It's been his M.O. They were probably 2, 2½, maybe 3 when we split apart. He was named Atiim Kiambu, which means "fiery-tempered king" because he was screaming shortly after his birth. his entire life really -- being stuck in a disadvantaged situation and then finding a way to excel higher than anyone thought he could go. I went to the sideline, showed [then head athletic trainer] Todd Toriscelli, and he's like, 'Yeah, it's probably broken.' I said, 'How can you come out of shape? When you have a broken bone, when you push on it, it clicks. "They bounced around pretty good, and they bounced on each other pretty good. Watch on ESPN+, "He improvised. Tiki Barber: "Most people forgot what preceded that -- this ridiculous play that Donovan made that got them down to the [10]-yard line or whatever it was. I knew it was over.

And he's like, 'I'm making sure they know who I am.' The ESPN Daily delivers the biggest sports news and moments every weekday. I said, [to coach Tony Dungy], 'Tony, I ain't playing him. Former Bucs defensive backs coach Herm Edwards: "He was one of those guys coming out of Virginia, very talented player, thought he had it all figured out -- he came into OTAs, he was out of shape. I was hoping he would tip the ball up in the air and I could catch it. One thing about Ronde Barber -- he was always making plays, always around the football. Long before Ronde earned a reputation as one of the league's consummate professionals, former position coach Herm Edwards thought he was a cocky rookie and benched him for a full year until he learned how to be a professional. ... We always babysat Ronde because Tiki was always in the hospital.

And this goes back to college, even high school.

… I couldn't be more proud of both of them, but for [Ronde] to get into the Ring of Honor -- that's huge -- and I think the gold jacket shouldn't be far off.". Forced my will on Brett Favre (laughs).". That [was] kind of his whole career and that's what he did with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Picks, fractures and 'cool uncle' Arians: Ronde Barber enters Bucs' Ring of Honor, Bucs adding Antonio Brown all about maximizing Tom Brady's window. I took it personal because I was the one who drafted him. But he took it to a level that is even greater than I could have imagined.".

I said [to Barber], 'I'll let you know when you're ready. You're a corner!'

It's almost like Ronde need[ed] setbacks in order to over-exceed even the highest expectations. We lost twice in Philadelphia ... but this time, it was our day, we came into Philly and won.”, Tiki Barber: "Anytime I'm in Philadelphia -- because we go down there every now and then -- and Philly fans say, 'Hey, Tiki, I hate you, but I respect you.' TAMPA, Fla. -- The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will induct cornerback Ronde Barber into the team's Ring of Honor during halftime Sunday, joining the likes of Lee Roy Selmon, Derrick Brooks and Doug Williams in having his name etched inside Raymond James Stadium.

It was disgusting.

He turned out to be OK but, obviously that season, he was redshirted.

We were roommates [in] college, so [we were] very close. I was running behind Ronde, watching him score, just saying, 'Finally, finally we have this off our back.' The Bucs head coach said watching Ronde and Tiki Barber as youngsters was his first experience with young children. He was roommates with their father James at Virginia Tech. But in college our freshman year, I was pushing for time ... and so was he in our spring camp, and I think this was our spring game -- Ronde tried to dip around an offensive tackle to make a play on a screen pass and the tackle fell on his arm. ", Ronde Barber: "Super Bowl year, [in the Bucs' 23-10 win over the Carolina Panthers] probably in the second or third quarter, [I broke my thumb]. ... And Ronde will tell you today, we're like this [crosses fingers].
And, for what it’s worth, Barber’s twin brother, former NFL running back Tiki Barber, came to Ronde’s defense, too, on Twitter. Here's a collection of stories from the people who know him best -- including a tale from Barber himself. I'm like, 'Ah, we'll deal with it after the game (laughs). I said, 'Here's what you're gonna do.' The bone popped out. But I found a way. Ronde and his twin brother, Tiki, had a famous babysitter: none other than Bucs coach Bruce Arians, who was a roommate of Barber's father, James, while at Virginia Tech.

', "The doc looked at it afterwards and was like, 'Yeah, it's definitely broken. My mom always told us, 'If you never stop trying, you're never gonna fail.'

', "And [after a year] I said, 'Now you're ready.' When he stepped into that lane and picked it off, he didn't catch it clean, but I knew it was over.

