Sapp Signs with Raiders

fairbanksb · 03-20-2004, 07:12 PM

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=1764268

TAMPA, Fla. -- Seven-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Warren Sapp signed a seven-year, $36.6 million contract with the Oakland Raiders on Saturday, ending his nine-year relationship with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Maybe Memories · 03-20-2004, 07:15 PM

Omg I hate those M'Fu*cken Raiders... Fu*ck Sapp 2

go_fins · 03-20-2004, 07:18 PM

RAIDERS SUCK!!!

Predaphin · 03-20-2004, 07:52 PM

ok ok..........NOW I HATE SAPP!!!! YOU FAT PEACE OF CHIT!!!!!!

dukebomb · 03-20-2004, 08:06 PM

Seven Years!!!!! will Sapp even be able to stand seven years from now. the raiders can have him.

Samphin · 03-20-2004, 08:06 PM

Well this stinks. I actually think this is a good move for the Raiders which irks me because I cannot stand them.

KiNG · 03-20-2004, 08:57 PM

I thought he was going to wind up a Bengal for about $4m a year. Oh well. OVERPAID!

Al13 · 03-20-2004, 10:20 PM

bigtime

iceblizzard69 · 03-20-2004, 11:19 PM

The Raiders are really overpaying for Sapp. However, his signing bonus is only 7 million, and I am sure Sapp thought he would get at least double that.

MelbournePhin · 03-21-2004, 10:36 AM

what an azzhole:

He might go down as the most feared player in Tampa Bay Buccaneers history.

The shame of it is that Warren Sapp could have been the most revered, too.

The man has personality, pizazz, magic and magnetism. But what Sapp never had was courtesy or civility. He treated people like garbage -- fans, media, even his own teammates. And, sadly, this is why there is no sadness today.

Sapp is no longer a Buccaneer, but there is no outrage, only acceptance. Not like earlier this month, when the Bucs allowed John Lynch, another of their defensive legends, to walk away. Tampa Bay went ballistic when Lynch left. Talk-radio callers spewed vitriol. Letters to the editor still are pouring in. All for one reason: John Lynch was a great player and a good guy.

Warren Sapp was a great player.

There was no groundswell of support to keep Sapp, even though he desperately wanted to stay in Tampa. He turned a deaf ear on the common fan, and in the end, he got what he had coming -- an unheard farewell.

"No, Warren's not a nice guy, but you can't fault him for that," says Scot Brantley, a former Bucs player who is now a radio commentator for the team. "That's just how he is."

Sorry, Scot, I think you can fault him. It's not so hard to be civil to people. It's not so hard to shake a fan's hand or sign an autograph. Or smile and nod at a guest who has been invited to watch a practice.

Instead, Sapp verbally assaulted that guest -- Tampa Robinson high school coach Mike Dupue. He attended a Bucs practice last season after the team honored him as the area's prep coach of the week.

Dupue was standing on the sideline when Sapp came over and cussed him out -- all because Dupue had the audacity to make eye contact with Sapp.

Dupue used the words "bellicose and belligerent" to describe Sapp and told the Sentinel the incident "left me heavyhearted. I felt sorry for the guy, really."

Sympathy for Sapp? Nah, not me. Just a pang of regret that such a great player could leave so unloved and unwanted. For so long, Sapp was the face of the franchise and the heart of the defense.

In 1996, two young defensive players -- Sapp and linebacker Derrick Brooks -- were sitting in a hotel room in San Diego watching ESPN's Chris Berman, who came on the air and said, "The Chargers play the Yucs today." Sapp looked at Brooks and said, "Damn, we've got to do something about this."

They did something, all right. Sapp, Brooks and Lynch turned the most laughable losers in all of sports into one of the most dominant defenses in NFL history. And, now, ironically, Sapp is going to the same team -- the Raiders -- that the Bucs demolished in the Super Bowl.

Before free agency started, there was the flawed belief that Sapp would attract countless offers and command a huge contract.

