Looking back on his career, it feels like he is really under appreciated. That probably has something to do with his antics/leaving the team on a bad note, but he had one of the greatest 7 year runs any RB has ever had.
He had 1400 plus yards from scrim in each of his final 7 years, and averaged over 2000 yards from scrimmage in his final 5 years, including 2390 in 2005, the 3rd best single season total of all time.
There was 4 times where he had a 200 yard game in a late season game to help propel the Giants to the playoffs. One against the Raiders week 17 of 2005. One against KC in 05' in a late season Saturday afternoon game, one against the Eagles in a win and in week 17 game in 2002, and one against the Redskins in his final regular season game in 2006 which was also a win and in game.
He is 13th all time in yards from scrimmage, the only guy not in the hall of fame that is in front of him is the still active Frank Gore. If he played one or two more seasons (and he could've because he walked away from the game at his peak) he would easily be top 5-7 of all time in yards from scrimmage.
I know his career wasn't incredibly long, but he still had one of the greatest 7 year peaks that has ever been seen from a RB. And 7 years is a pretty long time for a RB, especially when you consider he had 3-4 decent years before he became the lead back.
He may be a jerk, but I think he should be a hall of famer. One of the most underrated players of the last 25 years.
It is an odd dynamic where there are arguments against a very strong short period for some players like Kurt Warner or Terrell Davis that propel them to the Hall, but become red flags for other candidates.
Just like people who compile stats are sometimes rewarded for their body of work, and then other times it works against them, like with Vinny Testeverde.
It is an odd dynamic where there are arguments against a very strong short period for some players like Kurt Warner or Terrell Davis that propel them to the Hall, but become red flags for other candidates.
Just like people who compile stats are sometimes rewarded for their body of work, and then other times it works against them, like with Vinny Testeverde.
Yeah, like I said, one more season and he could have locked himself in. Personally, I think he should be in based on those three MVP level seasons. But he didn't leave himself any wiggle room.
He and Phil Simms will remain two Giants that are just on the outside looking in, unfortunately.
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If tiki was on the team. The team got better by addition from subtraction. Tiki gone made the coaches change strategy and play guys like Bradshaw. Another addition by subtraction came when Shockey went down. Coaches change strategy and get Boss involved. The two biggest me guys that even the coaches wanted to force the ball to because they believed they were the total offense. Turned out that letting Eli spread the ball around was the best thing for the team. Tiki being on the team would have kept Us from a lombardi, no doubt.
No doubt? Who knows, but Barber was better than Jacobs or Bradshaw - period. Barber with Jacobs and Bradshaw is a pretty dynamic backfield. Don't quite get taking 1800 to 2200 yards off the field (or more because the team was better) makes it a better team.
Bradshaw would have never played. It changed the dynamic of the team for the bettter. Sure we may have one, but odds are we wouldn’t have won. It takes a lot of luck and specific dynamics to win it all and things would have been totally different if he was there.
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If tiki was on the team. The team got better by addition from subtraction. Tiki gone made the coaches change strategy and play guys like Bradshaw. Another addition by subtraction came when Shockey went down. Coaches change strategy and get Boss involved. The two biggest me guys that even the coaches wanted to force the ball to because they believed they were the total offense. Turned out that letting Eli spread the ball around was the best thing for the team. Tiki being on the team would have kept Us from a lombardi, no doubt.
No doubt? Who knows, but Barber was better than Jacobs or Bradshaw - period. Barber with Jacobs and Bradshaw is a pretty dynamic backfield. Don't quite get taking 1800 to 2200 yards off the field (or more because the team was better) makes it a better team.
Except they didn't take 1800 to 2200 yards of the field. Tiki wouldn't have been purely additive; there's a level of displacement involved. From 2006 to 2007, the Giants' RB production decreased by 46 yards rushing and 209 yards receiving. So they took 255 yards off the field, which translates to 16 yards per game.
At the time he retired, I interpreted his comments to mean that TC showed him how hard he needed to work and he just didn’t want to work that hard any longer. Many interpreted his statements as a slap at TC.
