Tiki Barber Still Jobless, Why Does the NFL Not Want Him Back?

Tiki Barber's return to the NFL has seemingly seen it's chance come and go without any interest from NFL teams.

Barber came out of retirement from a five year hiatus after retiring in 2006. His retirement a year before his former team—the New York Giants—won the Super Bowl is likely something that he regrets.

His retirement came after a season when he posted 1,662 yards rushing with a 5.1 yard average. He was 31 at the time, and while that is old for a running back, his production made his decision a shock to most people.

A 10 year NFL career was followed by a career in broadcasting with NBC.

It was ultimately determined that Barber was better at playing football than analyzing it as his contract was not renewed after what was considered a disappointing tenure with the organization. Barber's life after football hasn't been a rewarding retirement as his career with NBC coincided with his personal life being embroiled in controversy.

Barber's attitude has always been in question and that is one of the reasons that no NFL teams have looked to take him on.

The probability is that there are some teams that would be willing to bring him in to compete but his chances would be slim to none because of his age and lack of experience on special teams.

As a 36-year-old running back, there are very few opportunities going to be coming your way in the NFL. Unless you are willing to play special teams or excel in a certain facet of the game to carve out a role, you have no hope of getting a job.

Tiki Barber isn't a guy with a reputation as being a team guy and probably isn't willing to do the dirty work to help a team win.

While Plaxico Burress is coming back at a similar situation, there is a reason why he has landed with the New York Jets and Barber hasn't found a home.

As a wide receiver Burress can continually play into his late thirties. With his height he will always have a role on a roster as a red-zone target. Guys like Jerry Rice, Hines Ward and Derrick Mason have continued to play as they moved towards their thirties while even Joey Galloway was on an NFL roster last season at 39 years of age.

Thirty-six-year-old running backs are not appealing when the position is so physically demanding and there is so much talent and depth at the position throughout the league.

Barber's best bet at making a living as a football player right now likely lies in the UFL. His NFL career ended five years ago and it's too late to change history now.