Healthy Ramses Barden ready to go from potential to production
NFL player Ramses Barden poses backstage at the Lacoste Fall 2012 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at The Theatre at Lincoln Center. (Feb. 11, 2012) Credit: Getty Images
Draft a wide receiver? Why would the Giants do that?
Well, because they lost Mario Manningham in free agency and they’ll need a strong No. 3 to run with Hakeem Nicks and Victor Cruz. Receiver could be an option for the Giants in the draft this weekend, but at least one guy who will be competing for that No. 3 job doesn’t think it’s necessary.
“There’s room for improvement at every position but obviously I don’t think we need any help in that regard,” Ramses Barden said at the ESPN the Mag pre-draft party last night. “I think we have the best receiving corps in the league. It’s a new year, changes are going to happen, and I’m excited for the opportunities on the horizon.”
Barden is entering his fourth NFL season and has so far unfulfilled the potential the Giants saw in him when they drafted him out of itty bitty Cal Poly. He’s shown flashes, particularly right before his broke his ankle against the Cowboys in the 2010 season. That injury lingered throughout the 2011 season, forcing him to start the year on PUP. When he came off he played a bit but was benched in favor of Jerrel Jernigan and Devin Thomas near the bottom of the receiver depth chart. Barden was inactive for the last five games of the year, including the Super Bowl. He has 15 career receptions.
The big difference this year, he said, is that he’s healthy.
“There’s always opportunity when you’re healthy,” he said. “It’s nice to have a healthy offseason to go into things regardless of who’s here. If Mario was still here, regardless of how good of friends we are, I don’t really care who else is in the room. We’re going to be great friends off the field but when it’s time to work it’s time to work.”
Barden will be competing with Jergian and Domenik Hixon for the No. 3 job this summer. As he enters his fourth season, though, he understands that it’s time to stop relying on potential and start producing.
Asked if the clock is ticking on his career, Barden shrugged.
“Maybe. Probably. I don’t know. It doesn’t matter,” he said. “The only thing that matters is what I do at game time. Whether there’s pressure, whether there’s not, I’m beyond that right now. I’m just ready for the next step. The season can’t get here fast enough.”