After he retired, he made and continues to make bonehead statements but that’s just Tiki. I would rather have the SB, but it would have been nice to see what he could have done in 2 more seasons.
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I don't even think Bettis should be a HoF'er. He ran the ball like 3500 times and was a massive dude with a bunch of pretty good OL's. Nothing about Bettis really ever impressed me. He was just a big lumbering back in a 3 yards and a cloud of dust era.
I don't think Terrell Davis belongs either.
Well, that’s sort of besides the point now. They are in, and a decent comparative cases for Tiki.
The receiving aspect of Tiki’s game is huge in this. You realize he had the same # of receptions as Marcus Allen? More than Walter Payton?
He’s in...
He's not in, and he's not getting in.
Sorry, buddy. :)
More and more, I come to realize fame is not numbers, its what you have done in the game to perpetuate its greatness.
Eli's numbers are pretty bad for HOF standards, but his performance when it counts, and his overall character in his competitions have clearly made him more famous than Tiki.
Tiki just shot himself in the foot (sorry Plax!) with the way he carried himself as left the game.
For the record I would love to see Tiki get in, because he was that good, but I just don't see happening.
I don't understand this goofy, made-up criteria. So going out while you are on top and healthy is bad? It's more romantic and admirable to drag yourself off the field?
He played 10 hard seasons of pro football at a demanding position. And in the last five he absolutely killed it as well as anyone we've seen in this all-around back role...
He's not in, and he's not getting in.
Sorry, buddy. :)
That was compelling. Well said... ;)
He has an ego, big deal, we have rooted for other Giants with a similar trait. But it seems he committed the unforgivable sin for some; he poked fun at Eli.
I have always been an Eli guy, still am, but evidently not to the extent of some who seem to think he should be immune to any of the negative things that have happened to other great quarterbacks, some better than Him.
Tiki Barber is a Hall of Famer. If he had 1-3 years of less-than-average, declining production, he would have all the numbers in the world to get in. Football is a violent sport that had serious long-term health effects on its players. Just Google "Earl Campbell health" for a collection of articles describing how he needs a walker or wheelchair, and shuffles about due to the hits he took as a running back. I can never begrudge a player (especially a running back who only receives hits) from wanting to walk away from the game when health is a potential factor. Granted, there were other factors in Tiki's retirement (his plan to have a great broadcasting career), but the physical toll was one of the factors involved.
So I can't look at someone who had a very solid career, walked away at his peak, and think "he's a few declining years of stat accumulation away from being a Hall of Famer."
Much of this is taken from the other thread, but here are Tiki's accomplishments, and some realistic projections/extrapolations
- Tiki is the 3rd back in NFL history to have 10,000 rushing yards nad 5,000 receiving yards (Marshall Faulk and Marcus Allen).
-Tiki became the third RB in history to have three 200-yard rushing games in a single season (OJ, Earl Campbell)
- Tiki led his team in rushing for 80 straight games, an NFL record.
Tiki is 22nd all-time in rushing yards with 4.7 yards per carry. The only running backs with more rushing yards and a better yard/carry rate are Jim Brown (5.2) and Barry Sanders (5.0). OJ Simpson is tied at 4.7.
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Projection time
Tiki is currently 22nd all-time in rushing yards with 10,449 yards.
3,653 more rushing yards would put him ahead of Curtis Martin and 4th all-time behind Smith, Payton, and Sanders. Barber rushed for 3522 in his two previous seasons combined. Even if he declined, if he suited up for three more seasons, he would still gain plenty of yards. Tiki's 2006 rushing yards total was 89% of his 2007 rushing yards total. Let's assume he "declines" at a similar rate every year (2006 was better than 2004, so it's not necessarily a decline, but let's try it anyway).
If he declined at that same rate, here are his rushing numbers
2006 Rushing yards: 1662
2007* Rushing yards: 1485
2008* Rushing yards: 1327
2009* Rushing yards: 1185
That total adds to 3,997 more yards to his career which would have put him in fourth place all-time rushing. Even if the drop-off is more significant (and it very well might be), it shows that compiling numbers in declining years would elevate him to near the very top of the class in all-time rushing yards. 3214 puts him 5th ahead of Bettis who played until the wheels fell off the bus and he wore down the rims. Granted, his elite yards/carry average would drop, but his overall numbers would be staggering.
