Tiki Barber comeback fails, agent "flabbergasted"

Former New York Giants Tiki Barber is inducted into the Giants "Ring of Honor" during halftime of a game between the Chicago Bears and the New York Giants at New Meadowlands Stadium on October 3, 2010 in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

/ Photo by Andrew Burton/Getty Images

Don't call it a comeback.

Tiki Barber's bid at returning to the NFL can officially be declared a disaster. With the season kicking off this week, teams have finalized their rosters but the former star running back never got any serious interest.

And now one league insider hears Barber is "devastated" and his agent is "flabbergasted."

According to Sports Illustrated's Peter King: "I tried to reach Barber on Sunday, but he wasn't talking. I hear he's devastated that no team gave him a chance. You might wonder if teams would bring him in after the first game of the season, so his contract wouldn't be guaranteed, and that could still happen. But with no team calling (agent Mark) Lepselter with even a hint of interest, it's more likely teams would start with backs who've been in some football competition this summer."

In fact, since Barber announced he was "unretiring" in March, just one team (Miami) worked him out. Their murky assessment? He did a "nice job."

"We are flabbergasted that Tiki has not had an opportunity with any team, especially when rosters were at 90 players this year," Lepselter told King on Sunday. "I certainly thought some team would be intrigued to see what he had left in the tank.''

Realistically no one should be "flabbergasted" by the lack of interest considering Barber's age (36), his reputation as a teammate (less than stellar) and his off-the-field drama (making strange Anne Frank analogies and dumping his pregnant wife for a "hot blonde," for example).

But it's worth noting that Barber was at the top of his game when he left the NFL. In fact, he led all running backs in total yards from scrimmage in the last three years of his playing days. At the ripe old age of 30 (in 2005), he rushed for an amazing 1,860 yards and scored 11 TDS.

Even half that production would be worthy of a roster spot on many teams. But apparently Barber just couldn't convince any GM he was worth the trouble.

At least Barber can take comfort in his "hot blonde" - last week, the two got engaged.

[wfw3536]

This guy is such a loser the way he cheated and left his pregnant wife. He was always all about himself, never was a team player.

[Forty-Four]

Its like if Barry Sanders returned...12 years later. Sanders was amazing, but I highly doubt he would still be good 12 years after the fact.

[stinger35773]

Teams are tired of showboat crybabies who bring nothing but drama and headache. Any coach doesn't want to bother with another deadbeat father who can't come to practice because he is always in court. Tiki should notice the deafening silence and be lucky he can get commentator jobs.

[TopCat1948]

Tiki was no bargain as a player - terrible teammate, apparently. Whiney, crabby, overly-critical, and certainly unable to look at his own poor performance without blaming someone else.

Too bad.

[superdem1]

He left his wife pregnant with twins for another woman ? And the other woman didn't send him home, so she's trash, just like Tiki. What a sad story. Wait till Tiki finds someone hotter, honey - the Tiki clock is ticking for you. What comes around goes around. If he'd leave a wife and unborn babies for your stuff, what would it take for him to dump you ? Not much. Every dog loves a fresh bone.

[formrusmcsgt]

How humiliating, eh?

The schmuck deserves every bit of it.

[curtiswherron]

Tiki Barber is a scumbag, the fact that he left his wife while she was pregnant with his twins tells you what kind of guy he is. I think that head coaches and GM's realize he is not a stand up guy. I wouldn't hire him to cut my grass.

[mecury69]

Your personality got you nowhere Tiki.

Karma's a ***** ain't it?

[ssporleder]

Not a popular guy with the public since he cheated on his wife...maybe others recognized this and did themselves a favor.