The Pewter Plank
FanSided

Buccaneers: Who will be the next Ring of Honor inductee?

By David Harrison

ATLANTA, GA - DECEMBER 30: Ronde Barber #20 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers reacts after their 22-17 win over the Atlanta Falcons at Georgia Dome on December 30, 2012 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - DECEMBER 30: Ronde Barber #20 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers reacts after their 22-17 win over the Atlanta Falcons at Georgia Dome on December 30, 2012 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
5 of 8
Next
PHILADELPHIA, PA – JANUARY 19: The Philadelphia Eagles bench watch as Cornerback Ronde Barber #20 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers runs for a touchdown after intercepting a pass by Quarterback Donovan McNabb #5 of the Philadelphia Eagles during the fourth quarter of the NFC Championship game at Veterans Stadium on January 19, 2003 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Buccaneers defeated the Eagles 27-10. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA – JANUARY 19: The Philadelphia Eagles bench watch as Cornerback Ronde Barber #20 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers runs for a touchdown after intercepting a pass by Quarterback Donovan McNabb #5 of the Philadelphia Eagles during the fourth quarter of the NFC Championship game at Veterans Stadium on January 19, 2003 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Buccaneers defeated the Eagles 27-10. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images) /

Bailey Adams

The Ring of Honor induction is one of my favorite parts of the Buccaneers’ season every year. Especially lately with the inductees from the 2002-2003 Super Bowl team, I have been taken back to my early childhood. Seeing individuals I watched when I was four and five years old getting their names up in the stadium has been nostalgic and fun. So, who’s next?

I’m assuming the Bucs will once again pick two people for next year’s inductions. Now that Jon Gruden got his recognition, my guess is that Tony Dungy will soon get his too. Maybe that’s next year, but that’s not the pick I’m going with for my answer here. My pick is Ronde Barber.

Must Read: Week 16 Game Changers

Barber, as I wrote here, should be a no-brainer for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Even if he doesn’t make the cut just yet, 2018 would still be a great year to have his Ring of Honor ceremony. Why? Well, Tampa Bay hosts the Philadelphia Eagles next season. Of course, the most iconic moment of his career—and maybe in Buccaneer history—came against the Eagles. His game-sealing pick six in the NFC Championship Game sent the Bucs to the Super Bowl. He very well could be a first-ballot Hall of Famer this year as well. So, the opponent and timing couldn’t be better.

There’s really no need to get into Barber’s credentials, but we can anyway. He is the only player in league history to record 40 interceptions and 25 sacks throughout his career. In sixteen seasons, he picked off 47 passes and racked up 28 sacks. He was a five-time Pro Bowl selection and a three-time All-Pro. To top it all off, he was a Super Bowl champion.

Not only should Barber’s name go up in the ring of honor, but his number should be retired as well. Lee Roy Selmon, Warren Sapp and Derrick Brooks are the only three to have their jersey numbers retired. Barber’s number should be the fourth.

Home/Bucs News