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Ronde Barber unsure about retirement

Tampa Bay Buccaneers v Carolina Panthers

CHARLOTTE, NC - DECEMBER 24: Ronde Barber #20 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers walks off the field dejected during their game against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium on December 24, 2011 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

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Bucs mainstay Ronde Barber is uncertain if he’ll return to the team for a 16th season at the age of 36. It sounds like he’s open to the possibility.

“Things have to play themselves out like they did last year,” Barber said via Stephen Holder of the Tampa Bay Times. “We’ll have a meeting of the minds like we did last year and if I fit in, we’ll go from there. . . . It means, I don’t know. I don’t know is the best I can tell you. It could be either [outcome].”

Deciding whether to retain Barber could be a tough choice for new coach Greg Schiano. It sounds like Barber is open to returning and he sets a great example for the team. Still, Barber’s level of play fell off quite a bit in 2011.

He’s not a starting-caliber player right now and would possibly have to slide into a reserve role to stick around.