Bucs/NFL

Barber deal isn't on Bucs' radar yet

By RICK STROUD
Published July 24, 2006

TAMPA - Bucs cornerback Ronde Barber is hopeful he could have a contract extension before the start of training camp, but his agent indicated that might be too optimistic.

Agent Ethan Locke said Sunday night that talks are continuing, but no deal is on the horizon.

"We're talking, but I definitely wouldn't feel as if anything is that imminent at this point," Locke said. "I don't get the feeling it might happen before training camp."

The Bucs report to camp Thursday at Disney's Wide World of Sports complex and begin practices Friday.

Barber, 31, is entering the final year of a six-year, $18-million contract. He is the third highest-paid player on the team with a base salary of $4-million.

The Bucs have $8-million in salary-cap room, but nearly $4.5-million is designated for the rookie pool. Barber, a three-time Pro Bowl player, needs just three interceptions to tie Donnie Abraham's career club record of 31.

Last week, Bucs general manager Bruce Allen said the team did not feel pressure to sign Barber until March before the start of free agency.

"I am so hopeful that we can get a deal done. To do a deal, you need two sides," Allen said. "As I said before, the deadline for Ronde is really March '07. Right now, we're focusing in on our rookies and making sure they get to camp on time."

LAW JOINS CHIEFS: Pro Bowl cornerback Ty Law agreed to a five-year deal with Kansas City, rejoining Herman Edwards, who coached him with the New York Jets last season when the veteran came back from a severe foot injury and led the NFL with 10 interceptions. Chiefs spokesman Bob Moore said Law will take his physical today.

Edwards, who replaced Dick Vermeil as Chiefs coach, is a former Pro Bowl cornerback and has vowed to revamp a Kansas City defense that the past five years has been near the bottom of the league.

BENGALS: Officers trying to arrest defensive tackle Matthias Askew after a parking violation in Cincinnati used a Taser to subdue him and charged him with resisting arrest. Askew, 24, struggled with officers trying to handcuff him Saturday evening and broke away before he was shocked, police spokesman Lt. Tom Lanter said. Askew ignored an officer's warning to move his illegally parked car, then refused to give his identification, Lanter said.

RAIDERS: New coach Art Shell spent the offseason saying the starting quarterback job wasn't settled, but former New Orleans starter Aaron Brooks is atop the depth chart as camp begins. "He's excited about the system that we have here and . . . the freedom that it allows him to have," Shell said.

CFL: Toronto Argonauts running back Ricky Williams will have surgery today to repair a broken left arm and is expected to miss at least four weeks, the Toronto Globe and Mail reported. The former Dolphins star was hurt during a 26-23 win over Saskatchewan on Saturday.

[Last modified July 24, 2006, 01:03:07]