Ronde Barber finds himself, for the first time, on the list of nominees for the 2018 Hall of Fame.
Barber was a third round selection in the 1997 NFL draft. In Ronde’s 16 year career, he had been selected to five Pro Bowls, 2 second team All-Pro, 3 first team All-Pro, and to the National Football League’s 2000s All-Decade Team.
Barber is also one of two members, (Charles Woodson), of the 40/20 club, meaning he had 40+ interceptions and 20+ quarterback sacks. In 2001, he led all NFL players in interceptions and is the Tampa Bay Buccaneers all-time interception leader. Barber was a big part of the defense that took the Buccaneers to the Super Bowl, where they walloped the Oakland Raiders 48- 21!
Barber also owns the record for the most consecutive starts by a defensive back.
Ex- Buccaneers safety John Lynch once again finds himself on the nominees list. Lynch, who was drafted by the Buccaneers in the third round of the 1993 draft, played for 11 seasons for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He earned 5 Pro bowl selections, 3 first team All-Pro, one second team All-Pro, and the Buccaneers Ring of Honor. He also a key figure on the Buccaneers Super Bowl winning defense.
After his stint in Tampa, he played four seasons with the Denver Broncos where he was selected to four more Pro Bowls and earned himself another Ring of Honor. Lynch is still widely recognized as one of the hardest hitting, most feared safeties ever to play the game.
In addition to Barber and Lynch, Simeon Rice also finds himself on the Hall of Fame nominees list.
In 1996, Simeon Rice was selected in the first round, pick three, in the NFL draft by the Arizona Cardinals. Rice played with the Cardinals for 5 seasons before heading to Tampa. During his 6 seasons in Tampa, he recorded an astounding 68.5 sacks and helped the Buccaneers to the playoffs in 2001 and a Super Bowl win in 2003.
After the playing for the Buccaneers, Rice went on to play for the Denver Broncos and the Indianapolis Colts before retiring. During his illustrious career, Rice recorded a 122 sacks, which is good for the NFL’s 12th all-time career sack leader. Additionally, he is the second fastest player in history to reach 100 career sacks placing him just behind another all-time great, Reggie White.
If they are selected to the NFL Hall of Fame, they will join former teammates Warren Sapp and Derrick Brooks.
Former Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive tackle Lee Roy Selmon and former head coach Tony Dungy are also enshrined in Canton.
