Tampa Bay Buccaneers Rumors: Will CBs Ronde Barber and Aqib Talib Return?

After a disappointing 4-12 season, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are in an offseason of change. Head coach Raheem Morris was fired, but it is yet to be seen if Morris' departure means that the Buccaneers will also say goodbye to starting cornerbacks Ronde Barber and Aqib Talib.

Barber and Talib face different issues, but major questions persist about both players. Let's break down those questions.

Barber is one of the greatest Buccaneers of all time. Like Warren Sapp, John Lynch and Derrick Brooks, Barber was one of the keystones of the Tony Dungy-led Tampa-2 defense.

But after 15 seasons, Barber is nearing the end of his career, and he is making noises about leaving the NFL in general and Tampa Bay in particular.

Barber has said he will consider media options if they come his way. While most NFL fans remember his twin brother Tiki Barber's failures at NBC, Ronde Barber has the composed personality that should get him a shot at some kind of broadcasting job.

Even if Barber decides to play again, it may not be with the Buccaneers. He was close to Morris, his former position coach, and Barber said before the firing that Morris' departure might hasten his departure.

It may not even be Barber's decision. His contract is up, and it's hard to see the Buccaneers giving him more than a courtesy one-year contract on the market. Will Barber be willing to take a pay cut to go through the hard work of returning for a 16th season? That may be a stretch.

Talib's return is questionable for entirely different reasons. The fourth-year player was terrific in 2009 and 2010, but he struggled in 13 starts this year. Still, he's a quality starting cornerback - if on-the-field play is the only thing considered.

But Talib's off-the-field issues have to be a consideration as well. He will face trial in March on charges of felony aggravated assault with a deadly weapon after being involved in a Texas shooting last spring. That trial could result in jail time and/or a league suspension.

The Buccaneers considered cutting ties with Talib last offseason, but Morris reportedly stuck up for the talented corner. That happened despite the fact that Talib has had other legal issues and has also had major conflicts in the Buccaneers locker room, as Jason Cole reported in December.

No matter who the Buccaneers' new head coach is, it's clear that the organization as a whole is ready to be rid of the Talib distraction. So while Talib has one more year on his rookie contract, he could be cut in the offseason.

The Buccaneers don't really have great options to replace either Barber or Talib, let alone both. Holdovers E.J. Biggers, Myron Lewis, and Elbert Mack (also a free agent) provide depth but are not starter-quality.

And with a new coach coming in, the Buccaneers may want a different style of corner than the Tampa-2, off-coverage players they have featured for so long.

That means massive change could be coming at corner - the kind of change that leaves Barber and Talib behind.


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Posted at 6:00 AM. Labeled under Aqib Talib, NFL, Robert Neely, Ronde Barber, Rumors, Tampa Bay Buccaneers .