Happening Elsewhere: The Torch Lights Anew for Tiki Barber

Looks like Herschel Walker might not be the only long-retired running back attempting an NFL comeback next season. One-time Giants tailback Tiki Barber, out of the game since 2006, is also planning a bid for a return to the pros. "After seeing my brother [Ronde] still have fun at our age, it reignited thefire," says Tiki. "I'm really looking forward to the challenge of seeing if I can get backto the levelof where I was. I started working out again recently. Itkind of shocked myself. I still had a lot of the strength I had before.I'm really looking forward to making a return."

Barber's comeback, should it come to fruition, will not come with the team he has spent his entire pro career with. "We wish Tiki nothing but the best," says Giants spokesman Pat Hanion. "And when we are able to make thetransaction, we will release him from our reserve/retired list." New York not exactly rolling out the red carpet for a prospective Tiki return likely has something to do with his behavior the final few years of his first NFL career, where he came out publicly in critcism of both quarterback Eli Manning and coach Tom Coughlin. "What he did in that locker room my two years with him, he didn't doanything but deteriorate that team," said ex-teammate Antonio Pierce of Barber. "And he didn't help us out. I don't see this guy as a leader or somebodythat can help you out."

Nonetheless, confidence is high that Barber will catch on somewhere--among people who work for him, at least. "I wouldn't doubt him," says agent Brad Lepestler. "He's going to work his rear end off to get to the best level he possiblycan, and we hope there's a team out there that will give him theopportunity." Trainer Joe Carini also raves about his fitness level. "Truth of the matter is he feels great," says Carini. "His knee, his shoulders feelgreat. No injuries. He doesn't have a problem moving and is pretty quick[even though] he hasn't played in four years."