E-GIANTS
Dave Klein was the Giants' beat writer
for The Star-Ledger from 1961 to 1995.
He is the author of 26 books and he is one of
only four sportswriters to have covered all the Super Bowls.
Dave has allowed TEAM GIANTS to reprint some of his articles.

WHAT CAN TIKI ACTUALLY BE THINKING?

By Dave Klein
It was Nov. 29 of 2008 and we were on a train to Washington, D.C., for the next day's Giants game against the Redskins.

Also in the car was Tiki Barber, the new face on the NBC Network and still instantly recognizable as one of the best running backs in team history.

But oh, the way he left. And oh, the things he said about the team and the head coach and the star quarterback after he left. None of it made him particularly popular with the most fervent fans in the NFL.

So he was sitting in the railroad car alone. But before your correspondent could go over and say hello, a group of three young guys advanced. One sat next to him, without asking permission. The other two stood in the aisle near him. Tiki was trapped, and in order to maintain his "television face" he smiled and shook hands and tried to pretend he was enjoying the experience.

Those three guys, probably in their mid-20s, talked to him for about half an hour, laughing and complimenting him and telling him how much they enjoyed the way he played.

Then even they realized it was time to leave, so the one seated got up, and the other two prepared to file down the aisle to their assigned seats.

Suddenly, the one who had been sitting turned and said: "Tiki, do you mind if I ask one more question?"

A weak, wan smile. "No, go ahead."

"Can you show us your Super Bowl ring?"

That was just cold. He had retired - accompanied by much clamor and noise - the season before the Giants won Super Bowl 42.

When they left, the smile appeared frozen on his face.

Well, he has decided to unretired, if there is a team out there that wants him. It won't be the Giants. They have already said that their all-time leading rusher and the third-leading back in the NFL in terms of per-carry average will not be welcome, and that he can have his release any time he requests it.

But some team will try it, on a one-year, minimum salary basis. Even at the age of 36, he can probably serve in a limited role as a third-down back, a receiver out of the backfield, and an on-the-job trainer for the young backs who need to know the things that only a veteran can teach them.

Why is he trying to play again? It's not for love of the game, it's the result of failed attempts to move ahead, the result of foolish decisions and the result of a crying, desperate need for money.

He never was a very good television performer, despite several opportunities in mixed venues - "Football Night in America," "The Today Show," the winter Olympics, interview spots here and there. When he first retired, he made a point of publicly criticizing head coach Tom Coughlin, then ridiculed the attempt of young quarterback Eli Manning, and neither of those efforts earned him much good will with the fans.

Oh, he also had an affair with a 23-year-old NBC intern, then left his wife of 11 years, Ginny, who was at the time eight months pregnant with twin girls. NBC revoked his contract on the grounds of moral violations, cutting his $300,000 salary to zero, and now he says he is flat broke and cannot make his alimony and child support payments.

Last October the Giants announced their first "Ring of Honor" in October, and when Tiki was introduced he was soundly, roundly booed. Every time the team showed videos on the gigantic scoreboards and action of Tiki carrying the ball came on the crowd booed.

Listen, he was a phenomenal back. He gained 10,449 yards in 2,217 carries. He has the three highest yards gained in a season totals. He has the top two totals for yards gained in a single game. He has the longest two runs from scrimmage in team history, the most rushing touchdowns, most all-purpose yards in a career.

And he just blew away his chances at franchise immortality, apparently permanently.

So now Tiki Barber wants to play again, because he needs the money. He is unique, in a way, because every other hero-status pro football player ever given a chance by a network has made it work.

Tiki is the exception. He was cut loose, abandoned, like a free agent undrafted rookie who couldn't make the team. He couldn't make it at NBC and he couldn't handle retirement graciously and he was a disaster at being a husband and a father and a provider. Well, not entirely. His first NFL head coach, Jim Fassel, now toiling in relative obscurity in Las Vegas with the UFL Locomotives, said he would be "delighted" to have Tiki play for his team. Oh, sure. He can choose between the minimum salary in the NFL of $800,000 or the UFL maximum salary of $50,000.

Considering his recent decisions, maybe he'll actually take it.

Remember, he was a nice guy, always helpful to the media, always flashing his intelligence with a thoughtful response. Sure, but now one looks back and wonders if it was sincere - if any of it was sincere.

Check out Dave's website at E-GIANTS where you can subscribe to his newsletters which run much more frequently than what is available here.
- Team Giants

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