And for good reason. His mouth was going to make him a television star. A star so bright he would shine not only as a "regular" on NBC's "Today" show but also as a featured player on "Football Night In America."
See, if Tiki Barber had made it in TV, made it so big NBC would have added years and dollars when his three-year, $6 million contract expired in 2009, there would be no need to put the pads back on and be reduced to a one-word punch line.
Barber's comeback motives are being questioned. Is it born out of passion for the game or does he simply need the money? Ironically, his ultimate broadcasting agenda led to his TV demise. It's an ending built on Barber and NBC's unrealistic evaluation of his talent.
After Barber told Fox's Jay Glazer he wanted to play football again, the analysis began. Those moments when Tiki was critical of the Giants, whether it be Tom Coughlin or Eli Manning, were rehashed. The calendar pages were turned back to August 2007, when many who pay attention to such matters believe Barber's TV career started tanking. That's when he debuted on NBC's "Football Night In America" during halftime of a Giants-Ravens exhibition game.
In an instant (one minute, 15 seconds, to be exact) Barber created controversy. He questioned Manning's ability to lead, punctuating his measured analysis with what he thought was a throwaway line: "Sometimes it was almost comical the way he (Manning) would say things." Those words turned into headlines. Manning shot back a few days later, giving the story legs.
Barber was branded an ingrate by the Giants organization. Fans, who already perceived him as a phony, were further angered. NBC Sports suits were ecstatic. If Barber had tarnished his Giants legacy it was of no consequence to them. Barber was doing exactly what he was paid to do, offer a strong opinion. All the better that it generated controversy.
This was Barber's first, last and only great on-camera moment. His TV career was already headed down the tubes when he insisted on emphasizing his commitment to "Today" and setting his sights on becoming the next Matt which amounted to science fiction.
Still, Barber, in nearly every interview, expressed his goal. From the outside looking in this reinforced the notion his lucrative NBC contract was being driven by the network's news/entertainment division, not sports. The sports component was only used to justify his $2 million per year salary.
