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For some fans, it's about time. For others, “life” wasn't a long enough time period for Tiki Barber to stay away from the New York Football Giants.
In any event, the organization's all-time leading rusher looks to be back in the fold.
It was newly-minted head coach Pat Shurmur who reached out to and welcomed back Tiki, via Paul Schwartz of the New York Post.
“When he called me out of the blue, it was shocking in a sense but it was welcome,’’ Barber told The Post. “We had a great conversation. I was taken by how calm he is and how measured and thoughtful he is, which resonates really well with me, because that’s how I am.’’
Barber, 43, experienced an interesting career in New York. In 10 seasons in North Jersey, the second-round selection started slow and has a third-down back while finishing with the dripping scent of greatness.
His final three seasons (2004-06) were of the Pro Bowl variety with 2005 accounting for a First-Team All-Pro selection. During that season, he compiled 1,860 yards and nine touchdowns to go along with a ridiculous 5.2 yards per carry average. He also caught 54 balls for 530 yards and two scores through the air.
While he was tearing up the field during his final years, he was also extremely critical of teammates on the way out, going as far as to call Eli Manning out for some of (what he thought to be) his shortcomings.
The very first year without Barber on the field in 2007, the Giants captured the Super Bowl by defeating an 18-0 team in the New England Patriots.
To Shurmur, though, his media side and anything coming out of his mouth that's deemed controversial shouldn't impact his status within the organization.
“I reached out to him,’’ Shurmur told The Post. “I wasn’t here for all that. I’m walking into this thing with fresh eyes. He was an outstanding player. I remember he found a way, he kind of had the fumbling thing going and he found a way to fix it, which I was impressed by.’’
It also appears as though the burgeoning new relationship will blossom.
“I appreciate the fact he cared to reach out,’’ Barber said “It was kind of cool. Like a new relationship that was developing and I’m looking forward to furthering it.’’
The man who literally saved Tom Coughlin's job during his final season in the NFL appears to be back in the good graces of the organization.
