Irvin, Jackson reportedly fire back at Barber
/ FOXSports.com
Posted: 3 hours ago
Michael Irvin seems to feel there will be times when Tiki Barber's teammates will tune him out, according to a New York Post report.
The Giants' star running back intends to retire after the current season. And on his Tuesday night Sirius Satellite Radio show The Barber Shop, Barber, who hosts the show with his twin brother ( and Tampa Bay Buccaneers' defensive back) Ronde, called ESPN analysts Irvin and Tom Jackson "idiots" for publicly criticizing him during the Giants' Monday night victory vs. the Cowboys.
About Irvin, Barber also said: "Please get a clue about how to be a journalist."
Now, Irvin and Jackson have fired back.
"It (the news of Barber's retirement decision) kills his ability to lead," Irvin told The Post. "He is the leader of that football team. If I am a young guy and we are in a battle and we are banging heads and we are fighting. I'm out there getting hit and being hit and we are in a tough spot in a football game.
"If I am in the line of battle and Tiki comes to me and says, 'Come on, give me what you have!' I'm going to look at him and say, 'Aww, shut up. What are you talking about? You are quitting on us.' This stuff will come out on the sideline."
Jackson, on the other hand, reportedly said he was listening to The Barber Shop when the Giants' running back went on the attack.
Jackson is thought to have been surprised by some of Barber's harsh language, but stood by his belief that Barber's decision to retire is a "distraction" to the 4-2 Giants.
"I thought that the name-calling seemed a bit unnecessary," Jackson told The Post on Thursday.
Jackson reportedly says he is a huge Barber fan, that he watches the former University of Virginia standout on FOX & Friends.
"I was asked an opinion about a subject, just the way he is often asked an opinion about a myriad of topics, a plethora of things," Jackson told The Post. "I'm assuming that often times that when he gives those opinions that he has not spoken directly to the people he is talking about because some of those opinions include the President of the United States, the Secretary of State, senators, governors, movies, books, I'm assuming he hasn't spoken to all those people before he gives those opinions. His opinion is no less valid. It is an opinion. That's all."
How do the Giants feel about all of this?
Well, head coach Tom Coughlin, according to other Big Apple media reports, was seething when the news of Barber's retirement intentions went public last week. But Barber's teammates appear to feel differently. And they did not support the comments made by Irvin and Jackson — both of whom are former standout NFL players.
What's more, Barber's retirement plans appear to have made little impact on the other Giants' players.
"For us, it didn't change anything," quarterback Eli Manning said. "We can't worry about next season. It is worrying about this week and this game. Now, we know we can really wear him out this season. We don't have to save anything for next season."
/ FOXSports.com
Posted: 3 hours ago
Michael Irvin seems to feel there will be times when Tiki Barber's teammates will tune him out, according to a New York Post report.
The Giants' star running back intends to retire after the current season. And on his Tuesday night Sirius Satellite Radio show The Barber Shop, Barber, who hosts the show with his twin brother ( and Tampa Bay Buccaneers' defensive back) Ronde, called ESPN analysts Irvin and Tom Jackson "idiots" for publicly criticizing him during the Giants' Monday night victory vs. the Cowboys.
About Irvin, Barber also said: "Please get a clue about how to be a journalist."
Now, Irvin and Jackson have fired back.
"It (the news of Barber's retirement decision) kills his ability to lead," Irvin told The Post. "He is the leader of that football team. If I am a young guy and we are in a battle and we are banging heads and we are fighting. I'm out there getting hit and being hit and we are in a tough spot in a football game.
"If I am in the line of battle and Tiki comes to me and says, 'Come on, give me what you have!' I'm going to look at him and say, 'Aww, shut up. What are you talking about? You are quitting on us.' This stuff will come out on the sideline."
Jackson, on the other hand, reportedly said he was listening to The Barber Shop when the Giants' running back went on the attack.
Jackson is thought to have been surprised by some of Barber's harsh language, but stood by his belief that Barber's decision to retire is a "distraction" to the 4-2 Giants.
"I thought that the name-calling seemed a bit unnecessary," Jackson told The Post on Thursday.
Jackson reportedly says he is a huge Barber fan, that he watches the former University of Virginia standout on FOX & Friends.
"I was asked an opinion about a subject, just the way he is often asked an opinion about a myriad of topics, a plethora of things," Jackson told The Post. "I'm assuming that often times that when he gives those opinions that he has not spoken directly to the people he is talking about because some of those opinions include the President of the United States, the Secretary of State, senators, governors, movies, books, I'm assuming he hasn't spoken to all those people before he gives those opinions. His opinion is no less valid. It is an opinion. That's all."
How do the Giants feel about all of this?
Well, head coach Tom Coughlin, according to other Big Apple media reports, was seething when the news of Barber's retirement intentions went public last week. But Barber's teammates appear to feel differently. And they did not support the comments made by Irvin and Jackson — both of whom are former standout NFL players.
What's more, Barber's retirement plans appear to have made little impact on the other Giants' players.
"For us, it didn't change anything," quarterback Eli Manning said. "We can't worry about next season. It is worrying about this week and this game. Now, we know we can really wear him out this season. We don't have to save anything for next season."
