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.

Postponed Retirement Parties

Tony Gonzalez's final farewell after losing to the 49ers may not be
his final farewell after all. Photo credit to Bleacher Report.

No, Ray Lewis will not be back in 2013, although I’m sure some Ravens fans wouldn’t mind an offseason ‘Lewis Watch.’

But two other veterans may put off retirement plans.

The first is London Fletcher, the middle linebacker for the Washington Redskins. There have been questions about whether he will retire for the past three years, and many people felt strongly that this would be his last run. But after the team made the playoffs this year, and with high expectations for next year, Fletcher has not made a decision on his retirement plans.

I anticipate him returning next season, but I won’t be shocked if he does opt to hang up his cleats. He has had a very impressive career. He led the league in tackles in 2011, his 14^th season in the NFL, and he again led the Redskins in tackles last season. It would be a huge loss to the team if he retires, but I think most Redskins fans know we can’t ask any more of him than what he’s already given the team, so we’ll respect his decision either way.

The other player whose highly anticipated retirement might be put off is Falcons tight end Tony Gonzalez. As the 2012 season wound down, Gonzalez never waivered from his stance that this would be his last run. It seems he may finally have strayed from that decision.

The Falcons had yet another excellent regular season, and their postseason victory over the Seahawks was the first playoff win of Gonzalez’s career, despite also playing on excellent Chiefs teams in the mid-2000s.

Perhaps the joy of that postseason win and the NFC Championship appearance is something he wants more of. Gonzalez clearly is still at the top of his game and is absolutely among the top four tight ends in the NFL right now.

Atlanta has not set a deadline for him to make a decision. His future is the top priority for the Falcons right now, even over Matt Ryan, whose contract will be up after the 2013 season.

Tony Gonzalez has said that if he does return, it will not be anywhere but Atlanta. I’m sure the Falcons appreciate that, but they’ll appreciate it more if he returns.

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