Irvin Calls Giants Barber a Quitter

It's been highly publicized that Giants running back Tiki Barber plans to retire at the end of the season, whether the Giants go 0 and 10 or win the Super Bowl. Most fans and members of the media share in the opinion that it's Tiki's decision to make and that if he feels it's time, well, it's time.

That may not be the case with ESPN analyst and former Cowboy Michael Irvin. During last night's broadcast of Monday Night Football Irvin indicated that he thought of Barber as a quitter and went on to say that he considered Barber's status as a team leader to be diminished, if not null and void. Of course, Barber answered the criticism only with his play, as he carried the ball 27 times for 114 yards against Irvin's beloved Cowboys.

As an analyst, Irvin is entitled to broadcast his opinion to the masses, even when it's completely off base, which it was in this case. Tiki Barber is much better off retiring from the game on his own terms, as opposed to being carted off the field on a meat wagon, as Irvin and countless others have. Like Irvin, former Cowboy Troy Aikman had to be told when enough was enough, as he dealt with multiple concussions that caused his career to end prematurely. Emmit Smith, the NFL's all time leading rusher, played the game until the game passed him by, deciding to end his career in obscurity, playing for the lowly Arizona Cardinals and resembling a shell of his former self in the process.

It seems that there's a mentality amongst certain NFL players that one should play until he can't play any more and only lack of skills or an injury should hold them back. It seems that many believe it's better to be carted off the field and put out the pasture than ride into the sunset at the top of one's game. Maybe Irvin and others who share his opinion believe that it's their right to tell Tiki what to do and when to do it. Maybe it would have been better to see a player like Barry Sanders carter off on a stretcher instead of calling it quits at 31, when there was plenty left in the tank. Maybe Irvin just wishes he was back on the football field. But that's for Irvin and his shrink to figure out.

Barber feels as though it's time to pursue other avenues of interest in his life, one that does not revolve solely around football. There's a fine line players must walk when determining when it's time to hang it up and each player needs to look inside himself and make that call, when he feels it's right. If Barber says it's time to go, it's time to go. So Irvin, from now on, live your own life and worry abut your own hangups, because Barbers doing things the Barber way.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 6)

10-24-2006 @ 10:03PM

Stephanie Stradley said...

Basically, to figure out a good football analysis, you take what Irvin says, and think the opposite.

Signed,
Tom Jackson and Steve Young

10-24-2006 @ 9:50PM

Bill said...

Irvin is a one-dimensional moron. He was good at football and that is all he was or ever will be good at. He is a terrible sports broadcaster whose overly biased opinions only further soil the already tarnished reputation of sports broadcasters of whom are former athletes (with some exceptions of course). The bottom line is Tiki Barber knows football is only a game and he can contribute to society in ways that 99% of the nfl can never do, So I say go full speed ahead and never look back!

10-24-2006 @ 10:08PM

Steve Sormani said...

Bill:
I think giving Irvin even one dimension is overly kind. Does ESPN not get it?

Stephanie:
Like Bill, you're giving Irvin undue credit by suggesting that he is cognizant of his surroundings. He likely hasn't had a well developed thought in about 3 years.

10-24-2006 @ 10:47PM

When I said one-dimensional I meant he was a good football player. I think he gets work as a broadcaster because he brings that villainous element whereby people love to hate and disagree with the guy. I never met anyone who ever took Michael Irvin seriously on any level and I would be surprised if I ever did come across anybody so inclined. I bet if enough people complained he would get fired... it worked with Dennis Miller.

10-25-2006 @ 5:38AM

eric said...

moron is to kind of a word now is it not that irving is RETIRED mabe he cannt play any more

10-25-2006 @ 2:06PM

Dan said...

Steve - Like Bill and Stephanie, I think you're giving him to much credit. You mean to tell me he had a well developed thought(s) three years ago?

Hey Irvin, drugs are bad, mmmmkkaaayy

dgiantfan said...

One thing Irvin is not is a quitter, at least this is shown by is drug use

10-25-2006 @ 2:07PM

Dan:
Good point. I think he's on par with Homer Simpson......mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm, drugs.

Freeman said...

And just who in the hell is Michael Irvin, besides a washed-up coke-snorting wide receiver who somehow has duped ESPN, (kinda' like Joe Theismann) into thinking the sports world needs their egotistical rantings. The guy is a CLOWN, nothing more.

10-25-2006 @ 1:22PM

danny said...

Tiki is a class act.
Michael Irvin has alot of class also. The problem is that it is all LOW

Jerry said...

Irvin, what a jerk. When he comes on TV I turn to Fox Sports.

Virgil Mincy said...

M.Irvin is a bad joke, but for more reasons than his stupid mouth leaks; the point that, "for a good analysis...just take opposite to Irvin;s" is well taken.

A more serious question, however, is how he gets a gig like this, in the first place. Let's assume the networks, properly, need to represent our population, hence the "EEOC" syndrome. No problem with that. It is beyond comprenhension,however, that dozens of black communicators could not be found, who could express candid, thoughtful, ideas about sports in an acceptable manner, and, who are more qualified than Irvin. The networks, now, have many; to include Irvin is a disgrace to those many who have worked, studied, and made the effort to improve their craft.

Irvin represents the gangsta, smart-mouth, street trashing-taking thug he appears to be; guess it is that good "THE U" training. The public, and his employers, deserve better.

LB said...

Irvin is wrong to call him a quitter because it is Tiki's choice to make. But he is right about being a leader, because I wouldn't want someone as my leader after they have announced they don't really want to play anymore.

10-25-2006 @ 2:08PM

Don said...

I guess Irvin was smoking crack again when he made those comments. I don't think his mind has ever been the same since the Eagles clocked his clock on the hard Vet turf and ended his career.

john littlefield said...

everybody is bashing michael irvin because he played for the 5 TIME WORLD CHAMPIONS.giants fans are lucky they got 2 championships because of oppenents poor kickers.redskins morons have one real title,the other two are followed by an * - STRIKE YEARS.eagle fans that are adding on to the comments by irvin are BARFABLE-bad taste in your mouths huh.i hope philly fans don't lose their lunch reading this.anybody is entitled to his or her own opinion including all the talking heads on the tube or radio or newspaper.

Tiki is a cclass act. Michael Irvin also has alot of class, problem is it's all LOW

Tiki has alotof class. So does Irvin, problem is it's all low.

john littlebrain if you are proud of a Cowboy who was arrested for drugs, prostitutes, DUI not mention the trouble he was in at "The U" then you have alot to be proud of. This isn't an NFC east thing, this s common sense....the guy's a thug I don't care who he played for.