Barber's feats garner league's weekly honor

By JOANNE KORTH and RICK STROUD
Published December 15, 2005

TAMPA - Ronde Barber was named NFC Defensive Player of the Week for his performance in Tampa Bay's 20-10 victory at Carolina, in which he made NFL history as the only cornerback with 20 interceptions and 20 sacks in a career.

Barber had one interception, one sack, eight tackles and one pass defended against the Panthers.

"It's always nice when you're playing well to get recognized for it," said Barber, honored for the fifth time, first since 2002. "It's not as important as a team win in my eyes, but it is important to have national recognition."

Barber had three interceptions the previous game against New Orleans, but the honor that week went to Seahawks cornerback Andre Dyson, who returned an interception and a fumble for touchdowns in a victory against the Eagles on Monday Night Football.

Barber's interception against the Panthers protected a 13-3 lead in the fourth quarter by ending a drive at the Tampa Bay 7-yard line.

His sack of Jake Delhomme on the next series put him in elite company as the seventh player with 20 interceptions and 20 sacks, joining four linebackers and two safeties.

"I'm just happy he gets that national respect because he's accomplished things that no one in this league has ever done," coach Jon Gruden said. "People will say it's the system that allows him to do these things. That's a crock. He's a great player. He'd flourish on anybody's team."

Barber, 29, reached several milestones in the game. He made his 100th consecutive start (most among active cornerbacks), tied cornerback Mike Washington for third on the Bucs all-time interception list at 28, and passed Hall of Fame defensive end Lee Roy Selmon for sixth on the team's all-time tackles list with 743.

This season, Barber ranks third on the team with 93 tackles and leads the team with five interceptions and 20 passes defended. He also has two sacks, one tackle for loss and one fumble recovery.

STEPPING UP: Defensive tackle Ellis Wyms will make his first career start Saturday at New England in place of Anthony McFarland, who is doubtful with a hamstring strain.

Wyms has played 50 regular-season and three playoff games in five seasons, all with the Bucs.

"I've been playing about 25-30 snaps a game throughout the year and it'll probably go up 10 or 15 snaps if Mac's not playing," Wyms said. "This league is about opportunities. If you get them, you've got to cash in on them. Every opportunity I'm out there, I want to be playing hard, hustling to the ball and putting pressure on the offense to make them account for me when I'm on the field."

This season, he has 14 tackles with two sacks, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and one pass defended. When McFarland left the game at Carolina in the first quarter, Wyms had two tackles, including a sack-fumble against Delhomme.

UNLUCKY MAC: McFarland missed 17 games because of injury the previous three seasons, including the 2002 postseason and final eight games of 2004. His hamstring strain, which occurred firing out of his stance, is unusual for a defensive lineman.

"Think so? Yeah, coming off the ball in Week 14?" Gruden said. "It's a shame. That hurts us. It's fortunate we don't believe it's real serious. Hopefully we can have him back soon. We need him down the stretch."

INJURY REPORT: Linebacker Marquis Cooper (chest) is questionable. Kicker Matt Bryant (hamstring) and cornerback Juran Bolden (calf) are probable. Bryant kicked field goals during practice Tuesday but did not kick off.

[Last modified December 15, 2005, 00:33:15]