Tiki Barber was saddened by the news of former Giants teammate Derrick Ward’s recent arrest.
Ward, the former NFL running back who was part of Big Blue’s Super Bowl-winning team in 2007-08, was arrested in Los Angeles on Monday in connection with a string of alleged robberies, according to TMZ.
“It’s just sad to hear,” Barber told The Post’s Paul Schwartz 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, now a host in afternoon drive on WFAN, added that he had kept up with Ward during their NFL retirements, and had spoken to him as recently as about eight months ago, at which point Ward had indicated he was getting involved behind the scenes in the movie business.
Barber and Ward were teammates in the Giants’ backfield from 2004-06.
Ward, now 43, played for the Giants, Buccaneers and Texans in an eight-year NFL career.
He was accused of robbing multiple businesses in the Los Angeles area.
While police sources told TMZ that Ward did not use a gun during the alleged robberies, he was accused of using “force and fear” to get the businesses, which reportedly included gas stations, to hand over money.
Booking stats listed Ward’s current size as 6-foot with a weight of 230 pounds.
A fractured left tibula suffered in Week 12 of the 2007-08 season caused Ward to miss the Super Bowl victory over the undefeated Patriots, but he was able to recover from the injury to rush for more than 1,000 yards the following season and sign a four-year, $17 million contract in 2009 with the Bucs.
