Highlighted Year: Ronde Barber, 2001

Cornerback, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Age: 26

5^th season in pro football & with Buccaneers

College: Virginia

Height: 5’10” Weight: 184

Prelude:

Barber intercepted 15 passes in college and was a first-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference selection three times before declaring for the NFL draft after his junior year. He was chosen by the Buccaneers in the third round in 1997 and saw action in only one game as a rookie. Barber broke out in ’98, developing quickly and moving into the starting lineup. He played well in combination with Brian Kelly across from CB Donnie Abraham and made up in instincts what he lacked in speed, intercepting a total of six passes in three seasons, one of which he returned for a touchdown.

2001 Season Summary

Appeared in all 16 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Interceptions – 10 [1, tied with Anthony Henry]

Most interceptions, game – 3 vs. New Orleans 12/23

Int. return yards – 86 [18]

Most int. return yards, game – 56 (on 3 int.) vs. New Orleans 12/23

Int. TDs – 1 [12, tied with many others]

Sacks – 1

Fumble recoveries – 2

Forced fumbles – 1

Tackles – 58

Assists – 13

Scoring

TDs – 1

Points – 6

Postseason: 1 G (NFC Wild Card playoff at Philadelphia)

Interceptions – 0

TDs – 0

Awards & Honors:

1^st team All-NFL: AP, PFWA

Pro Bowl

Buccaneers went 9-7 to finish third in the NFC Central and qualify for the postseason as a Wild Card entry while leading the conference in interceptions (28). Lost NFC Wild Card playoff to Philadelphia Eagles (31-9).

Aftermath:

Barber spent another 11 seasons with Tampa Bay. He was a second-team All-NFL selection by the Associated Press in 2002 and his 92-yard interception return for a touchdown against Philadelphia nailed down a win in the NFC Championship game on the way to a NFL title. Barber received first-team All-NFL honors following the 2004 and ’05 seasons and was chosen to a total of five Pro Bowls. He appeared in 240 consecutive regular season games, starting 215 of them, and ending up as a free safety starting all 16 games at age 37 in 2012. Unwilling to come back in a reserve role, Barber retired, having intercepted a franchise-record 47 passes and also accounting for 28 sacks and over a thousand tackles. He was named to the All-2000s team by the Pro Football Hall of Fame. His twin brother Tiki had a 10-year career as a running back for the New York Giants.

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Highlighted Years features players who were consensus first-team All-League* selections or league* or conference** leaders in the following statistical categories:

Rushing: Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Passing: Yards, Completion Pct., Yards per Attempt, TDs, Rating

Receiving: Catches, Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Scoring: TDs, Points, Field Goals (min. 5)

All-Purpose: Total Yards

Defense: Interceptions, Sacks

Kickoff Returns: Average

Punt Returns: Average

Punting: Average

*Leagues include NFL (1920 to date), AFL (1926), AFL (1936-37), AAFC (1946-49), AFL (1960-69), WFL (1974-75), USFL (1983-85)

**NFC/AFC since 1970