Warren Sapp

Warren Carlos Sapp (born December 19, 1972) is a former American football defensive tackle who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 13 seasons, primarily with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Sapp played college football for the University of Miami, where he was recognized as a consensus All-American, and was selected by the Buccaneers in the first round of 1995 NFL Draft as the 12th overall pick. He spent nine seasons with the Buccaneers and was a member of the Oakland Raiders in his last four seasons. Following Sapp's NFL career, he was an analyst on NFL Network until 2015.

Warren Sapp
Warren Sapp on the set of NFL Network in 2010
No. 99
Position:Defensive tackle
Personal information
Born: (1972-12-19) December 19, 1972
Plymouth, Florida
Height:6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight:300 lb (136 kg)
Career information
High school:Apopka (Apopka, Florida)
College:Miami (FL)
NFL Draft:1995 / Round: 1 / Pick: 12
Career history
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Games played / started:198 / 188
Tackles:573
Sacks:96.5
Forced fumbles:19
Interceptions:4
Total touchdowns:3
Player stats at NFL.com

With Tampa Bay, Sapp made seven Pro Bowl appearances, earned first-team All-Pro honors four times, and was part of the team that won the franchise's first Super Bowl title in Super Bowl XXXVII. He complied 96.5 career sacks by the time of his retirement, which are the second-highest career sacks for a defensive tackle and the 28th-highest overall for a defensive lineman. His career, however, was also checkered by controversy from his hard-hitting style of play and occasional verbal outbursts. Along with Lee Roy Selmon and teammate Derrick Brooks, Sapp is one of three players to have his number retired by the Buccaneers.[1] He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2013.[2]

Early years

Sapp was born in Orlando, Florida, and raised in Plymouth, Florida, by a single mother.[3] During the late 1980s, he was honored for outstanding football play at Apopka High School in Apopka, Florida at linebacker, tight end, place-kicker and punter.[4] He holds school records for sacks, tackles for a loss, and longest field goal. A two- sport athlete in high school, he also played third base on the baseball team and hit a school record 24 home runs his junior year for the Blue Darters. In high school football, his hard tackle of Johnny Damon in a game against Dr. Phillips High School team gave the future major league baseball star a concussion.

In 2007, Sapp was named to the Florida High School Association All-Century Team comprising the top 33 players in a hundred years of high school football in his home state.

College career

Warren [Sapp] has the power of a Cortez Kennedy and the quickness of a Russell Maryland.

— former University of Miami defensive tackle Mark Caesar.[5]

Many top nationally ranked college football programs recruited Sapp, who chose the University of Miami. Converted to defensive lineman while there, he won the Bronko Nagurski Trophy (for best defensive player), the Rotary Lombardi Award (for best lineman or linebacker) and the Bill Willis Award (for best defensive lineman), all in 1994.[6]

Awards and honors

Professional career
Sapp (during his tenure with the Bucs) visits members of the US Navy.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

After his illustrious college football career at the University of Miami as a defensive standout, Sapp was drafted into the NFL by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the first round of the 1995 draft (as the 12th pick overall). Analysts at the time thought he would be drafted much higher, but partially due to reports of multiple failed cocaine and marijuana tests released the night before the draft many teams passed on him. The NFL released a statement strongly denying the rumors, and Sapp today[7] believes an anonymous snitch had intentionally sabotaged his draft chances. Three years later (in 1998), he signed a contract extension paying $36 million over six years.[3] He ran the fastest time in the 40-yard dash for a defensive tackle (4.69 sec). He was almost immediately given the starting job as Buccaneer right defensive tackle which he held for his entire nine-year stay in Tampa. He finished his rookie season with 27 tackles and one interception and continued to be a prolific, intimidating tackler for the Buccaneers, (51 tackles and nine sacks in 1996, 58 tackles and 10.5 sacks in 1997). His Pro Bowl selection in 1997 was the first of seven straight, and he was honored as NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 1999.

