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POSTED 10:20 a.m. EDT, September 7, 2007
OTHER ANALYSTS TAKE ISSUE WITH TIKI by Michael David Smith
Tiki Barber's criticisms of his old coach, Tom Coughlin, and his old quarterback, Eli Manning, aren't just rankling people in the Giants' locker room. They're also drawing criticism from some of Barber's fellow players-turned-commentators.
Michael Hiestand of USA Today reports that an informal survey of other NFL analysts finds that most of them think Barber crossed the line by going after his own former coach and teammate.
Rodney Peete, a former NFL quarterback who's now a commentator for Fox Sports Net, said, "To go at somebody's character after you're done playing is cowardly."
Phil Simms of CBS said he has "some things I'd like to say" publicly about old coach Bill Parcells but cited "respect for the game" for why he won't say those things.
Michael Irvin, formerly of ESPN, said Barber was "absolutely wrong."
Troy Aikman of Fox said, "now I understand why that team underachieved," apparently suggesting that Barber was undermining the team in the locker room.
For his part, Barber says that as long as he's cashing his paycheck from NBC -- not the Giants -- he's going to say what he thinks NBC viewers want to hear, not what the Giants want him to say.
Barber is correct that his loyalties should lie with his viewers, and that providing the audience at home with insight is more important than maintaining collegiality with his former teammates and coaches. But since leaving the Giants, Barber has come across as though he's going out of his way to find reasons to criticize his ex-mates. At some point, he's going to need to find something new to talk about.
OTHER ANALYSTS TAKE ISSUE WITH TIKI by Michael David Smith
Tiki Barber's criticisms of his old coach, Tom Coughlin, and his old quarterback, Eli Manning, aren't just rankling people in the Giants' locker room. They're also drawing criticism from some of Barber's fellow players-turned-commentators.
Michael Hiestand of USA Today reports that an informal survey of other NFL analysts finds that most of them think Barber crossed the line by going after his own former coach and teammate.
Rodney Peete, a former NFL quarterback who's now a commentator for Fox Sports Net, said, "To go at somebody's character after you're done playing is cowardly."
Phil Simms of CBS said he has "some things I'd like to say" publicly about old coach Bill Parcells but cited "respect for the game" for why he won't say those things.
Michael Irvin, formerly of ESPN, said Barber was "absolutely wrong."
Troy Aikman of Fox said, "now I understand why that team underachieved," apparently suggesting that Barber was undermining the team in the locker room.
For his part, Barber says that as long as he's cashing his paycheck from NBC -- not the Giants -- he's going to say what he thinks NBC viewers want to hear, not what the Giants want him to say.
Barber is correct that his loyalties should lie with his viewers, and that providing the audience at home with insight is more important than maintaining collegiality with his former teammates and coaches. But since leaving the Giants, Barber has come across as though he's going out of his way to find reasons to criticize his ex-mates. At some point, he's going to need to find something new to talk about.
