Should the New York Giants Kick the Tires on Tiki Barber?

It sounds crazy when one looks at the age and the history but "desperate times" and all that. The New York Giants continue to struggle to find enough help on offense. Should they give Tiki Barber one more NFL shot?

Hakeem Nicks and Ahmad Bradshaw injuries add to Giants woes

Eli Manning did it again in the 4th quarter, but it cost him half the key pieces to the Giants offense. Two of his top receivers in Hakeem Nicks (foot) and Domenik Hixon (concussion) are out of their Thursday Night tilt with Carolina. Nicks has not played fully healthy since the Super Bowl last season. Hixon hasn't finished a full season yet in a Giants uniform. Adding to the problems is the loss of starting running back Ahmad Bradshaw to neck injury. Rookie first round pick David Wilson still hasn't impressed head coach Tom Coughlin which could mean New York starts their third-string back until Bradshaw return. No matter how one looks at it the Giants are in trouble. Their defense has given up 58 points in two games thanks to a flurry of injuries to their secondary. Manning still runs the show but not even he can plug every hole. On the other hand New York isn't shy about bringing guys off the street to help them in a crisis. They did it last year with linebacker Chase Blackburn. Could they do it again with a more familiar face?

Tiki admits Ronde Barber comes first but Big Blue still rules

The last time Tiki Barber wore Giants blue he was the NFL rushing champion and at the top of his game. Six years in retirement would make most men soft in body but not heart. Though Barber had a brief feud with New York after he hung up the cleats he has since changed his tune. In a weekly article he talked about the recent victory the Giants had over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He stated he hoped the Bucs would win mostly because his twin brother Ronde played safety for Tampa. However at the end of the day he was still "bleeding Big Blue." It's clear he never stopped loving the team he had so many good years with. At age 37 it is a major stretch to think he could make a comeback but a look at history says one year might not go so bad. Running backs take the most pounding of any player on the field but Barber retired in his prime without any major injury problems. He also has history with Giants coördinator Kevin Gilbride. To think he can come in and help stabilize the backfield for Manning is almost unbelievable. On the other hand nothing is impossible.

Tiki Barber isn't a savior for any NFL team but the New York Giants need help on offense. He may not have the same burst as Ahmad Bradshaw but at the right price he can give the defending champs some depth where they need it.

Photo Credit - The Other Paper

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