He flourished in the Bucs' aggressive Tampa 2 defense, which allowed him to put his devastating combination of size and speed to good use. He disrupted the opposition's offense even when double- or even triple-teamed on the line.[8]

In 2002, Sapp helped lead a powerful Tampa Bay team to victory in Super Bowl XXXVII over the Oakland Raiders. He made five tackles and two sacks during that 2002–2003 postseason, and was a key component in the league-leading Buccaneer defense.

Sapp during his time with the Raiders.

Oakland Raiders

In 2004, Sapp was reportedly interested in accepting a contract offer from the Cincinnati Bengals for four years worth US $16 million, but on March 20 he announced he had agreed to terms on a seven-year, $36.6 million contract with the Oakland Raiders, the same team he had helped rout in the Super Bowl in early 2003.[3]

He started all 16 games in his first season in Oakland, splitting time at defensive end and defensive tackle, recording 30 tackles (18 solo) and 2.5 sacks and recovering two fumbles[9] after having lost an estimated 20 pounds before joining the Raiders for the 2004 season.

His 2005 season got off to a great beginning back in his familiar defensive tackle position. He started the first ten games of the season with 29 tackles (26 of them solo), and finished second on the team to Derrick Burgess with five sacks[9] before being sidelined for the last six games of 2005 with a shoulder injury.

He returned to his All-Pro form in 2006. He had 10 sacks to go along with 32 tackles (16 solo) and one forced fumble.

He lost 49 lb before the 2007 season, and recorded 37 tackles (24 solo), 2 sacks and 2 forced fumbles.

On January 3, 2008, Sapp told Raider owner Al Davis over the phone that he would retire[10] and confirmed this on his website qbkilla.com in just two words: "I'M DONE!"[11] The retirement became official on March 4, 2008.[12]

Legacy
Sapp jerseys shown at Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, OH.

At the time of his retirement, Sapp was one of only twelve defensive players in NFL history to make the Pro Bowl, be named Defensive Player of the Year and win a Super Bowl or pre-Super-Bowl NFL title. The others are Mean Joe Greene, Jack Lambert, Mel Blount, Lester Hayes, Mike Singletary, Lawrence Taylor, Bob Sanders, Deion Sanders, Reggie White, Ray Lewis, Rod Woodson, and Sapp's former teammate, Derrick Brooks. Michael Strahan, James Harrison, Ed Reed, Troy Polamalu, Charles Woodson, Terrell Suggs and Stephon Gilmore have since joined the list. He is now considered to be the prototype three-technique defensive tackle, and ever since his retirement NFL teams scouting defensive tackles have reportedly been looking for a "Baby Sapp."[8] He was selected to seven Pro Bowls, was named a first-team All-Pro four times and a second-team All-Pro twice, voted to the 1990s and 2000s All-Decade Teams, and earned Defensive Player of the Year honors after a 12.5-sack season in 1999.

NFL statistics
Year Team Games Tackles Fumbles Interceptions
GGSCombTotalAstSacksFFFRYdsIntYdsAvgLngTDPD
1995TB 1682616103.0100155515
1996TB 15145141109.0110000000
1997TB 151558471110.52123000002
1998TB 16164428167.0210000002
1999TB 151541271412.5420000004
2000TB 16155243916.5110000003
2001TB 1616362886.0120000000
2002TB 1616474077.5110200004
2003TB 1515433675.0200000003
2004OAK 16164230122.5020000000
2005OAK 1010322935.0100133303
2006OAK 161647321510.0100000002
2007OAK 16165037132.0210000001
Career19818856943413596.51912234825129

[13]

Controversies

Mike Sherman confrontation

On November 24, 2002, at Raymond James Stadium, Sapp was strongly criticized for a blindsided hit on the Green Bay Packers' Chad Clifton. The hit occurred during a Buccaneer interception return, when Sapp hit Clifton as the latter was jogging downfield, away from the main action. The hit inflicted a severe pelvic injury[14] and hospitalized Clifton for almost a week, after which he could not walk unaided for the next five weeks. In 2005, the NFL Competition Committee agreed on new guidelines for "unnecessary roughness", making hits such as Sapp's on Clifton illegal.

