Looking Back: Ronde Barber's career deserves Hall Of Fame consideration

Is Ronde Barber a surefire Hall of Famer? We certainly think so. Over the course of his 14 year career he's flown a bit under the radar playing for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but looking back at his "greatest hits" makes it easy to see that he deserves to be enshrined.

• He is the only player in NFL history to have 26 sacks and 40 interceptions in his career.
• His 26 career sacks are most by a cornerback in NFL history and first among all active NFL defensive backs.
• Only defensive back in the NFL since the merger (1970) to start each of his team’s games for 11 consecutive seasons.
• Has started 183 consecutive games, the most by a cornerback in NFL history.
• His 183 consecutive starts are also the most in the NFL among all active defenders and second among all active players.
• His 11 career touchdowns on fumble/interception returns ranks second in the NFL among all active players and fourth all-time.
• Named to his fifth career All-Pro Team in 2006 (second team). Also earned first-team honors in 2001, 2004 and 2005 and second-team honors in 2002.
• Became first cornerback in NFL history and just seventh player all-time to record 20 career interceptions and 20 career sacks when he posted the 20th sack of his career at Carolina (12/11/05).
• Since joining Tampa Bay, the Buccaneers defense has finished ranked in the Top 10 in the NFL in total defense in 11 of his 14 seasons and in the Top 5 on eight occasions.
• Part of a defense that has ranked in the Top 10 in the NFL in pass defense in 12 of his 14 seasons.
• Became the Buccaneers all-time career interception leader in 2007, surpassing CB Donnie Abraham by intercepting his 32nd career pass vs. Washington (11/25/07).
• Posted a career-high 10 interceptions in 2001, which tied him for first in NFL and also marked a Buccaneers single-season record.
• Has scored 13 regular season touchdowns in his career (seven interception returns, four fumble returns, one return of a deflected punt),  and one return of a blocked punt to lead all defensive players in team history.
• Became first player in team history to return two interceptions for touchdowns in same game during regular season when he twice picked off QB Donovan McNabb (10/22/06).
• His career-high 120 tackles in 2005 surpassed his own team single-season record for most tackles by a cornerback (111 tackles in 2003 and 2004).
• Only cornerback in team history to record four consecutive 100-tackle seasons and six overall.
• His 1,260 tackles are most by a cornerback in team history and rank second overall in team annals.
• Made his 172nd consecutive start vs. New Orleans (10/17/10), surpassing Hall of Fame CB Dick LeBeau for the most consecutive starts by a cornerback in NFL history.
• His 209 career games played second in team history, and his 200 career starts rank second in team annals.
• Posted one of the most memorable and dominating defensive performances in NFC Championship Game history, forcing a fumble, posting one sack and sealing the win at Philadelphia (1/19/03) with a 92-yard interception return for a touchdown.
• On two occasions has corralled a team single-game record three interceptions, vs. New Orleans (12/23/01) and at New Orleans (12/4/05).

2010 HIGHLIGHTS:

• Named a defensive team captain.
• For the 12th time in his 14-year career, was part of a defense that ranked in the Top 10 in the NFL in pass defense.
• Ranked second on the team with three interceptions on the season.
• Ranked first on the team with 16 passes defensed.
• Ranked third on the team with 102 tackles.
• Made his 172nd consecutive start vs. New Orleans (10/17), surpassing Hall of Fame CB Dick LeBeau for the most consecutive starts by a cornerback in NFL history.
• Led the team with a season-high 13 tackles vs. St. Louis (10/24).
• Appeared in his 200th career game at Arizona (10/31).
• Recorded his 40th career interception at San Francisco (11/21).
• Started his 200th career game in the season finale at New Orleans (1/2).