Tiki Barber has admitted to being left in shock when he first learned of the arrest of his former Giants teammate, Derrick Ward, for allegedly robbing several businesses in California, earlier this week.
Ward, a former NFL running back who was part of New York’s Super Bowl-winning team in 2007-08, was arrested in L.A. on Monday in relation to theft, according to several reports.
‘It’s just sad to hear,’ Barber told The New York Post in reaction to Ward’s arrest. ‘He was from a rough environment and it felt like he was at a point in his life where he escaped it. It’s shocking because I feel like he got his life right.’
Barber, who replaced Craig Carton in WFAN’s afternoon drive timeslot this summer, added that he has kept tabs on Ward through the years since retiring in 2006, and that he spoke to him as recently as about eight months ago. At the time, Ward told Barber that he wanted to get involved in the movie business.
Both former players were teammates on the Giants from 2004-2006.
Giants great Tiki Barber said he spoke to Derrick Ward as recently as about eight months ago
Ward (seen in 2008) was arrested for allegedly robbing five businesses in L.A. on Monday
Ward had the shortest career of the two, however, as he also played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Houston Texans in a seven-year NFL career that spanned from 2004 to 2011.
He was arrested in the North Hollywood area, two days, ago police said. Ward was being held Tuesday on $250,000 bail, according to a Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department inmate search website.
Police didn’t immediately provide details of the alleged crime, and it wasn’t immediately clear whether Ward had an attorney who could speak on his behalf.
Police told NBC News that Ward allegedly robbed five businesses, including gas stations, and that the 6-foot-tall, 230-pound ex-player didn’t use a gun during the alleged crimes.
Ward (seen) and Barber were teammates and running backs on the Giants from 2004 to 2006
Ward, who grew up in Southern California, was drafted by the New York Jets in 2004 in the seventh round but was cut without playing a regular season game. With the Giants, he was part of a fearsome trio of running backs along with Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw that was nicknamed ‘Earth, Wind and Fire.’
He was also on Big Blue when they beat Tom Brady’s undefeated New England Patriots 17-14 in Super Bowl XLII in 2008. However, Ward didn’t play in the game because of a broken leg.
Ward’s best NFL season was 2008 when he rushed for 1,025 yards on 182 carries with two touchdowns. During his 93-game NFL career, Ward had 2,628 rushing yards on 551 attempts and 12 touchdowns.