And that is just extrapolating rushing yards. Tiki's biggest asset was that he was also a threat to catch out of the backfield and he amassed a fantastic yards from scrimmage total.
Tiki is currently 12th all-time in yards from scrimmage with 15,632 yards and he walked away after three insane seasons and while in his prime. In final three seasons, going backwards, here are his yards from scrimmage: 2127, 2390, 2096.
Marshall Faulk is fourth all-time in yards from scrimmage with 3522 more than Tiki Barber. Is it that crazy to think that a healthy Tiki, even in decline could average 1761 yards from scrimmage over two more seasons? Even if he played in a very declining fashion for three yards, is it crazy to think that he could get
2007* 1600 yards 100 yds/game
2008* 1200 yards 75 yds/game
2009* 800 yards 50 yds/game
That almost seems too easy for Tiki Barber.
If he did that, he would be behind only Jerry Rice, Emmitt Smith, and Walter Payton in all-time yards from scrimmage. That is some absolutely elite territory. And Tiki would only have to stay healthy. He wouldn't even need more "prime" years.
Obviously, it's a what-if game, but like I said, I won't fault a player from wanting to walk away on top.
I don't know if he was the best RB for those five years but he was definitely fighting for a place on the medal stand as the best all-around RB. And that list, in my view, was between Tiki, Tomlinson, and James.
It's interesting how time can blur perspective. I knew Tiki was really good and had finally found his stride. But in doing the research for this thread, I was blown away just how good. He was simply great by any standard.
Oddly, you would think doing such great work in our biggest market would make the accomplishment even greater. Instead, for Tiki, it's been neutralized by off the field bullsh-t and noise...It's really too bad...
He is in top 20 all time(18th overall in yards per scrimmage per game). In the same set of players, he is 3rd all time in yards per play(rushing+rec yards/receptions+attempts) behind only Julio Jones and Jim Brown, and Tiki has twice the yardage of Julio, and edges Jim Brown out in total yardage, 15632 to 14811). Brown averaged 5.65 yards per play to Barbers 5.58 yards per play.
But, with Bettis and Davis getting elected I'm not seeing where Tiki falls short, except for the parting shots and his team winning the SB after he retires.
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One more season like the previous three (especially if he was part of the SB team), and he would have been in.
I don't understand this goofy, made-up criteria. So going out while you are on top and healthy is bad? It's more romantic and admirable to drag yourself off the field?
He played 10 hard seasons of pro football at a demanding position. And in the last five he absolutely killed it as well as anyone we've seen in this all-around back role...
Its not goofy made up criteria. He didn't have enough yardage because he retired early. Plain and simple. If he'd played one more season, he'd have the yardage and a Super Bowl trophy on top of that.
Also, look...spare me the stuff about how he went out when he did for his health. That a load of crap because he tried to come back into the league a few years later. He retired when he did because he was full of himself.
I'm not taking anything away from his career, which was stellar. He just didn't do it long enough and thats entirely on him.
Its not goofy made up criteria. He didn't have enough yardage because he retired early. Plain and simple. If he'd played one more season, he'd have the yardage and a Super Bowl trophy on top of that.
Also, look...spare me the stuff about how he went out when he did for his health. That a load of crap because he tried to come back into the league a few years later. He retired when he did because he was full of himself.
What exactly is enough yardage mean? Is it Hall of Famer Larry Csonka's 8K yards? Is Hall of Famer Terell Davis's 7K yards? It is Hall of Famer Floyd Little's 6K yards? Is it Hall of Famer Gale Sayer's 5K yards? Indeed, so plain and simple...
Let's not kid ourselves please. There is no set criteria for the HoF. The criteria is what a bunch of writers decide the criteria is for 48 hours in February every year.
I guess that's a fair point about Barber trying to come back. But that wasn't a big surprise to me since athletes of that caliber sort of go through withdraw and got the bug to re-live that un-matchable glory.
