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The Bucs defensive tackle will have arthroscopic surgery on his shoulder.
By Times wire and staff report
© St. Petersburg Times, published January 17, 2002
TAMPA -- Defensive tackle Warren Sapp, who was selected to his fifth consecutive Pro Bowl this season, will not appear in the Feb. 9 game in Honolulu.
Sapp, who was voted to start, will have athroscopic surgery on his left shoulder in Miami on Friday. The surgery will be performed by Bucs team doctor John Zvijac.
The league announced that Bears defensive tackle Ted Washington, voted to the All-Pro team last week, will replace Sapp.
After setting a franchise record for sacks with 16 1/2 last year, Sapp raised the level of expectations in training camp by aiming at Mark Gastineau's record of 22 sacks. But the seven-year veteran got off to a slow start and finished the year with seven sacks, his lowest total since 1998.
Defensive end Simeon Rice led the team with 11 sacks and led the defensive linemen with 64 tackles. Rice was not named to the Pro Bowl.
This will be Washington's second Pro Bowl in a row and fourth overall. He joins teammates center Olin Kreutz, offensive tackle James "Big Cat" Williams, linebacker Brian Urlacher and special teams standout Larry Whigham.
The five players are the most Chicago has sent to the Pro Bowl since 1992.
"He certainly deserves it," coach Dick Jauron said. "That was good news today."
Washington, an 11-year veteran, signed with the Bears as a free agent last spring. He had 50 tackles and 1 1/2 sacks for the Bears, who ranked first in fewest points allowed and second in yards rushing.
Also, Chargers cornerback Ryan McNeil will be the replacement for Miami's Sam Madison, who has a shoulder injury. Rams guard Adam Timmerman made his second Pro Bowl, replacing injured Larry Allen of Dallas.
-- ROGER MILLS, TIMES WIRES