a career in television. Among other side jobs ? as a radio talk-show host, a children?s book author and general man about town ? he spends Tuesday mornings as a co-host of ?Fox & Friends,? a general news program on Fox News. But his contract with Fox expires in January, and negotiations with other networks can begin in November. It may be a case of fortuitous timing for Barber, even helping to push him toward ending his playing career. Lepselter said the major networks, including Fox, had expressed interest in Barber?s broadcasting talents, and he was confident that Barber would retire from football and slide into a high-profile television job. ?Without a doubt,? Lepselter said. ?There?s not even a shred of doubt in my mind.? Part of what makes Barber different is that he has little interest in becoming a sports broadcaster. He would rather break the pattern of most other retiring athletes and move full time into news, ideally serving as a host of a morning news program. Originally a second-round draft choice of the Giants in 1997, Barber is under contract with the Giants through the 2008 season. On July 28, at the beginning of training camp, Barber said he would not finish the contract, and that he expected to play only another season or two. He has not told the Giants of a plan to retire after this season. If he retires, he will miss out on a scheduled base salary of $4.15 million for each of the next two seasons, the same salary he will earn this season, according to the N.F.L. Players Association. In 2005, Barber gained a career-high 1,860 yards rushing on 357 carries, and caught 54 passes for another 530 yards. The combined 2,390 yards was the second-highest single-season total in league history. Barber, with 9,320 career rushing yards, is in line to become the 19th or 20th player in N.F.L. history to reach 10,000 yards. Among active players nearing the milestone, he trails Arizona?s Edgerrin James, who has 9,624 yards. Barber spent yesterday on the book tour with his twin brother, Ronde, a cornerback for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The two appeared on several morning news shows and later signed copies of their latest children?s book, ?Teammates,? at a Manhattan bookstore.
Plus he'll be on every single pregame show you can think of. He'll even show up in the middle of baseball broadcasts.
While he certainly comes off as one of the more sensible athletes out there, I'll believe it when I see it. Do people agree with what Accorsi said, that Barber is a Hall of Famer?
I can't say I'm shocked because he's talked about retirement before, but it is pretty surprising as he's leading the NFL in rushing and it seems he's gotten better every year.
so shocked when i heard this on espn this morning...what's the deal with running backs retiring in their prime? (barry sanders, robert smith)
Its because they dont want to end up getting injured or with spinal conditions. The average age of death for 10 year starting rbs was like 55 or something
That's pretty much what R. smith said in an interview with ESPN a couple days ago. I'm sure Tiki is very much aware of the pains that Curtis is going through right now, and doesn't want to risk walking around with a cane for the rest of his life.
Personally, I don't think he is, but he's going to have a legitimate candidacy because: 1.He's well liked by his teammates 2.He's a high character guy 3.He plays for the NFL's signature franchise in the largest market in the country. IF HE CONTINUES TO HAVE THE SEASON HE'S HAVING, his resume is decent, when you factor all the above in: Top 20 all time rusher Two Rushing Titles Two Yards from scrimmage titles Three Pro Bowls Top 15 Yards from Scrimmage His reputation might put him over the top. -X-
I wish he'd retire from TV as well. He's the only guy to analyze the game while guys are still chasing him down the field. He should just dedicate all his time to white girls, if I were him that's what I would do.
I'll only say this, Tiki Barber in his prime [last 3 years] is as good a running back as there has ever been in the leauge. Whether that puts him over the top for HOF is anyones guess, although I'm leaning heavily towards no.
I agree. 2004-06 have done it for me. I do disagree with one thing, however. I don't consider the Giants the league's signature franchise. First off, I'm not sure there is such a thing. There are several teams one could look at and I really don't think there is a true signature franchise. I think the Bears, Steelers, Cowboys, Redskins, and Packers are in the top 6 with the Giants. I'm not sure someone could single out one of those franchises as THE big signature one.
Ill give credit where credit is due. He's definitely one of the top RBs since he solved his fumbling problem. Back then the slightest hit would make him drop the ball. I respect the guy and his decision. He has other goals in life. He's already made his mark in football, so its time for him to move on.
