Sapp retires

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raiderfreak7

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Raiders' Sapp announces retirement
By Steve Corkran
STAFF WRITER

Article Launched: 01/03/2008 01:12:51 PM PST


Warren Sapp spent 13 seasons carving out an NFL career that no doubt will culminate with his induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
On Thursday, it took Sapp only two words to inform Raiders managing general partner Al Davis of his intentions for next season.

"I'm done," Sapp said he told Davis in a phone conversation Thursday morning,

Just like that, Sapp made the quantum leap from elite NFL defensive tackle to retired 35-year-old.

Sapp leaves the game with his body intact, his mind sharp and his resume chock full of impressive credentials.

"If you were going to pick a football team and play on a Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday or whenever, and it came time for you to pick your three-technique (tackle)," Sapp said by phone, "you were taking me with you. That's all I ever wanted from this game."

In the end, Sapp received much more than widespread recognition as one of the game's premiere players.

He earned seven Pro Bowl selections with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He was the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 1999. He played a vital role in the Buccaneers' Super Bowl championship team in the 2002 season. Quarterbacks always knew where he lined up.

Sapp credits former Buccaneers defensive line coach Rod Marinelli, now the Detroit Lions coach, with molding him into a well-rounded player. His development came under the watchful eye of defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin.

Along the way, Sapp got to know Kiffin's son, Lane, now the coach of the Raiders. They grew even closer this past year.
"Warren and I hit it off pretty good right away," Lane Kiffin said Monday, "and he liked what he saw in the team meetings. He liked what we talked about, the practice tempo, a bunch of things he'd been disappointed in before. He really got behind us and what we were doing. It was a good experience."

Sapp finished with 961/2 career sacks. Former Minnesota Vikings defensive tackle John Randle is the only interior lineman with more sacks.

"There are three dudes people are always talking about when it comes to three-techniques, 'under' tackles, whatever you want to call it," Sapp said. "John Randle, Keith Millard and me. ... Those three guys right there, you can't go wrong with any of them."

Sapp first informed Davis of his intention to retire in a get-together last Friday night. Davis told Sapp to think about his decision and get back to him this week. That time came in what Sapp termed a "simple conversation."

Davis and Sapp thanked each other for the four-year relationship they enjoyed from the time Sapp joined the Raiders in 2004, exchanged thoughts on the Raiders' current plight and vowed to see each other in a week.

At that time, Davis told Sapp, the Raiders will honor Sapp in a formal setting somewhere in Oakland or Alameda. Sapp said he is thrilled by the prospect.

Davis always has been fond of Sapp. He admired Sapp's tenacity, production and enthusiasm for the game.

So it was that Davis pounced on the chance to land Sapp once he became a free agent after the 2003 season. Sapp learned of the Raiders' interest in him through an early-morning call from agent Drew Rosenhaus.

"He said, 'Al Davis is on the line, and he's not getting off until you're a Raider,'" Sapp said. "I said, 'Well, do the deal.' I didn't take a visit here. I didn't see who the defensive coordinator was. I didn't see who the head coach was. Al Davis said, 'Warren Sapp, I want you to play for the Oakland Raiders.' I said, 'I'll take that.' I came here, I put in four years."

Sapp said he has no immediate plans. Yet, one day he said he envisions himself as an analyst of some sort.
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http://www.mercurynews.com/sportsheadlines/ci_7873206?nclick_check=1
 
Although the guys production did slip, you can't beat the fact that the guy LOVED the game and put 100% effort come Sunday. He never made up excuses and could fire up his teamates. The sucker played as hard as I've seen someone put forth effort for the majority of his career. Too bad Terds couldn't friggen figure out how to play the game.
 
Soprry the Raiders just couldn't get it together while Warren was here.

Guy gave 100% got to give him that.
 
Thanks Warren. A true football player and a man's man. Hopefully he will be in the booth or coaching in S&B. I hear we have some openings...
 
Sapp said he has no immediate plans. Yet, one day he said he envisions himself as an analyst of some sort.
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This is something I really look forward to... The NFL's version of Charles Barkley on TNT...

It would really have been something had we been able to get Sapp here for the 2000- 2002 run we had...
 
Well, we saw it coming. Maybe this, if nothing else, will be what forces Al's hand this offseason.
 
Contrary to popular opinion, Sapp had no qualms about playing here. He heard Al Davis wanted him, he told his agent to make the deal. I can hear the explanations already, so save them.

HB: Before he polished a single bit of his delivery he'd be head and shoudlers above the former player/"analysts" currently sitting behind the desk except for Steve Young, who they chased away for being too realistic and not playing the BS games. Sapp will play the BS games and come across with some honest opinions too. I would expect him to be signed pretty soon, and might even wind up in some brief playoff role.
 
Steve Young? If any analyst sounded like he was suffering from post-concussion goofball disorder, it was Young.

Lack of knowledge or perspective was never Young's problem. His delivery...well...that's another matter.
 
Crow said:
Steve Young? If any analyst sounded like he was suffering from post-concussion goofball disorder, it was Young.

Lack of knowledge or perspective was never Young's problem. His delivery...well...that's another matter.
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Compare him to Marino who had a fast release but stumbles on camera. Keyshawn who goes from deer in the headlights to ridiculous hyperbole. Sure Young was bland, but his opinions were always well grounded, and his insights sharp. The same cannot be said for most of the former players out there.
 
Rupert said:
HB: Before he polished a single bit of his delivery he'd be head and shoudlers above the former player/"analysts" currently sitting behind the desk except for Steve Young, who they chased away for being too realistic and not playing the BS games. Sapp will play the BS games and come across with some honest opinions too. I would expect him to be signed pretty soon, and might even wind up in some brief playoff role.
Click to expand...


I wouldn't even care if he ever gave one relevant football breakdown, I just want to hear him crack on guys... We used to go to Pro bowl practices just to hear him do his thing... Let me tell you, those reality TV jokers missed the boat... If there was one guy that should have been miked up and followed around with cameras 24/7, it's Warren Sapp...
 
hawaiianboy said:
I wouldn't even care if he ever gave one relevant football breakdown, I just want to hear him crack on guys... We used to go to Pro bowl practices just to hear him do his thing... Let me tell you, those reality TV jokers missed the boat... If there was one guy that should have been miked up and followed around with cameras 24/7, it's Warren Sapp...
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Precisely. It would be fun and exciting from the first moment. And I really wouldn't expect him to break down too much.

The guy was definitely a great lockerroom presence. Did anyone see what he did to JL Higgins after the fumbled punt? He took him by the shoulder pads and told him what's what. He didn't yell at him, he didn't get in his face, he just gave him a stern talking too and didn't let him leave until he was done.
 
Definatly going to leave a leadership void... I guess we hope Morry fills that...

He does seem like a pretty cool guy, too bad he didn't get here with more gas in his tank... I appreciate having a pros pro here anyway through the garbage we've all put up with the last few seasons.
 
Should have stuck around and moved to LB...
 
Sapp has a history at TE. Maybe he could play LT.
 
Maybe he'll kill Al Davis for us. That's are #1 concern.
 
All in all, Warren Sapp was a solid Raider.

I never agreed with making him a starter since he got pushed arond too much on run downs, but, it's all water under the bridge now. He could have "started" but his downs should have been limited IMO.

Good luck to Warren in the future.....
 
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