Tiki Barber

Tiki Barber says failures off the field after his retirement from football in 2006 led to a yearlong bout with depression. The 36-year-old Barber, the New York Giants’ career leading rusher, acknowledged in an HBO report to be aired Tuesday that he now needs football more than it needs him. Barber has spent the past four months working out in an attempt to make a comeback, although his chances rest on the league and its players reaching a...

Fourth in a collection of eight memorable Patriots-Giants games Sept. 26, 1999, at Foxborough > Patriots 16 Giants 14 Two similar teams were just a few weeks into what would be disappointing seasons for both (the 8-8 Patriots and 7-9 Giants each averaged 18.7 points per game). The Patriots likely figured on something different after their third win in a 4-0 start, holding the Giants to 188 total yards and 7 points after nearly 57 minutes. Kent Graham's 1-yard touchdown pass to Tiki Barber with 1:14 remaining provided a 2-point margin, but Ben Coates corralled the onside kick to seal it for...

Fourth in a collection of eight memorable Patriots-Giants games Sept. 26, 1999, at Foxborough > Patriots 16 Giants 14 Two similar teams were just a few weeks into what would be disappointing seasons for both (the 8-8 Patriots and 7-9 Giants each averaged 18.7 points per game). The Patriots likely figured on something different after their third win in a 4-0 start, holding the Giants to 188 total yards and 7 points after nearly 57 minutes. Kent Graham's 1-yard touchdown pass to Tiki Barber with 1:14 remaining provided a 2-point margin, but Ben Coates corralled the onside kick to seal it for...

Ronde Barber leaned back and then forward in his seat, pondering the question before finally concluding he had no recollection of the first time he played on Monday Night Football. Didn't have a clue where, when or even who the Tampa Bay Buccaneers faced. What he recalled was playing in primetime meant a lot. Still does for a team craving national attention. "It's the only game in town that night," Barber said. "Everybody's watching, and you get a chance to showcase yourself.

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- With the way Kurt Warner and Michael Strahan played, the New York Giants never had to worry about a letdown against the injury-ravaged Cleveland Browns. Warner set up a touchdown run by Tiki Barber with a long pass, and the veteran quarterback capped another drive with his second career regular-season TD run in a 27-10 win over the Browns yesterday. "More important than who we were playing today and what the Cleveland Browns brought to the table was, 'Can the New York Giants not beat themselves?

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- To the New Orleans Saints, last night's bizarre "home" opener was unfair from the outset. And they played like they didn't even want to be in Giants Stadium, losing, 27-10, to the New York Giants. "They made this seem like the Super Bowl," quarterback Aaron Brooks said of the NFL and the hoopla after New Orleans had six turnovers and 13 penalties. "We played a team that outplayed us today, but it was way overdone. Setting up a stage, traveling out here, was uncalled for. "Try not to patronize us next time, traveling us to New York, saying we're...

Jeff Garcia will replace Donovan McNabb as the Philadelphia Eagles' starting quarterback Sunday against the Indianapolis Colts. Eagles coach Andy Reid said he thinks Garcia, signed in March, was simply the best person for the job. Garcia, who was chosen over A.J. Feeley, has spent a large part of his career working in the West Coast offense. Garcia completed 26 of 48 passes for 189 yards after McNabb tore a ligament in his right knee in the second quarter in Sunday's 31-13 loss to the Tennessee Titans.

IRVING, Texas - Wade Phillips threw a soft uppercut and smiled widely. He did it early, when his first gamble as coach of the Dallas Cowboys worked out - then again in the closing minutes, following a touchdown that also made him let out a big sigh of relief. Marion Barber got things rolling with an 18-yard touchdown run on fourth and 1, Terrell Owens added two highlight-reel touchdown catches, and Tony Romo made up for an interception with a 51-yard touchdown pass to Sam Hurd for a 45-35 victory over the injury-depleted New York Giants last night.

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- The Chicago Bears stole the New York Giants' early-season formula for success -- again and again and again. The Bears forced five turnovers, including three consecutive plays in a 20-point explosion late in the first half, in beating the Giants, 28-21, yesterday. "We made plays when we really needed to," said defensive end Alex Brown, who had four of the Bears' seven sacks. "They scored two quick touchdowns, but we knew we had to stay in our gap and play ball.

MINNEAPOLIS -- After another loss to the New York Giants, Mike Tice walked into the interview room and announced the only good news of the afternoon for Minnesota. "The Giants are not on our schedule next year," the coach said. "Thank God. " Thanks to a swarming defense, some tough runs by Tiki Barber, a few big catches by Jeremy Shockey and a turnover-free performance by Kurt Warner, the Giants beat the Vikings, 34-13, yesterday. Going back to their 41-0 loss in the NFC championship game that followed the 2000 season, the Vikings haven't had much luck against New York.