In reality, he was courted by only a few teams and signed with the Raiders for $7 million in guaranteed money -- less than three other free-agent defensive tackles and not even half as much as the $15 million being bandied about last summer.

Sapp's skills have eroded dramatically. The name of his Web site is QBKilla.com, but QBAnnoyance.com seems more appropriate these days.

He recorded 51/2 sacks last season and leaves Tampa Bay only two sacks short of breaking Lee Roy Selmon's team mark. I'm glad he won't get the record.

Lee Roy Selmon was a great player, and an even better person.

Mike Bianchi can be reached
at mbianchi@orlandosentinel.com.
Get home delivery - up to 50% off

Agua · 03-21-2004, 02:28 PM

Great place for the jackazz. He should fit in well there.

SMadison29 · 03-23-2004, 01:02 AM

I think it's obvious Sapp isn't interested in winning. He instead goes out west to join geriatric bunch. It was indeed all about the money.

TerryTate · 03-23-2004, 01:29 AM

Sapp and Ted Washington are gonna be tough to run on for opponents in the AFC West

03-20-2004, 07:18 PM	#3
go_fins Pro Bowler Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Miami, where the women come in many flavors! Age: 34 Posts: 1,099 Thanks: 1 Thanked 11 Times in 7 Posts	RAIDERS SUCK!!! __________________ Flukes happen, see Superbolw III

03-20-2004, 07:52 PM	#4
Predaphin #1 Ricky Williams Fan Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Close to the Bay Area, CaLi Age: 29 Posts: 10,659 Thanks: 1 Thanked 237 Times in 121 Posts	ok ok..........NOW I HATE SAPP!!!! YOU FAT PEACE OF CHIT!!!!!! __________________ #1 RICKY WILLIAMS FAN

03-20-2004, 08:06 PM	#5
dukebomb Rookie Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Thomasville, NC Posts: 13 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Seven Years!!!!! will Sapp even be able to stand seven years from now. the raiders can have him. __________________ "When I die I want to be buried upside down so all my critics can kiss my !@#" -Bobby Knight

03-20-2004, 08:57 PM	#7
KiNG King of Kings Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: South Florida Posts: 14,215 Thanks: 71 Thanked 49 Times in 39 Posts	I thought he was going to wind up a Bengal for about $4m a year. Oh well. OVERPAID! __________________

03-21-2004, 02:28 PM	#11
Agua Fighting the media, one lie at a time Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Ocean Springs, Mississippi Age: 45 Posts: 6,034 Thanks: 19 Thanked 6 Times in 4 Posts	Great place for the jackazz. He should fit in well there. __________________ "I was celebrating: 1) Portis' tackle-breaking run 2) Anderson's tackle-breaking run 3) Anderson's (3-yard) TD 4) Griffin's big run" -A Salguero

03-20-2004, 07:15 PM	#2
Maybe Memories Seasoned Veteran Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Los Angeles, Ca Posts: 700 Thanks: 0 Thanked 3 Times in 1 Post	Omg I hate those M'Fucken Raiders... Fuck Sapp 2

03-20-2004, 08:06 PM	#6
Samphin Dolphins Homer Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: S.F. Bay Area Age: 26 Posts: 9,048 Thanks: 79 Thanked 115 Times in 75 Posts FH Badges Total Awards: 1	Well this stinks. I actually think this is a good move for the Raiders which irks me because I cannot stand them.

03-20-2004, 10:20 PM	#8
Al13 My Baby girl growin fast Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Berlin, Germany Age: 35 Posts: 4,743 Thanks: 0 Thanked 12 Times in 10 Posts FH Badges Total Awards: 2	bigtime

03-20-2004, 11:19 PM	#9
iceblizzard69 FinHeaven Elite Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: On an island Age: 21 Posts: 13,387 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	The Raiders are really overpaying for Sapp. However, his signing bonus is only 7 million, and I am sure Sapp thought he would get at least double that.

