By ROY CUMMINGS

rcummings@tampatrib.com

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Funny thing about Football players: Their skills usually don't dissipate over time. More often than not they disappear overnight.

That's what happened to Shaun Alexander, Simeon Rice and Edgerrin James. For a while this year it seemed as if it might have happened to Ronde Barber.

For weeks the veteran Bucs cornerback looked slower, older and more vulnerable than ever, barely resembling the four-time Pro Bowler that he is.

New Orleans, Chicago and Kansas City all hit him up for big plays and key touchdowns and more than halfway through the season, Barber, 33, still didn't have an interception.

"He definitely had a shaky [start]," Bucs secondary coach Raheem Morris said. "It wasn't what you expect to see from Ronde Barber."

What you expect to see from Barber are big plays. They finally started coming a few weeks ago at Detroit, where he intercepted two passes, including one he returned 65 yards for a touchdown. They haven't stopped since.

Tonight's prime-time game at Carolina, in which first place in the NFC South is at stake, surely will put Barber in the spotlight. Against the Panthers, every cornerback is likely to find himself across the line of scrimmage from speedy playmaker Steve Smith at some point.

Just last week, Barber was put on the spot against New Orleans' top-ranked passing attack and responded with a key tackle and three pass breakups, including one that he tipped to linebacker Cato June for an interception in the end zone.

"I can't say enough about the way he's played the last few weeks," Bucs linebacker Derrick Brooks said. "He's bounced back from a lot of criticism, kept his mouth shut and let his play speak for itself.

"I'm really proud of him for that, for the way he's handled all this. He's remained committed to what he does on and off the field, and the fruits of that are showing now."

That commitment has been one of the real keys to Barber's comeback. All through his uncharacteristic start, he never altered the way he prepares for a game or approaches an opponent.

He never amped up the hours he spends studying film or lifting weights or working out on the field. He never saw a need to, because he never really recognized the problem as one that was solely his.

Sure, he missed on some plays, gave up some touchdowns. But he did so at a time when his opportunities to make plays were coming in handfuls instead of bunches. Once that changed, so did the impression fans got of his game.

"Look at my grade sheet for the first couple of games and I might have had five or six opportunities," Barber said. "In the past two weeks, I've had 14 or 16 factor opportunities. That makes a difference.

"When you have two or three opps and you miss one of them, you're at 50 percent. When you have 15 opps and you miss five of them, that's a damn good game. That's the difference, my opps are up."

His dander's up a bit, too. Barber has heard the buzz, the suggestions he's lost a step, maybe two, that the end may be near for him. He doesn't ignore it, but doesn't really listen to it. He can't.

Far from the most athletically gifted player in the game, Barber's success has always been the result of a good mixture of hard work and confidence, and he can't let anything dent his steel resolve.

"I don't have moments of weakness - ever," he said. "And I'm not weak-minded. I'm like a ram. I'm built tough. Nothing fazes me in a negative light. It's how you have to be, especially in my profession.

"I mean, bad plays happen, man. I saw Charles Woodson get beat twice last week. He's the best corner in the league. It happens. So I don't sweat the small stuff that people want to turn into huge deals.

"I keep things moving forward and I worry about the things that I can control. I always have. If I hadn't, I would have [been run] out of this league in 1997-98."

Barber has come a long way since then. Once a player who didn't seem to fit, he has since established himself as arguably the best nickel corner of his era, the only player in league history with at least 20 interceptions and 20 sacks.

When his skills finally do desert him, or he finally decides he's had enough, he'll garner attention for the Hall of Fame. But as his recent play suggests, Barber is still a long way from calling it quits.

"There's a time in everyone's career when they just can't do it anymore," he said. "That time is not right now for me."

(CHART) digits

7

Touchdowns during 12-year career for Ronde Barber, including one this season

23

Career sacks (two this season)

35

Career interceptions (two this season)

882

Career tackles (53 this season)

(CHART) STAFF PICKS

Roy Cummings

Bucs 23, Panthers 13. The cream rises to the top.

Ira Kaufman

Panthers, 20-16. This road comeback effort falls a little short.

Anwar S. Richardson

Bucs, 23-17 The nation finally has a chance to see the Bucs defense.

Reporter Roy Cummings can be reached at (813) 259-7979.

Photo credit: Getty Images/Tribune illustration

Photo: Ronde Barber

Photo credit: Tribune photo by JOSEPH H. BROWN III

Photo: Ronde Barber remains a force in the Bucs' secondary and is still capable of breaking up passes.

Photo: Roy Cummings

Photo: Ira Kaufman

Photo: Anwar Richardson

Copyright ? 2008, The Tampa Tribune and may not be republished without permission. E-mail library@tampatrib.com