http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/blog/shutdown_corner/post/Tiki-Barber-remains-unemployed-and-sad?urn=nfl-wp6443

Mon Sep 05 10:50am EDT

When Tiki Barber told HBO that he was returning to football because he "needed the game," and because he "needed to prove to [himself] that he could be successful at something," I thought it sounded like a recipe for a personal mental health disaster.

Now that NFL rosters are set at 53, and Tiki Barber never got to sniff one, I hope that's not true. According to Peter King at Sports Illustrated, Tiki isn't taking it well.

I tried to reach Barber on Sunday, but he wasn't talking. I hear he's devastated that no team gave him a chance. You might wonder if teams would bring him in after the first game of the season, so his contract wouldn't be guaranteed, and that could still happen. But with no team calling Lepselter with even a hint of interest, it's more likely teams would start with backs who've been in some football competition this summer.

[Barber's agent Mark] Lepselter told me Sunday: "We are flabbergasted that Tiki has not had an opportunity with any team, especially when rosters were at 90 players this year. I certainly thought some team would be intrigued to see what he had left in the tank.''

Where this will leave Tiki Barber the person, I don't know. He's also recently proposed to his girlfriend, the one with whom he was involved while still married to his pregnant wife. So that's good news.

His football career, though, is dead, and it's not coming back. I know Tiki said he needed the game, but I doubt he needs it enough to consider trying to prove himself in the UFL, Canada or the Arena League.

For a guy truly desperate to get back into the league, that's really the only step left. Even if a team suffers a catastrophic string of injuries at the tailback position, it won't be Barber's phone that rings. It'll be someone younger, cheaper, who won't bring any media scrutiny, and will play with fearless abandon on special teams.

Sorry, Tiki. Good luck finding something else that makes you happy.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/blog/shutdown_corner/post/Tiki-Barber-remains-unemployed-and-sad?urn=nfl-wp6443

Mon Sep 05 10:50am EDT

When Tiki Barber told HBO that he was returning to football because he "needed the game," and because he "needed to prove to [himself] that he could be successful at something," I thought it sounded like a recipe for a personal mental health disaster.

Now that NFL rosters are set at 53, and Tiki Barber never got to sniff one, I hope that's not true. According to Peter King at Sports Illustrated, Tiki isn't taking it well.

I tried to reach Barber on Sunday, but he wasn't talking. I hear he's devastated that no team gave him a chance. You might wonder if teams would bring him in after the first game of the season, so his contract wouldn't be guaranteed, and that could still happen. But with no team calling Lepselter with even a hint of interest, it's more likely teams would start with backs who've been in some football competition this summer.

[Barber's agent Mark] Lepselter told me Sunday: "We are flabbergasted that Tiki has not had an opportunity with any team, especially when rosters were at 90 players this year. I certainly thought some team would be intrigued to see what he had left in the tank.''

Where this will leave Tiki Barber the person, I don't know. He's also recently proposed to his girlfriend, the one with whom he was involved while still married to his pregnant wife. So that's good news.

His football career, though, is dead, and it's not coming back. I know Tiki said he needed the game, but I doubt he needs it enough to consider trying to prove himself in the UFL, Canada or the Arena League.

For a guy truly desperate to get back into the league, that's really the only step left. Even if a team suffers a catastrophic string of injuries at the tailback position, it won't be Barber's phone that rings. It'll be someone younger, cheaper, who won't bring any media scrutiny, and will play with fearless abandon on special teams.

Sorry, Tiki. Good luck finding something else that makes you happy.

Tiki is a dumb you know what for retiring in the first place! I am sure Tiki is jealous of his brother Ronde for still playing football with the Buccaneers

I make it a point never to tell players that they need to retire now (because they're too old or get hurt too much), and I never tell them that they're too young to retire and should play some more. It's their life. It's their decision.

Tiki made a decision to walk away from the game while he could still be an effective player. He walked away in one piece, and was healthy.

Now, five years after he retired (he was 31 when he walked away), he wants to come back? Hey, that's fine if some team wants to take a chance on you. But if they don't, get over it.

Tiki, you might need the game, but the game sure as heck doesn't need you.

Not only that, but you were a terrible teammate. All of the public criticisms you made about your teammates and your coach were not well received. And the word about you spread very quickly. Not only that, but the guys you criticized came back the season after you quit and pulled off what's considered to be the biggest Super Bowl upset ever. They won it without you.

No one wants to be on the same team with you.

Get over it. You thought you had a great career in broadcasting ahead of you. Maybe you still do, I don't know. But the NFL doesn't need you. And they don't want you.

He's got it a whole lot better than those of us regular unemployed and sad folk!!!!!

Any NFL team can just go to The Home Depot if they're looking for a tool.

Any NFL team can just go to The Home Depot if they're looking for a tool.

:lol: :rofl: :brent

Steven A. Smith said Tiki is not getting calls for a job because he left his pregnant wife-LOL

^ GOOD!!! :clap :clap :clap

He's got it a whole lot better than those of us regular unemployed and sad folk!!!!!
http://i56.tinypic.com/j0vgup.jpg

Steven A. Smith said Tiki is not getting calls for a job because he left his pregnant wife-LOL
These days football teams (and other sports teams) value character as much as they do talent. Unfortunately for Tiki his actions in life have shown him to be a man lacking in character.

http://i56.tinypic.com/j0vgup.jpg
I'm very sorry that you lost your Job Reverend Jim. I pray that you'll find the money to pay your storage fees.

I'm very sorry that you lost your Job Reverend Jim. I pray that you'll find the money to pay your storage fees.

Me, too. I know how it feels to lose a job. :( God bless you!!!

http://i56.tinypic.com/11m3xch.jpg

You're welcome - and right back at you!! :wave:

You're welcome Reverend Jim! I think your terrific too!

Why is he trying to come back to the NFL? Where is his money? He should be able to live good for the rest of his life. I'm getting so sick and tired of black celebrities going broke. I continue to hear about this and it's pathetic. Black celebrities need to learn to stop spending all their damn money thinking that they're going to be rich forever.

Read this Brad Russ. Another sad example of a former pro black athlete who's broke and is trying to come back to the NFL hahahahahahahahahaha.

^ ^ ^

Just because a guy wants to come back and play, it doesn't necessarily mean he's broke.

Plenty of players, black and white, go broke not long after they retire. But I don't see any evidence out there that Barber is broke and needs the money. Where are you getting that idea from?

As I said in an earlier post, Tiki wanted to come back because he retired too soon. He really should have thought twice about retiring while he was still able to play and be effective. He walked away before he needed to. We could have told him that he could still play, but it's his life, his decision.

I'd be willing to bet he's broke. I don't believe him that he wants to come back because he has a love for the game. He shouldn't have retired if he loves football so much but no football player can play football forever. I got tired of seeing Michael Jordan come back to basketball. He should've stayed retired after the 2nd time he quit. I don't like to see good players retire but it has to happen so new players can come in.