Bucs' Barber doesn't plan on a holdout
Though 27th in pay among cornerbacks, the All-Pro says, "I want to play football."
By RICK STROUD
Published June 22, 2005
TAMPA - If Ronde Barber was going to make a statement, this was the perfect time.
If the All-Pro cornerback was going to express his disgust over being the 27th highest-paid player at his position when free agency began, this was the perfect place.
The Bucs began their mandatory minicamp with two practices Tuesday, and all Barber had to do was not show up to get his point across.
The absence would have been unexcused but not unexpected.
While Barber has two seasons left on a six-year contract that averages $3-million per year, the top players at his position make about $10.5-million.
Instead, Barber sent a message: He plans on being at work today, tomorrow and every day this season.
"Other people have got different agendas, have different ideas in mind," Barber said. "I love Tampa Bay. I love what this defense has allowed me to become as a player. Having to re-establish that would probably be a little difficult. It's not something I'm really willing to do unless I have to.
"The possibilities are crazy with holding out or not showing up to camp. In the long run, you're not playing football." There was one no-show Tuesday who likely won't play for the Bucs this season.
Tackle Todd Steussie, who has not attended voluntary workouts the past few weeks, has essentially been told by the team to remain at home. The Bucs need to clear room for their $6-million rookie salary pool to sign 12 picks, and cutting Steussie will save about $2-million.
"We excused (Steussie) for personal reasons," coach Jon Gruden said. "That's really all I can comment on right now." Meanwhile, Barber has all the data he needs to justify a holdout similar to the one a year ago by receiver Keenan McCardell, who eventually was traded to San Diego. But Barber, who will earn $3.75-million this season (including $500,000 for making the Pro Bowl in 2004) recognizes the Bucs have no interest in renegotiating. "They've got their own issues," Barber said. "My issues involve me being out on the field playing the best football I can. Those things generally take care of themselves.
"Contracts are always an issue. Everybody thinks they're underpaid. Some people are justified in it. Some people aren't. Whether or not it's ever addressed is not something that I have any say in. I'm a football player. I want to play football."
Barber is not alone. Brian Kelly ranked 34th among cornerbacks with an average salary of $2.356-million when the free agent signing period began in March.
But Kelly and Barber, who restructured his contract to provide salary cap relief in 2002 and 2003, missed the tide of rising wages for cornerbacks.
They make less than relative unknowns such as the Falcons' Jason Webster, Packers' Al Harris and Dolphins' Reggie Howard. This offseason, Ken Lucas left Seattle for a $13-million signing bonus from Carolina.
"It's crazy. Me, as well as (Kelly), we were unfortunate we weren't on that wave," Barber said. "The demand started the year after he was a free agent, and it's gone pretty rampant since then. But I think we've got to be men about it or try to be men about it as best we can and accept the contract we signed unless somebody or some party is willing to deal with it.
"What do you want me to say? You look at my peers, and you tell me. You look at our play over those past couple years, and you tell me. That's all I can do about it. I continue to do what I do. It starts to get to you as you get a little bit older, but I'm a football player. It's either this way or you take away something you really love, and that's playing the game. Such is life." Gruden would not comment on Barber's salary situation.
"He's a guy we think of tremendously," he said. "If I didn't have a salary cap, if I was in charge, I'd probably overpay a lot of these guys. He's not alone. We've got guys who are probably going through similar things. That's the way it is." Steussie, who signed a six-year, $20-million contract in March 2004, is not the only player the Bucs will have to release before training camp. Tackle Kenyatta Walker and running back Charlie Garner, are rehabbing injuries. But Garner has been told he will be allowed to report to camp if healthy, and Walker is the incumbent starter at right tackle after taking over for Steussie in Week 5 last season.
"This has been a quiet offseason, even though I'm not supposed to be here," Walker said. "I don't understand how you cut somebody (after) their best year anyway."
Staff writers Greg Auman and Frank Pastor contributed to this report.