He always had convulsions, so we had Ronde just bouncing around and playing. It was Arians' first experience with young children. If you look at his elbow, he has an enormous scar on his elbow. Bruce Arians: "I'm the cool uncle you'd like to have a drink with, not a father figure. Sources: AB, Buccaneers reach deal on contract, Bucs DT knew of deal before playing with Jets, Injury-hampered Fournette 'good to go' for Bucs, NFL moves Bucs-Raiders out of Sunday night, Strengths, weaknesses for the NFL's top 12 Super Bowl contenders, What Tom Brady's jerseys have meant to him and lessons he's learned along the way. And I said, 'You've got two days. "Failure wasn't an option. He had to learn how to be a pro. And when I walked up to him, he was in shock. But he had to earn it. NFL PrimeTime continues this postseason with extended highlights and analysis following the conclusion of each day's playoff games. "That offseason, he worked his ass off and before you knew it, he was the starting corner his redshirt freshman season and he led the nation in interceptions. He's got some really ugly pictures of me with some bad hair. He was in shock. Said he figured it out. I put him on last team, he was the scout team guy, didn't play.

It compound-dislocated his arm. [James and I] bought condominiums right next to each other. Tiki Barber: "So Ronde's always been a later starter than me, but he always surpasses me. We'll fix it, put a cast on it, you'll be out probably two to three weeks.' The thing that I always say -- 'I promise you hate my brother more.' Best thing I ever did for him.
He's like, 'I'm gonna fake a blitz, just to get in Donovan's head and you saw him like step into the line of scrimmage ... and then backed out into what was the base defense -- it was enough to fool Donovan. And the crowd ... it was deafening. Ronde was a cornerback who played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and won Super Bowl XXXVII against the Oakland Raiders. You start hearing this [clicking].

The Barber twin boys were born five weeks premature. The Bucs head coach said watching (0:27). Until he learns how to be a pro, I'm not gonna play him.'

Watching him prepare, watching how he worked in the classroom, in practice. He did a great job of holding the guy off behind him and just breaking on the ball and made a great play. '", Adventures in babysitting with Bruce Arians! The hard part was that it was my left thumb and I was on the right side of the defense, so he was throwing into this hand, so I had to use my body and right hand [to make a one-handed interception]. I said, 'Brett Favre, playoffs, you're playing. NFL experts debate: How much better does Antonio Brown make the Bucs? Ronde was in front. They lived right down the street -- not even a street, just over the hill. He never missed a snap after that. It was awesome. That's who we are. It was so fun watching them grow, becoming the men that they are. Fantasy Football Draft ContentExpanded Fantasy Cheat SheetKarabell: Do Not Draft list | 'Do Draft' listClay: Ultimate Draft Board | Top breakoutsSchefter's Cheat Sheet for 2020Bowen: Favorite draft targetsKarabell's tiered rankings: Running backs | Wide receivers, Karabell: Do Not Draft list | 'Do Draft' list, Clay: Ultimate Draft Board | Top breakouts, Karabell's tiered rankings: Running backs | Wide receivers. He said, 'I'm playing right now against Brett Favre?' ... [I] followed them throughout their entire careers. Barber played for the Bucs for 16 seasons (1997-2012) and has the most interceptions (47), passes defensed (197) and defensive touchdowns (eight) in team history. You get a setback, put a ceiling on him and he'd double it. They were screaming, it was the last game in the Vet and they think they've got the momentum and they're heading to a Super Bowl. I'm gonna practice on Wednesday.' He started pointing to his back as he gets down to, I don't know what it was, the 2-yard line, and after the game I was like, 'What the hell were you doing?' Ronde and his twin brother, Tiki, had a famous babysitter: none other than Bucs coach Bruce Arians, who was a roommate of Barber's father, James, while at … I made it hard on him because I knew he was special. ", Former Bucs defensive back Dexter Jackson: “I was behind the receiver [Antonio Freeman]. Arians and his wife Christine were best friends with Tiki and Ronde's mother, Geraldine. He didn't make it through a practice. Adventures in babysitting with Bruce Arians! And after a quarter of a second, they're like, 'You know, you're right. Barber was born seven minutes after his identical twin brother Ronde Barber. I had surgery on Monday, recovered on Tuesday, practiced on Wednesday, we played Green Bay that week and I got an interception.

Let's go.' Video by Jenna Laine (0:27). In the 2002 NFC Championship Game against the Philadelphia Eagles, with 3:27 to go in the fourth quarter, Barber intercepted a Donovan McNabb pass and returned it for a touchdown to propel the Bucs to Super Bowl XXXVII, the first in franchise history. And it kinda hurts (laughs).