Ronde Barber Believes Brother Tiki Can 'Bounce Back' Into Giants Fans' Good Graces
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) - The Giants are playing host to the Buccaneers on Sunday, which means that cornerback Ronde Barber will be doing everything in his power to disrupt the Giants' secondary.
It also likely means that his brother, Giants legend Tiki, will be at the sports complex where he played for 10 illustrious seasons.
Tiki, Big Blue's all-time leading rusher, has not been a fan favorite since he retired abruptly following the 2006 season. Once a beloved Giant, he drew the ire of fans, former teammates and coaches when he openly criticized Eli Manning and Tom Coughlin. Since then, the three-time Pro Bowler has been the constant recipient of boos from Giants fans.
When Tiki was inducted into New York's "Ring of Honor" at the Meadowlands, he was greeted by boos from the fans that once relentlessly chanted his name.
Though there is no sign of Tiki getting back into Giants fans' good graces anytime soon, Ronde believes that his brother can -- at some point -- be remembered fondly by Big Blue nation.
"There's no doubt that he was a great player for them, and he'll always be," Ronde told reporters on Wednesday. "Those records (Tiki set) will never go away, so it is what it is. He'll bounce back into there, hopefully on the good side of that relationship sooner or later."
A second-round pick out of Virginia in 1997, Tiki played in New York until 2006. Once known for his propensity to fumble, the running back ultimately had a remarkable career with the Giants. The hard-running back finished his career with 10,449 rushing yards, 55 rushing touchdowns, 586 receptions and three All-Pro selections.