Tiki Barber says failures off the field after his retirement from football in 2006 led to a yearlong bout with depression. The 36-year-old Barber, the New York Giants’ career leading rusher, acknowledged in an HBO report to be aired Tuesday that he now needs football more than it needs him. Barber has spent the past four months working out in an attempt to make a comeback, although his chances rest on the league and its players reaching a...

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - They were a bad joke. "Woe and Two," the Star-Ledger carped after the New York Giants opened the season with two straight losses. "Indefensible," the Daily Record whined. "We Are All Embarrassed," the Daily News concluded. Eli Manning, their unproven quarterback, still had former teammate Tiki Barber's knife in his back (Barber had hyped his new broadcasting career by calling Manning's attempts at leadership "comical"). Star defensive end Michael Strahan was playing as if he had extended his preseason holdout to games that counted.

IRVING, Texas - Wade Phillips threw a soft uppercut and smiled widely. He did it early, when his first gamble as coach of the Dallas Cowboys worked out - then again in the closing minutes, following a touchdown that also made him let out a big sigh of relief. Marion Barber got things rolling with an 18-yard touchdown run on fourth and 1, Terrell Owens added two highlight-reel touchdown catches, and Tony Romo made up for an interception with a 51-yard touchdown pass to Sam Hurd for a 45-35 victory over the injury-depleted New York Giants last night.

INDIANAPOLIS -- Running back Corey Dillon wants to leave the game on his own terms, saying yesterday he will ask the Patriots for his release and is prepared to retire. "I think more of my health, how I envision myself 5-10 years down the road," Dillon said via cellphone from California. "I don't want to be broken down, not able to play with my kids. I've been blessed and fortunate enough to play 10 years. I can get up and walk around and be comfortable. That's one of the big determining factors.

PHILADELPHIA -- Some of his teammates couldn't watch David Akers when he lined up for the winning kick, preferring to let the crowd's reaction tell them the outcome. Given recent events around the NFL, nobody could blame them. The fans' roar gave them the news -- snap, hold, and kick were perfect this time as Akers hit a 38-yard field goal with no time remaining to give the Philadelphia Eagles a 23-20 victory over the New York Giants in a wild-card playoff game yesterday. A day after Dallas lost to Seattle when quarterback Tony Romo fumbled the hold on what could have...

The New York Giants have a message for Philly: Bring on the boobirds. Heading into Sunday's first-round playoff game against the Eagles, the Giants expect plenty of venom from the notoriously boorish fans at Philadelphia's Lincoln Financial Field. And that's just the way they like it. "We love boos," linebacker Antonio Pierce said. The Giants (8-8) have embraced their underdog status against the Eagles (10-6). They've been written off by the media and have adopted the us-against-the-world mentality that troubled teams always seem to use as a rallying point.

Tiki Barber had no worries about playing behind a patchwork offensive line. It showed. Big time. Barber ran for a team-record 220 yards on 29 carries and scored two touchdowns, helping the Giants beat the Kansas City Chiefs, 27-17, yesterday in East Rutherford, N.J. If the Giants (10-4) beat Washington next week, they clinch the NFC East. Despite the banged-up line, Barber slithered through the Chiefs' defense, breaking one tackle after another to eclipse the mark of 218 yards rushing in a game, set by Gene Roberts vs. the Chicago Cardinals in 1950.

The New York Giants have a message for Philly: Bring on the boobirds. Heading into Sunday's first-round playoff game against the Eagles, the Giants expect plenty of venom from the notoriously boorish fans at Philadelphia's Lincoln Financial Field. And that's just the way they like it. "We love boos," linebacker Antonio Pierce said. The Giants (8-8) have embraced their underdog status against the Eagles (10-6). They've been written off by the media and have adopted the us-against-the-world mentality that troubled teams always seem to use as a rallying point.

Jeff Garcia will replace Donovan McNabb as the Philadelphia Eagles' starting quarterback Sunday against the Indianapolis Colts. Eagles coach Andy Reid said he thinks Garcia, signed in March, was simply the best person for the job. Garcia, who was chosen over A.J. Feeley, has spent a large part of his career working in the West Coast offense. Garcia completed 26 of 48 passes for 189 yards after McNabb tore a ligament in his right knee in the second quarter in Sunday's 31-13 loss to the Tennessee Titans.

Tiki Barber had no worries about playing behind a patchwork offensive line. It showed. Big time. Barber ran for a team-record 220 yards on 29 carries and scored two touchdowns, helping the Giants beat the Kansas City Chiefs, 27-17, yesterday in East Rutherford, N.J. If the Giants (10-4) beat Washington next week, they clinch the NFC East. Despite the banged-up line, Barber slithered through the Chiefs' defense, breaking one tackle after another to eclipse the mark of 218 yards rushing in a game, set by Gene Roberts vs. the Chicago Cardinals in 1950.