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Its not goofy made up criteria. He didn't have enough yardage because he retired early. Plain and simple. If he'd played one more season, he'd have the yardage and a Super Bowl trophy on top of that.
Also, look...spare me the stuff about how he went out when he did for his health. That a load of crap because he tried to come back into the league a few years later. He retired when he did because he was full of himself.
What exactly is enough yardage mean? Is it Hall of Famer Larry Csonka's 8K yards? Is Hall of Famer Terell Davis's 7K yards? It is Hall of Famer Floyd Little's 6K yards? Is it Hall of Famer Gale Sayer's 5K yards? Indeed, so plain and simple...
Let's not kid ourselves please. There is no set criteria for the HoF. The criteria is what a bunch of writers decide the criteria is for 48 hours in February every year.
I guess that's a fair point about Barber trying to come back. But that wasn't a big surprise to me since athletes of that caliber sort of go through withdraw and got the bug to re-live that un-matchable glory.
To me it hurts the argument to get him in when you start comparing him (anyone) to Gale Sayers
And I seriously doubt voters are keeping him out because he dissed Eli. Thats just silly.
This is simply my opinion but, I don't see how you can put a RB in the HoF that is 26th on total rushing. Maybe its been done before, but if so, that shouldn't have happened either. I'm not looking at receivng yardage because RB's run the ball first. 26th in total rushing isn't good enough. Another year or two would have most likely catapulted him into the top 10 and then it would be a no-brainer.
Hall of Fame talent? Absolutely. Hall of Fame numbers? Nope.
To me it hurts the argument to get him in when you start comparing him (anyone) to Gale Sayers
I wasn't comparing Barber to Sanders. I was comparing career yardage.
Comparison is hearing that Barkley is the next Barry Sanders for the last month... ;)
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To me it hurts the argument to get him in when you start comparing him (anyone) to Gale Sayers
I wasn't comparing Barber to Sanders. I was comparing career yardage.
Comparison is hearing that Barkley is the next Barry Sanders for the last month... ;)
Agreed. Next LDT is a much better comparison :)
Agreed. Next LDT is a much better comparison :)
Glad you used LDT. It has never felt right calling Tomlinson "LT".
That's been taken. And should be treated like a retired #...
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Agreed. Next LDT is a much better comparison :)
Glad you used LDT. It has never felt right calling Tomlinson "LT".
That's been taken. And should be treated like a retired #...
ALWAYS BOTHERED me. It should never have been another LT. I hated when some on here referred to LDT as LT
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Let's say Tiki played three more years, at a significant dropoff in production. Give him Bettis' last three years - 811/3.3, 941/3.8, 386/3.3. That gets Tiki over the 12K yard mark. Would that have gotten him in? If your answer is yes, why? Why would three mediocre at best seasons be the determining factor?
This is simply my opinion but, I don't see how you can put a RB in the HoF that is 26th on total rushing. Maybe its been done before, but if so, that shouldn't have happened either. I'm not looking at receivng yardage because RB's run the ball first. 26th in total rushing isn't good enough. Another year or two would have most likely catapulted him into the top 10 and then it would be a no-brainer.
Hall of Fame talent? Absolutely. Hall of Fame numbers? Nope.
There are at least 20 RBs in the Hall of Fame already that are lower on the total yards list. The benchmark for longevity has long been 10,000 yds - which he has. If you have less than 10k there would seem to need to be compelling alternate facts that get you in, but if you've reached 10k then you can't use the - he didn't play long enough argument - if you want to make any sense.
Tiki has the longevity (with the 10k yds) and so many other factors putting him amongst elite RBs of all time. All of that adds up to a Hall-worthy player.
That just seem so crazy to me as justification. The SB was so random. No one saw that coming. It was a magic carpet ride.
So what if Barber played the next year, but got a career ending injury and couldn't play or played for a few games? Does he get credit for at least trying? So his candidacy is now better?
That just seem so crazy to me as justification. The SB was so random. No one saw that coming. It was a magic carpet ride.
So what if Barber played the next year, but got a career ending injury and couldn't play or played for a few games? Does he get credit for at least trying? So his candidacy is now better?