In an exchange caught by television cameras following the game, Packer coach Mike Sherman approached Sapp and said to him, "That was a chickenshit play."[15] In response, Sapp screamed at Sherman: "You talk tough? Put a jersey on!"[14] Sapp later called Sherman "a lying, shit-eating hound. ... If I was 25 years old and didn't have a kid and a conscience, I would have given him an ass-kicking right there at the 30-yard line."[14] Sherman later added, "The joviality that existed after [the hit] when a guy's lying on the ground, with numbness in his legs and fingers, I just thought that wasn't appropriate for any NFL player."[15]

The skipping incidents

During pregame warmups for the December 23, 2002 Monday Night Football game at Raymond James Stadium, Sapp skipped among the Pittsburgh Steelers as they warmed up. Steeler running back Jerome Bettis shoved him, touching off a heated argument between the two teams. Sapp was not fined for the incident, but it added to his controversial image and he felt he had been made an example by the NFL by being fined for a second Monday night skipping incident (described below). "That's all this is about," said Sapp. "In my nine years in this league, no one's been fined for verbally abusing officials. It's unprecedented."[16] The Buccaneers had been earlier ridiculed by Steelers' Lee Flowers as being "paper champions." Despite losing to the Steelers in that nationally televised contest, Sapp and the Buccaneers went on to win Super Bowl XXXVII five weeks later.

In 2003, during a Monday Night Football game against the Indianapolis Colts on October 6, Sapp was scolded for skipping through and disrupting the Colts, who were spread out on the field stretching during warmups. Much anticipation and national interest going into the game had been generated by the return of former head coach Tony Dungy to Tampa. The Colts wound up erasing a 21-point deficit in the final four minutes and defeating the Buccaneers 38-35 in overtime, sending the defending champions into a downslide.

The next Sunday, October 12, 2003, before the Buccaneers took on the Washington Redskins, Sapp, while running onto the field, bumped into an NFL referee and drew a $50,000 fine. His response: "It's a slave system. Make no mistake about it. Slavemaster say you can't do it, don't do it. They'll make an example out of you."[17]

Ejection for unsportsmanlike conduct

On December 23, 2007, Sapp got ejected after an altercation with the officials near the end of the second quarter of the Raiders' game at Jacksonville.[18] The incident began when linesman Jerry Bergman mistakenly assumed that the Raiders would decline a ten-yard Jaguar penalty. Sapp, the defensive captain, shot back at referee Jerome Boger, that the Raiders wanted to accept the penalty. The conversation became heated, with Sapp gesturing and swearing, provoking Boger to flag him for unsportsmanlike conduct. But Sapp and the rest of the Raider defense continued to mouth off at the officials, resulting in a second unsportsmanlike against Sapp and a third unsportsmanlike against teammate Derrick Burgess. Finally, the coaches ran onto the field and, along with the officials, began physically separating the disgruntled players. Boger claimed that Sapp had "bumped" him in the process, while Sapp denied any physical contact. In any event, Boger then levied a third unsportsmanlike conduct penalty against Sapp (fourth against the team) and ejected him. The league eventually fined him $75,000, and Burgess $25,000 (i.e., $25,000 for each unsportsmanlike penalty).[19]

Personal life

In January 1998, Sapp married Jamiko Vaughn. The couple had two children, daughter Mercedes in 1998 and Warren Carlos II in 2000.[20]

Activities

Sapp, Devin Bush and a developer created an Urban Solutions Group in 2006 to construct low-income housing in Fort Pierce, Florida. The PNC Bank loaned the group money, but by 2008 the real estate market tanked and the project ended in failure.[3]

On August 19, 2008, Sapp was hired as a studio analyst for Inside the NFL on Showtime, a position he held until 2011.[21]

