OT: Giants angry with Ronde Barber

[DisgruntledTunaFan]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22493784/

Giants angry with Ronde Barber, report says

Remark by Bucs CB reportedly becomes bulletin-board material for N.Y.

A war of words has developed between the New York Giants and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, opponents Sunday in a playoff game at Tampa, Fla.

According to Newsday, when the Giants showed up Wednesday to begin preparation for Sunday's game, they were greeted with this quote from Bucs cornerback Ronde Barber:

"Of course we want to play the Giants. They [win] ugly, Shockey's hurt and Eli has been inconsistent."

The remark was made Dec. 18 during Ronde and Tiki Barber's Sirius satellite radio show, "The Barber Shop." According to Newsday, Ronde made the remark after Tiki asked him whether he'd prefer to face the Minnesota Vikings or the New York Giants in the first round.

No Giants player claimed credit for posting the quote, but it was definitely seen in its perch near the locker room, Newsday reported. It could provide more motivation for a team that has thrived on slights, perceived and real, from around the airwaves and the league.

"Typical Barbers," said Antonio Pierce, who has taken issue with some of Tiki's shots at his old team this season, according to Newsday. "I think it's beautiful. We like being known as the one team that shouldn't be here. Maybe we'll go out on Sunday and play different than what people think is usual for us."

At the start of the season, Tiki Barber criticized quarterback Eli Manning for his "comical" attempts at leading the Giants in 2006, which was Tiki Barber's last season before he went to work for NBC. In training camp, Manning ripped Tiki Barber, and that move, combined with the new tone set by Tom Coughlin, forged a team unity that has fostered an "us against them" attitude, Newsday reported.

"I guess it is [unusual]," David Diehl told Newsday. "Anytime someone gives you some bulletin-board material about your team, you notice it. It's about your team, so how could you not take it personally?"

A couple of Giants asked by Newsday about Ronde's quote weren't impressed, or affected much. Manning, unsurprisingly, was one. He said he saw the quote but didn't have anything to say.

"The guy's entitled to his opinion," Brandon Jacobs told Newsday. "They haven't been winning so pretty, either. There's only one Patriots. That stuff doesn't really do anything for me."

"He's just trying to fire up his team," Justin Tuck told Newsday. "You still have to go out and win a football game."

 

[MRBLAZE]

I listen to Sirius radio, and did hear those comments. Some of them were light-hearted, in his banter with Tiki, and some were just honest such as Eli's inconsistent play etc.

I guess when you use up all your energy last game of the season, as a coach you need to use bulletin board stuff like this as a motivator. Either way, Bucs eliminate Giants.

 

[jmt57]

After all these years, Ronde still has yet to atend the BB class on (not) giving the other team any motivation.

Required reading for Ronde: Pittsburgh Steelers and Super Bowl reservations.

 

[sanvara]

After all these years, Ronde still has yet to atend the BB class on (not) giving the other team any motivation.

That's the old school train of thought, but the psychology of players has changed quite a bit over the years.

"A couple of Giants asked by Newsday about Ronde's quote weren't impressed, or affected much."

Not surprising.

"He's just trying to fire up his team," Justin Tuck told Newsday. "You still have to go out and win a football game."

Exactly. The effect of trash talk or disrespect of opponents in the media is really overrated. Few people care anymore. Bulletin board material is amusing on an anecdotal level but has no real affect on the outcome of games except on rare occasions. Its still the safest plan to play it safe and keep your mouth shut, but 99% of the time it doesn't matter. It's s standard ploy by a coach to try and use the disrespect angle to fire up their team to play in the big pre-game motivational speech, but when there is no real bulletin board material the coaches just make something up to suit their needs anyway, and most of that stuff goes in one ear and out the other of today's players because they hear it from their coach before just about every big game and it has become passe.