Warren Sapp stoops to new low, attacks Michael Strahan once again
By Chase Ruttig
Nov 11, 2013; Tampa, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers Ring of Honor inductees Paul Gruber and Warren Sapp and Jimmie Giles pose during halftime against the Miami Dolphins at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Warren Sapp made the Hall of Fame last year, but he still is not ready to act like he has been there before even with his role at the NFL Network as the infamously outspoken Sapp has picked a new target in fellow legend of the late 90’s and 00’s in Michael Strahan.
The beef between the two has started this week due to Warren Sapp’s claims that the legendary New York Giants defensive end is not worthy of the Hall of Fame. Sapp made these opinions well known and Strahan didn’t appreciate the way in which the former Tampa Bay and Oakland defensive tackle went about it without telling Strahan face to face. The FOX analyst went as far to call Sapp a “coward.”
Well as we all could assume, yesterday Sapp couldn’t help but avoid taking the high road and instead poured gasoline on the already blazing fire for all of us to feast upon during Super Bowl week.
“I can’t make a man respect me, but I will stop him from disrespecting me — I tell you that,” Sapp told Newsday on Wednesday evening. “It was about his resume; I wasn’t talking about the man. . . . I don’t understand. He still can’t rush that right end. Three years, 12 sacks!”
Ignoring the fact that Strahan was instrumental in the Giants win over the undefeated Patriots and retiring on top, Sapp didn’t just stop at Newsday and continued his war of words with Jim Rome.
“He took it to a level that it didn’t need to be,” Sapp told Rome. “I was just talking about his resume. I didn’t say anything about his gap tooth or his ‘S’ words or his ‘F’ words that I don’t understand. What the hell he is saying? So if he wants to go personal we can go personal, but I was just stacking his resume against the class.”
“Pick the spot and I’ll come see you and you can have a dose of it,” Sapp said. “If you think that’s what it is, pick the spot and I’ll come see you.”
It is sad to see a former player like Sapp refusing to act his age and let old battles (as well as some clear jealousy) get in the way of him doing his current job at the NFL Network. We can argue Strahan’s Hall of Fame merits as long as we want, and I personally believe that he more than deserves to be in Canton, but this story has now became about Sapp’s clear bias and resentment towards Strahan. This is not a good look for the NFL Network, which is obviously trying to portray their quality coverage from respected former players and analysts during an important week for the network while at the Super Bowl. Having Sapp shoot his mouth of like this will not please his bosses and makes himself look immature and petty.
Sapp should be respected for what he did on the football field, but the now analyst needs a reminder that he no longer is a football player. He also might need to go and watch the tape on the end of his career opposed to the way that Strahan went out. I am sure Raider fans would be quick to remind him on which player went out on top and which player hurt his Hall of Fame resume by sticking around for more paychecks.