In the fall of 2008, Sapp appeared as a contestant on the seventh season of Dancing With The Stars.[22] Sapp's partner for the competition was professional dancer Kym Johnson; the pair made it to the finals where they were eventually named runner-up of season 7.[23]

He made his stand-up comedy debut at the Comedy Central Roast of Larry the Cable Guy on March 16, 2009.[24]

He worked for NFL Network as an analyst featured on NFL Total Access and NFL GameDay Morning until he was fired in 2015 following his arrest for solicitation. In the summer of 2012 he released a book titled Sapp Attack through St. Martins Publishing.[3]

In June 2012, Sapp teamed up with the NOC (Network Of Champions), a YouTube premium content channel, to produce a TV show series called "Judge Sapp".[25] He also participated in Fox's dating game show The Choice.[26]

In January 2013, Sapp worked with Dr. Jonathan Greenburg to raise awareness about the importance of getting tested and treated for snoring and obstructive sleep apnea.[27]

He was also a celebrity judge on the second season of the reality show BBQ Pitmasters.[28]

On July 27, 2016, Sapp was bitten by a shark while lobstering off the coast of Florida.[29]

On February 7, 2010, Sapp was arrested in South Florida and charged with domestic battery while in Florida as an analyst for the NFL Network's coverage of Super Bowl XLIV, but following the arrest the NFL Network cancelled his appearance.[30] On March 24, however, the charges against Sapp were dropped.

On February 2, 2015, the day after Super Bowl XLIX, Sapp was arrested on suspicion of soliciting a prostitute and assault. Later that day it was revealed Sapp's contract had been terminated by the NFL Network.[31] In May 2015 the charges were dismissed.[32]

Bankruptcy

In 2010, PNC bank was awarded a judgment of $988,691.99, and in December 2011 filed a monthly lien of $33,333 against Sapp's $45,000 NFL Network paycheck. He also owed the Internal Revenue Service $853,003 from income in 2006 and $89,775 for 2010. He was $876,000 behind on alimony and child support for his former spouse, owed $68,738 for unpaid property taxes in Windermere and owed money to attorneys, friends and a speech therapist as well.[3]

On April 7, 2012, the Associated Press reported that Sapp had filed for bankruptcy in an effort to discharge debt from failed businesses. In these Chapter 7 filings, he claimed to have lost his University of Miami championship rings and his Buccaneer Super Bowl ring. The balance in his checking and savings accounts was said to be less than $1,000. He claimed no credit card debt and owns no automobiles, but owes National Car Rental $90,685 through his business, Nine-Nine LLC.[3] Court filings indicated Sapp's assets totaled $6.45 million against a debt of $6.7 million. His monthly income was reported as $115,861.[33] On November 1, 2012, Sapp's 10,000-square-foot (930 m2) house in Windermere was auctioned off and sold for $2.9 million.[34][35]

