Jun 4, 2015; Tampa, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston (3) points as he calls a play during workouts at One Buc Place. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Ronde Barber’s twin brother Tiki Barber was once a great New York Giants running back. Then he retired, became a commentator and he was very critical of Giants quarterback Eli Manning. And that would start a media feud between the ex-teammates that has carried on to this day.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers legend Ronde Barber has since retired and become a commentator for FOX. Twins are genetically the same so you know Barber isn’t timid when voicing his opinion. And he recently got the chance to tell JoeBucsFan.com what he thinks of 2015 No. 1 overall Jameis Winston.
Barber said on CBS Radio, via JoeBucsFan.com, “He gives you the spectacular, but he also gives you the rookie. But what I will say about is he plays with zero fear. He’ll let go of any ball. He has that confidence. I’ve played against guys that have supreme confidence in themselves and their ability to make plays. You can already see it. He has no fear letting the ball go.”
Barber has seen Buffalo Bills quarterback E.J. Manuel and made a stark contrast between he and Winston.
He said, “The guy that preceded him at Florida State, E.J. Manuel, I did a couple of games of Buffalo over these two years that I’ve been working at FOX, and he is the other way. He’s timid. He holds the ball. He’s scared to deliver it when he needs to. This guy is the complete opposite, maybe to a detriment at times; he throws a lot of interceptions.
“But he has that “it,” that bravado, that gunslinger mentality, if I could use that (tired) cliché, to be a great quarterback in this league. I think the good ones have that. Now how he learns to deal with that as a pro and take care of the football and do the right things on the football field? But he has the tools.”
One big vote of confidence by a tough critic.