03-21-2004, 10:36 AM	#10
MelbournePhin FinHeaven VIP Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: melbourne, fl Age: 28 Posts: 3,563 Thanks: 142 Thanked 65 Times in 34 Posts	what an azzhole: He might go down as the most feared player in Tampa Bay Buccaneers history. The shame of it is that Warren Sapp could have been the most revered, too. The man has personality, pizazz, magic and magnetism. But what Sapp never had was courtesy or civility. He treated people like garbage -- fans, media, even his own teammates. And, sadly, this is why there is no sadness today. Sapp is no longer a Buccaneer, but there is no outrage, only acceptance. Not like earlier this month, when the Bucs allowed John Lynch, another of their defensive legends, to walk away. Tampa Bay went ballistic when Lynch left. Talk-radio callers spewed vitriol. Letters to the editor still are pouring in. All for one reason: John Lynch was a great player and a good guy. Warren Sapp was a great player. There was no groundswell of support to keep Sapp, even though he desperately wanted to stay in Tampa. He turned a deaf ear on the common fan, and in the end, he got what he had coming -- an unheard farewell. "No, Warren's not a nice guy, but you can't fault him for that," says Scot Brantley, a former Bucs player who is now a radio commentator for the team. "That's just how he is." Sorry, Scot, I think you can fault him. It's not so hard to be civil to people. It's not so hard to shake a fan's hand or sign an autograph. Or smile and nod at a guest who has been invited to watch a practice. Instead, Sapp verbally assaulted that guest -- Tampa Robinson high school coach Mike Dupue. He attended a Bucs practice last season after the team honored him as the area's prep coach of the week. Dupue was standing on the sideline when Sapp came over and cussed him out -- all because Dupue had the audacity to make eye contact with Sapp. Dupue used the words "bellicose and belligerent" to describe Sapp and told the Sentinel the incident "left me heavyhearted. I felt sorry for the guy, really." Sympathy for Sapp? Nah, not me. Just a pang of regret that such a great player could leave so unloved and unwanted. For so long, Sapp was the face of the franchise and the heart of the defense. In 1996, two young defensive players -- Sapp and linebacker Derrick Brooks -- were sitting in a hotel room in San Diego watching ESPN's Chris Berman, who came on the air and said, "The Chargers play the Yucs today." Sapp looked at Brooks and said, "Damn, we've got to do something about this." They did something, all right. Sapp, Brooks and Lynch turned the most laughable losers in all of sports into one of the most dominant defenses in NFL history. And, now, ironically, Sapp is going to the same team -- the Raiders -- that the Bucs demolished in the Super Bowl. Before free agency started, there was the flawed belief that Sapp would attract countless offers and command a huge contract. In reality, he was courted by only a few teams and signed with the Raiders for $7 million in guaranteed money -- less than three other free-agent defensive tackles and not even half as much as the $15 million being bandied about last summer. Sapp's skills have eroded dramatically. The name of his Web site is QBKilla.com, but QBAnnoyance.com seems more appropriate these days. He recorded 51/2 sacks last season and leaves Tampa Bay only two sacks short of breaking Lee Roy Selmon's team mark. I'm glad he won't get the record. Lee Roy Selmon was a great player, and an even better person. Mike Bianchi can be reached at mbianchi@orlandosentinel.com. Get home delivery - up to 50% off

03-23-2004, 01:02 AM	#12
SMadison29 NYG's #1 corner Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Maryland Age: 26 Posts: 7,948 Thanks: 0 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts	I think it's obvious Sapp isn't interested in winning. He instead goes out west to join geriatric bunch. It was indeed all about the money.

03-23-2004, 01:29 AM	#13
TerryTate Retired Finheaven Linebacker Join Date: May 2003 Location: Coral Springs Posts: 7,850 Thanks: 2 Thanked 20 Times in 5 Posts FH Badges Total Awards: 1	Sapp and Ted Washington are gonna be tough to run on for opponents in the AFC West __________________

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