99 Is Warren Sapp
August 3rd, 2013
Yes, former Bucs great Warren Sapp was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame last night, and the ceremonies continue today with his speech on national TV, televised by the Man Channel, NFL Network.
When the Bucs hosted an announcement that the team would retire Sapp’s number, several of Sapp’s former coaches and teammates gathered including Steve White. The former Bucs defensive end (1996-2001) is one of the most eloquent guys to talk football Joe has ever met, and Steve offered Joe his thoughts on playing for Sapp, and the legacy he left behind.
“At the time he was awesome because everybody game-planned for him. There is a thought out there that guys get double-teamed all the time. But very few actually get double-teamed,” White said. “Seriously, because it is hard to double-team a defensive end, for instance. It really is. But with an inside guy you can always send the center to help the guard. Always. Even when your protection is supposed to go the other way.
“When you have a special player like Sapp, they always send a center after you no matter what. And he still won. He still got to the quarterback. It was amazing. But you really didn’t think that far out like, ‘Man, I am watching a Hall of Famer, I am playing with a Hall of Famer for six years.’ It kind of brings it home. He’s a Hall of Famer. No one will ever wear his jersey again.
“When you think about it, that’s as it should be. It is crazy when you really sit to think about. You have a lot of great players through the years. But when you have a guy that every year [teams] are trying to find the next him, that to me defines a Hall of Famer.
“Every single year, whether it is the draft or free agency, everybody is trying to find the next Sapp and they really haven’t. They really haven’t. So when you have a guy who is that transcendent from the things he did on the field, it is only right that no one will ever wear that number again. He defined that numbe, no doubt. When you think 99, Tampa? Warren Sapp. When you say “99,” you know you are talking about Sapp.
“I think [retiring the number] is one of the best honors you can bestow upon a player and I don’t think there is anyone more deserving than Sapp.”
And so it is. Sapp is now the second Bucs player to be enshrined into immortality. Sapp and Lee Roy Selmon.
Derrick Brooks, you are next.
August 3rd, 2013 at 9:20 am
What a HORRIBLE bust that is. Sapp’s not THAT ugly
August 3rd, 2013 at 9:53 am
I’m glad Sapp made it in. I just hope that the voters don’t decide that they shouldn’t elect a Buccaneer two years in a row, when Brooks comes up for a vote. Now THAT would be a shame.
August 3rd, 2013 at 9:59 am
What a HORRIBLE bust that is. Sapp’s not THAT ugly
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Lol I was thinking the same thing
Brooks is next then Barber (hopefully)!
August 3rd, 2013 at 10:12 am
“Relentless” is a must see….I’m sure the NFL Network will rerun it many times. It was extremely well done….a great tribute to Warren Sapp.
I guess beauty is in the eye of the beholder….I think the bust of one of our only 2 Bucs (soon to be) in the Hall is a beautiful thing.
August 3rd, 2013 at 10:28 am
Sapp may be an A-hole but he’s our A-hole and I wouldn’t trade that A-hole for anybody!
August 3rd, 2013 at 10:34 am
oh and yea I agree with TBBucFan, Relentless was a very good watch. Looking forward for his speech tonight.
August 3rd, 2013 at 10:35 am
The corn rows!!!!! Awesome, cant wait for his speech.
August 3rd, 2013 at 11:18 am
Sapp said he loved the bust in the times article, especially the corn rows. Sapp is and will always be my favorite Buc of all time. Dungy said something like when you walk through the hall of fame and look at the guys, you can’t help but say to yourself. I wish I could see them play one more time. Dungy is right, I wish I could see Sapp play one more time. We were spoiled to have him, there will never be another Sapp. I don’t think he is going to get that many words out during his speech, he’s going to be too choked up. It’s going to be a great watch tonight to see how he gets through it all. From the yuks to the Bucs, thank you Mr. Warren Sapp. Thank you.
August 3rd, 2013 at 11:37 am
Those that watched the special on him. Did you see the look of disgust on his face on draft day when he held up that orange jersey?
August 3rd, 2013 at 11:54 am
@Buc1987
YES! lol i immediately seen him look away while he was holding the jersey up and he looked like he wanted to puke… Can’t really say I blame him, we were pretty awful way back then
August 3rd, 2013 at 12:12 pm
legend
August 3rd, 2013 at 1:37 pm
Like Michael Irvin said on “Relentless” Tampa bay was were players went to die before Sapp came.It was true,It was a death sentence for a player to come to the Bucs at the time.QB Killa! Congrats!!! #99 The best thing that has ever happened for the Bucs to this day.