Tiki Barber: 5 Reasons the Former Giants RB Isn't Even Pulling Preseason Duty

Tiki Barber's attempted comeback has received a ton of publicity, yet no team has signed him. The Miami Dolphins did work him out and said he looked good, but there are still no offers for Barber.

So why is that? Why is it that no one wants a running back who has over 10,000 career yards and three All-Pro selections?

Let's take a look at some of the reasons. 

5. His Motive

When a guy comes out of retirement after four seasons people have to ask why?

While Barber insists it's for the love of the game, the New York Post ran a story that Barber needed the money to pay for a divorce settlement with his wife. 

When a team hears that a guy might just be in it for the money, it's an issue. Those kind of guys don't give it 100 percent on the field: just look at Albert Haynesworth.

Barber needs to shake this stigma. 

4. He Fumbles...a Lot

I've always heard that Barber had problems holding onto the ball, but I didn't realize how BAD they were until I looked at his stats.

In the middle of his career, Barber had four straight seasons where he fumbled at least eight times. There are teams that barely turn the ball over that many times in a season. There are quarterbacks who throw less interceptions than that.

Why would a team bring on a guy who hasn't played in years and has a history of fumble issues? 

Barber can't be expected to shake off the rust and not fumble simultaneously. 

3. He Hasn't Played in Four Seasons

Barber hasn't been hit by a NFL player since 2006.

Barber hasn't broken an open field tackle since 2006.

Barber hasn't sprinted into the end zone since 2006.

What he has done is host the Golden Globes, be a correspondent for The Today Show, and written two books.

If it had only been a year or two, Barber would have stood a chance at coming back, but four years is just too much. Barber isn't a football player anymore; he's just a celebrity. 

2. Running Backs Are a Dime a Dozen in the NFL

For as important a position running back is, it is also an odd one.

You're just as likely to find the next star on your practice squad as you are with the first pick in the NFL draft.

Who would have ever predicted that Arian Foster would have a more productive NFL career than Reggie Bush?

And it's just that reasoning that no team needs to take a risk on Barber. There is not much that separates running backs, and Barber's best days are past him. Teams are better off giving a rookie preseasons reps than Barber. 

1. He's Old

Comebacks can work, but you have to be young.

Look at Michael Jordan; the first one worked, the second one didn't.

Look at Brett Favre; not many of his comebacks were successful.

Barber is 36, which is well over the hill for the NFL. In his last season he ran for over 1,600 yards for his for his fifth consecutive 1,000 yard season, but there isn't an NFL team out there who believes Barber is anywhere close to being capable of that kind of productivity again.

It's questionable whether Barber would even still be playing had he stayed in the NFL the last four years, let alone spent them testing out his celebrity.

Barber won't find himself an NFL job unless there are a ton, A TON, of injuries this season.