2013 Offseason Update, Week 14

After 16 seasons, all in Tampa Bay, Ronde Barber is retiring from the NFL.
He is the NFL record-holder for sack and consecutive starts by a cornerback.
Photo credit to buccaneers.com.

It’s a dead period in the NFL. I was too optimistic when I planned on writing multiple blog posts each week over the course of the offseason. As it is, it’s difficult to find enough worthy topics for a weekly update. Here is what I’ve got for you this week.

Ronde Retires

Tiki Barber retired in 2006 but is currently unretired and a free agent in the NFL. At 38-years-old, twin brother Ronde is unlikely to have any comeback bids in his future.

The Tampa Bay lifer only led the league in interceptions once, in 2001, the year before helping the Buccaneers secure their first and only Lombardi Trophy in Super Bowl XXXVII.

He was never an interception king, but he played sound defense for 16 seasons and is the franchise record holder for interceptions. He was selected to five Pro Bowls and finished his career with 215 consecutive starts, and NFL record for a defensive back (he made 200 consecutive starts at cornerback, also an NFL record, before making a start at safety in Week 2 of this season.

Barber also ends his career as the NFL record holder for sacks by a cornerback, with 28 in his career. Though his numbers don’t measure up to the all-time great NFL defensive backs, like Ronnie Lott and Deion Sanders, most sports writers are calling Ronde Barber a shoe-in for the Hall of Fame.

Texans Hope Defense can Win for Offense

Gary Kubiak confirmed this week that Brian Cushing is back and “looks good.” Cushing was lost for the year midway through last season. The defense mostly overcame the loss with J.J. Watt having a stellar year, but the offense proved to be a weakness late in the season and in the playoffs.

Unless Matt Schaub returns to 2010 form, the defense will need to be even better than in 2012, and Cushing is the key.

John Abraham Moves On

Abraham is out in Atlanta, but has been in talks with the Tennessee Titans for a week now. The news that the parties were working on a deal came out last Monday. There haven’t been many updates to the story, other than Mike Munchak confirming on Saturday that they are still considering John Abraham as an addition to the roster.

Abraham was a solid defensive end for the New York Jets for several years before being traded to Atlanta and becoming an even more imposing presence on the defensive front. However, a rough 2012 which included injury problems late in the season led the Falcons to release Abraham despite signing him to a 3-year contract worth over $16 million last June.

If I’m missing anything important, or if you just want to hear my thoughts on any other offseason news from the past week, feel free to contact me via my Twitter account, @cpuffnfl.