Sorry, I wasn't clear, I simply meant playing another year would have enabled him to experience a SB win, not that it should necessarily be used as justification for his HOF candidacy.
The justification would have been in accumulating one more year of stats, if at the previous 5 year level. I think that would have been enough to get him in, 2 years and he would have been a lock.
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That just seem so crazy to me as justification. The SB was so random. No one saw that coming. It was a magic carpet ride.
So what if Barber played the next year, but got a career ending injury and couldn't play or played for a few games? Does he get credit for at least trying? So his candidacy is now better?
Sorry, I wasn't clear, I simply meant playing another year would have enabled him to experience a SB win, not that it should necessarily be used as justification for his HOF candidacy.
The justification would have been in accumulating one more year of stats, if at the previous 5 year level. I think that would have been enough to get him in, 2 years and he would have been a lock.
What stats did he need to accumulate more of to be Hall-worthy that he didn't already have? More yards? He already has more than 20 HoF RBs? More 200 yd games? He's already 2nd all time. And on down the list - another year or two shouldn't make a difference when it didn't for so many other backs with less impressive numbers.
Tiki has the stats, but the things holding him back is perception. It took him some time to hit his stride and early on had fumble issues. He didn't have the greatest rep in the locker room, often siding with ownership over players and he left early taking shots at everyone on his way out. If he gets in, it will be after that negative perception dies down or changes. People can claim health or being wore down all they want, but I'd say a lot of that had to do with everything he was trying to do outside of football.
RE: Tiki- at the height of his game, Tiki played at a HOF level - so the question - was there enough length to that peak period?
Gotta go back and look at it, the fumble years the buildup years to when he became a great back. One thing Tiki does not get enough credit for is the toughness he developed. He was not the biggest back and he took some major shots and never whined about it, played hurt, etc.
I dont remember Tiki taking too many shots, he was extremely strong form the waist down
The guy squated 900 lbs in his workouts with Joe Carini in Hawthorne NJ
He took shots from Coughlin.....claimed he retired because he could not stand the man
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Let's say Tiki played three more years, at a significant dropoff in production. Give him Bettis' last three years - 811/3.3, 941/3.8, 386/3.3. That gets Tiki over the 12K yard mark. Would that have gotten him in? If your answer is yes, why? Why would three mediocre at best seasons be the determining factor?
This is simply my opinion but, I don't see how you can put a RB in the HoF that is 26th on total rushing. Maybe its been done before, but if so, that shouldn't have happened either. I'm not looking at receivng yardage because RB's run the ball first. 26th in total rushing isn't good enough. Another year or two would have most likely catapulted him into the top 10 and then it would be a no-brainer.
Hall of Fame talent? Absolutely. Hall of Fame numbers? Nope.
Do receiving yards count less than rushing yards? Shouldn't a player's versatility and ability to keep a defense on its heels be more valuable (rather than less)? Should we ignore Deion Sanders' impact in the return game because a CB's primary job is pass coverage?
Your attempts to be contrarian for the sake of being contrarian are pretty weak.
- Barry Sanders
- Adrian Peterson
At the time of Tiki's retirement, he had more yards from scrimmage over a 7 year period than any player in NFL history over such a span. Ladanian Tomlinson later surpassed that mark by 584 yards thanks in part to 412 (!!!) more touches during his 7 year span.
- Barry Sanders
- Adrian Peterson
At the time of Tiki's retirement, he had more yards from scrimmage over a 7 year period than any player in NFL history over such a span. Ladanian Tomlinson later surpassed that mark by 584 yards thanks in part to 412 (!!!) more touches during his 7 year span.
Tiki and Walter Payton are the only RBs in history to have 3 straight 2K total yard seasons. And Barber averaged over 200 total yards per season than Payton.
Think he was first start player who couldn't stand his coach?
Didn't have the heart? That's absurd. You don't train the way he trained and produce he way he produced, and give everything in every play the way he did without an incredible amount of heart and commitment to the game. He retired because football players, particularly running backs, get their brains scrambled into mush. He was listening to his body.
https://www.si.com/vault/2006/11/13/8393876/a-barber-who-wont-cut-it-close - ( New Window )