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References
  1. web|url=http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/9236168/tampa-bay-buccaneers-put-warren-sapp-ring-honor-retire-no-99 |title=Bucs to retire Warren Sapp's No. 99 |publisher=Espn.go.com |date=May 2, 2013 |accessdate=February 2, 2015}}
  2. Corbett, Jim (February 2, 2013). "Parcells, Carter finally make Pro Football Hall of Fame". USA Today. Retrieved February 2, 2013.
  3. Cruse, Michael (April 15, 2012). "The play-by-play of Warren Sapp's 59-page bankruptcy filing". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved April 18, 2012.
  4. "nflplayers.com". Warren Sapp #99. Retrieved May 1, 2007.
  5. Nobles, Charlie (November 2, 1994). "Syracuse Can't Scare Miami's Star Tackle". New York Times.
  6. , A look back at the amazing NFL legacy of Warren Sapp.
  7. Warren Sapp's interview on The Howard Stern Show, August 20, 2012
  8. Corbett, Jim (January 24, 2010). "A beast on D-line, Warren Sapp became NFL legend in the '00s". USA Today. Retrieved November 20, 2011.
  9. "Warren Sapp". Nfl.com. December 19, 1972. Retrieved September 28, 2010.
  10. "Sapp tells Raiders he's retiring, ending stellar career".
  11. "QB Killa - I'm Done". www.qbkilla.com. Archived from the original on January 7, 2008. Retrieved September 28, 2010.
  12. "ESPN - Sapp files paperwork, officially puts end to 13-year career - NFL". Sports.espn.go.com. March 4, 2008. Retrieved September 28, 2010.
  13. "Warren Sapp Stats". ESPN Internet Ventures. Retrieved February 21, 2014.
  14. "ESPN.com "Sherman angered by Sapp hit, celebration"". Static.espn.go.com. January 30, 2003. Retrieved September 28, 2010.
  15. "CNNSI.com "Sapp, Sherman sound off on third-quarter hit"". Sportsillustrated.cnn.com. November 25, 2002. Retrieved September 28, 2010.
  16. "espn.go.com". NFL Threatens to Suspend Sapp. Retrieved May 1, 2007.
  17. "Sapp's Act Ceases to Be Amusing". USA Today. October 22, 2003. Retrieved May 1, 2007.
  18. White, David (December 27, 2007). "Sapp still gesturing, yelling, says he didn't touch [". The San Francisco Chronicle.
  19. White, David (December 27, 2007). "SFGate: Raiders Silver and Black Blog : Fine day: Sapp fined 75k, Burgess dinged for 25k". The San Francisco Chronicle.
  20. "Former NFL Star Warren Sapp's Estranged Wife Jamiko Vaughn". August 4th, 2009. Baller Wives. Retrieved April 24, 2012.
  21. "Life after football for Warren Sapp".
  22. "'Dancing With the Stars' season 7 cast: Exposed!".
  23. "Burke Tackles Sapp to Win 'Dancing'". ABC News. November 26, 2008.
  24. "Warren Sapp To Roast Larry The Cable Guy". March 11, 2009.
  25. Lazar, Shira (October 16, 2012). "Warren Sapp Transforms Into Judge Sapp for New YouTube Series (VIDEO)".
  26. Hibberd, James (May 8, 2012). "Fox's 'The Choice' cast revealed! Joe Jonas, Dean Cain, The Situation, many more -- EXCLUSIVE". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved April 11, 2013.
  27. Zyppah (January 30, 2013). "Sleep Apnea Prevention Project (S.A.P.P.) Video Launches Worldwide With Warren Sapp to Help Save Millions of Lives - Yahoo Finance". Finance.yahoo.com. Retrieved February 2, 2015.
  28. "Smoke Signals: Reigniting 'BBQ Pitmasters'". Washington Post.
  29. "The details of Warren Sapp's shark bite are more ridiculous than you can imagine".
  30. ESPN.com news services (February 7, 2010). "Sapp charged with domestic battery". ESPN.com. ESPN. Retrieved February 7, 2010.
  31. Pedersen, Erik. "NFL Network Fires Warren Sapp After Arrest For Assault and Solicitation". Deadline. Retrieved February 2, 2015.
  32. "Solicitation charges against Warren Sapp dropped  - NY Daily News".
  33. "Warren Sapp files for bankruptcy in Florida". USA Today. Associated Press. April 7, 2012. Retrieved April 21, 2015.
  34. "Auction set for Warren Sapp's Windermere home". Articles.orlandosentinel.com. October 3, 2012. Retrieved February 2, 2015.
  35. "Past Successes | Fisher Auction Company". Fisherauction.com. February 4, 2014. Retrieved February 2, 2015.
Awards and achievements
Preceded by
Jason Taylor & Edyta Śliwińska		 Dancing with the Stars (US) runner up
Season 7 (Fall 2008 with Kym Johnson)		 Succeeded by
Gilles Marini & Cheryl Burke
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