Kinda fitting that he and Favre go out in the same year
ESPN - Sapp files paperwork, officially puts end to 13-year career - NFL (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3277165&campaign=rss&source=NFLHeadlines)
I'm sure they'll be meeting up in Canton in 5 years.
SmootSmack
03-05-2008, 10:42 AM
That was a great rivalry. It'd be fitting if Strahan retired this year as well
freddyg12
03-05-2008, 10:48 AM
I never liked Sapp much, but I remember watching him in college at the U & I said to a friend whose a Miami fan that I hope we draft him. My friend said he'll be gone by then. We had the 4th pick in the first rnd. & took Westbrook. Sapp fell to 12 to the Bucs after a positive marijuana test.
One of the many 'what ifs' of the Norvelle era. Sapp was a guy that in his prime tampa built a defense around.
chrisl4064
03-05-2008, 11:24 AM
Sapp will not be in Canton. Dude is an idiot, will always be an idiot. I forgot he was even in the league after he left Tampa Bay.
Sapp will not be in Canton. Dude is an idiot, will always be an idiot. I forgot he was even in the league after he left Tampa Bay.
Let's take the emotion out of it and look at his resume:
7 straight Pro Bowl selections
96.5 career sacks (2nd highest ever for a defensive tackle)
1999 Defensive Player of the Year
Hard to argue with those numbers. I'd be shocked if he's not in the Hall someday.
freddyg12
03-05-2008, 12:32 PM
Let's take the emotion out of it and look at his resume:
7 straight Pro Bowl selections
96.5 career sacks (2nd highest ever for a defensive tackle)
1999 Defensive Player of the Year
Hard to argue with those numbers. I'd be shocked if he's not in the Hall someday.
Actually, while I agree w/you Matty on Sapp's performance, you have to consider some things about Sapp. He's the antithesis of Monk, who simply refused to do interviews for years.
Sapp did interviews for years, but then a couple years ago on the sports reporters, Mitch Albom said that Sapp was pissed off at a couple reporters so he began a season long habit of cussing at every one that asked him for a quote. Think about it, when's the last time you heard him say anything? Albom said it would be ironic in the end cause Sapp would want a broadcasting career after playing.
Since a no. of media types are on the committee you have to consider the relationship that players have w/the media. Monk was always a gentleman, but his reclusive nature didn't help him when it came to votes IMO.
Sapp did the opposite, he probably talked his way into being a 2nd, 3rd, 4th or 5th ballot hall of famer, whereas he had the career of a 1st ballot guy. I predict it will take the same kind of outcry as it did for Monk for Sapp to get in.
BleedBurgundy
03-05-2008, 01:12 PM
I always thought Sapp was overrated when I actually watched games he was playing. Obviously, those numbers are not those of someone "overrated." It'll be interesting to see if he gets the HOF. Would he be the first Buc to make it?
I guess we'll see if his off the field stuff hurts his chances. He has the next 5 years where he could rectify things a bit. But looking strictly at his performance on the field, I would put him in first ballot.
lwiedy
03-05-2008, 02:11 PM
I always thought Sapp was overrated when I actually watched games he was playing. Obviously, those numbers are not those of someone "overrated." It'll be interesting to see if he gets the HOF. Would he be the first Buc to make it?
No. Lee Roy Selmon (the anti-Sapp on the Class-O-Meter)
sportscurmudgeon
03-05-2008, 06:12 PM
Matty:
Defensive players usually wait longer to get into the HoF than do offensive players. I'm not sure Sapp was so dominant in his career than he can overcome that and make it in his first year of eligibility. Remember, Favre will be eligible that year too; so that takes up one "slot" for that particular HoF class...