TAMPA, Fla. — The day belongs to Ronde Barber. The honor and legacy, too.
His election to the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Thursday evening is as gratifying as it is worthy for an athlete who played a pivotal role in the evolution of nickel cornerbacks in the modern NFL.
And while his bust in Canton will forever immortalize his career in football, it serves another purpose as well. It validates an entire generation of Tampa Bay fans who were certain they were seeing something special while watching the Bucs play defense in the early 2000s.