Watchdog

My Friday newspaper column includes an item on Tiki Barber's transformation on NBC from borderline-irrelevant studio talking head to news-making, on-site reporter at four consecutive Giants games.

Barber had an interesting sit-down with Eli Manning last week in which they discussed the unpleasantness between them in 2007.

Barber said the two "cleared the air" long ago, "but it was good to do on it national television just to say it, so people don’t speculate about it."

Barber said he "jumped" at the chance to leave the studio, and he hopes the strategy will continue in 2009.

"This is what I’ve been doing [on the 'Today' show], not sitting back and giving analysis of something I’m not intimately involved with. I enjoy that. I'm curious by nature. Being able to report on things and do interviews with guys drives something in me."

Barber believes the perceived bad blood between him and some in the Giants' organization has been grossly overstated. But his request to sit down this week with Tom Coughlin quickly was declined.