The Other Retiree: Warren Sapp

    Yes, a great legend retired Tuesday, and he will sorely be missed. Brett Favre made the NFL fun, and gave hope and inspiration to many. But another legend left the game, and ironically, on the same exact day.

    Warren Sapp was a DT that revolutionized the game. He made teams have to double team him, and made his career for being one of the nastiest hard-hitters in the game. Along the way, he became know for his controversial but effective playing style. Over his career, he amassed many feats, starting in Miami University.

    At Miami, he converted to Defensive Line from his high school position of linebacker and tight end to better help the Hurricanes needs. In 1994, he won the Bronko Nagurski award for best defensive player in the nation, as well as the Lombardi award for best Lineman/Linebacker in the same year. He was a force to be reckoned with at the college level.  

    After a stellar college year, he was drafted 12th overall by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 1995 NFL Draft, and almost immediately set an impact on the league. He was practically handed the starting job as Defensive Tackle while on the Bucs, and responded with a good 27 tackle, 1 INT rookie season.

    In 1997, Warren Sapp was named to his first pro bowl, which would become the first in seven straight pro bowl selections. In 1999, he was named the NFL Defensive Player of the Year, amassing 7 sacks and playing at a level no one had seen before. He also achieved his dream while on the Buccaneers, winning XXXVII over the Oakland Raiders, his future team. 

    Warren Sapp's career was not without controversy though. His most famous incident came On November 24, 2002, at Raymond James stadium, Sapp drew criticism for blocking the Green Bay Packers' Chad Clifton during an interception return by the Buccaneers. Clifton was jogging down field, away from the main action, and was blindsided by Sapp. The hit sent Clifton to the hospital with a pelvic injury, which ended his season. Following the 21-7 Tampa Bay Buccaneers victory, Sapp and Packers' coach Mike Sherman exchanged heated words. Sherman approached Sapp and said to him "You're a chicken shit." In response, Sapp screamed at Sherman: "If you think you're so tough, why don't you put on a jersey?" 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." Sherman later said of Sapp: "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." Clifton has since recovered from the injury and still plays for the Green Bay Packers.

      Warren Sapp was a one of a kind player that made the NFL badass and fun to watch. Along with Brett Favre, I hope he has a wonderful retirement and a full life ahead of him.

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