Did any of us think Tiki Barber was going to return to the NFL and take over a desperate team’s backfield? Of course not. Did we think he would come back at age 36 and help a team make a playoff run? I certainly did not. However, it has to come as somewhat of a surprise that not a single team showed enough interest in the former Pro Bowler to bring him in for a workout.
Back in March, reports surfaced that Barber planned to make a comeback after four years away from football. His trainer — a biased source to say the least — let it be known that he was in phenomenal shape and still more than capable of being effective. With the start of the 2011 season only two days away, it has become obvious Tiki’s career as an NFL running back is over.
In this week’s edition of Monday Morning Quarterback, Peter King wrote that he had spoken with Barber’s trainer, Mark Lepselter, who said that he and Tiki were “flabbergasted” that no team gave the former Giant an opportunity even when rosters were at 90 players per team. King also noted that he heard Barber was devastated over the lack of interest, but Lepselter refuted that claim when speaking with the NY Post on Monday and said Tiki has “moved forward accordingly.”
Barber’s agent can debate the wording all he wants to make his client look less upset, but I doubt this was something Tiki went into thinking “if I get a chance that’s great and if I don’t that’s fine too.” The fact that no one even gave him a shot to earn a roster spot had to have been a disappointing reality check.
