Joe knows who Rondé Barber talks to.
The Bucs Hall of Fame corner and game analyst for Bucs preseason TV broadcasts had a lot to say about a rookie cornerback during the broadcast of the first worthless preseason game last weekend against the Bengals.
Barber is a member of Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht’s kitchen cabinet. He is a regular visitor to One Buc Palace, has a keycard and works for the team’s website. At practices, it’s common for Barber to be on the sidelines chatting with Licht or Team Glazer or a Bucs staffer or coach.
It’s not unusual for Barber to come to a staff meeting or two. And after those meetings, if Bucs personnel folks want to enjoy an adult beverage at a nearby establishment, Barber will often tag along to talk ball.
So when Barber references player evals from Bucs shot-callers, Joe believes Barber is getting his intel straight from the top.
Late in the first half Saturday night, Barber went on a long breakdown of how the Bucs really, really, really like undrafted free agent corner Tyrek Funderburk from App State.
(Whenever Joe hears “Funderburk,” Joe thinks of the former Indiana and Ohio State college basketball star forward Lawrence Funderburke.)
“Now undrafted, [Funderburk is] a guy that we probably wouldn’t even have known about,” Barber said on the WFLA-TV Channel 8 produced broadcast. “[Funderburk] played at Appalachian State is really turning heads.
“This guy is — not only is he quick and fast, he’s so confident at the line of scrimmage. He looks like he’s ready to play.
“24 in red is a guy you’re going to have to keep an eye on this preseason because he is putting out some really good tape.”
The fact Barber said Funderburk is “turning heads” is a veiled reference to Licht’s personnel troupe or coaches.
It’s impressed Joe in training camp that the Bucs have like four or five guys backing up starting corners Jamel Dean and Zyon McCollum. Those four or five guys are having solid camps.
Does Joe dare suggest the Bucs may be deep at corner this fall? Joe doesn’t want to give the Bucs the kiss of death by typing such a thing.
