During a 1995 game against the Falcons, Sapp scores the Bucs' first touchdown of the day.
[Times photo: Brian Baer]
Warren Sapp plays first base during the Legends of Baseball game played in Tropicana Field in 1998.
[Times file photo]
Sapp celebrates with fans after a 1998 victory over the Packers.
[AP photo]
Sapp signs autographs after practice for the Pro Bowl at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu in 2000.
[Times photo: Jim Damaske]
Packers QB Brett Favre and Warren Sapp enjoy a laugh during a game. The two players shared many memorable moments over their careers.
[AP photo]
Sapp celebrates with teammate Cornell Green after the Bucs beat the Oakland Raiders 48-21 to win Super Bowl XXXVII in San Diego.
[Times photo: Dirk Shadd]
Warren Sapp kisses the Super Bowl trophey while at the podium during the celebration at Raymond James Stadium on Jan. 27, 2003.
NAME: Warren Carlos Sapp.
BORN: Dec. 19, 1972, Orlando.
FAMILY: Has two young children, daughter Mercedes and son Warren Sapp III, from his marriage to Jamiko Sapp. The two divorced last year. He pays child support on a daughter, Autumn, who lives in New Jersey, and a son, Jaelon, in Kansas.
TIMELINE
1991: Graduates from Apopka High and signs with University of Miami as a tight end, shifting to defensive tackle while redshirting in his first year of campus.
1993: As sophomore, starts 10 games and records six sacks, earning second-team All-America honors and first-team All-Big East.
1994: As junior, was consensus first-team All-America, winning the Lombardi Award and being honored as national Defensive Player of the Year by several organizations.
1995: After forgoing senior year, was drafted in first round, 12th selection, by Bucs, despite draft-day news of testing positive for marijuana. As rookie, starts eight games and finishes tied for third on team with three sacks. Scores first NFL touchdown on a 5-yard return after intercepting a Jeff George shovel pass.
1997: Earns first Pro Bowl appearance after leading Bucs with 10.5 sacks, not including three more in two playoff games.
1998: Entering the final year of his rookie contract, Sapp gets a new six-year deal worth $36-million, at the time the largest deal in Bucs history and for any NFL defensive player.
1999: Named NFL Defensive Player of the Year after career-best 12.5 sacks and three forced fumbles.
2000: Set team record with 16.5 sacks, still a career high, and earned fourth consecutive Pro Bowl nod, starting for third year in a row.
2002: Sapp sets a goal of breaking Michael Strahan's NFL record of 22 sacks but finishes with 7.5. Still is selected to his sixth consecutive Pro Bowl.
2003: Sapp makes headlines by dabbling on offense in Gruden's "Rolex" formation, catching two touchdown passes among his four receptions. He finishes his season with only five sacks, his lowest total since his rookie year, and finishes behind Lee Roy Selmon on the Bucs' all-time list.
2004: The Bucs allow Sapp to enter the free agent market, where he signs with seven year deal with the Raiders
MEMORABLE QUOTES
"I know what I've done in this league, and I've been more than happy to tell you what I've done in this league, and I know I haven't verbally abused anybody to the point where you have to take food off my table. Come on. Are you kidding me?"
- Sapp, in October 2003, after being fined $50,000 for bumping an official and being accused of verbally assaulting officials
"I'm the biggest target in the locker room. When people say the Bucs defense has slipped, they say it's because Sapp has slipped. But I know the numbers don't equal my play or my preparation."
- Sapp, in December 2001, as his sack totals dropped off in a disappointing season that would end with the firing of coach Tony Dungy
"Nobody is badder than me on Sunday. I don't care who you are, that's just the way I am. The good Lord wakes me up on Sunday to do my thing and there's nobody badder than me."
- Sapp, in September 2001, coming off a season in which he recorded a career-best 16.5 sacks.
"The saddest part about it is we play at the highest professional level of football and a high school team has more base (offensive) plays than we do, because I can't tell you what it is. I can't even tell you our favorite formation."
- Sapp, in November 2000, ripping then-offensive coordinator Les Steckel's play-calling.
"It's something that I can't fathom. If my game brings that kind of memory to somebody that (I am) the most dominant guy that plays defense in this league, I love it, and I'll take it."
- Sapp, in January 2000, on being named NFL Defensive Player of the Year and being compared to Lee Roy Selmon, the only other Bucs player to earn the award.
"When they get the ball, it doesn't all of a sudden turn to 80 degrees and sunny."
- Sapp, in 1999, addressing the Bucs' oft-mentioned inability to win games in cold weather.
"I don't care if it's a Picasso or I drew it. A win is a win."
- Sapp, in 1999, referring to "winning ugly" against the Broncos.
"Now maybe I can send my kids to college."
- Sapp, in March 1998 after signing a six-year, $36-million contract.
"I had 51 tackles and nine sacks. What's outstanding about that? It just wasn't. I can see seven sacks when I had a quarterback in my hands and let him go. I can't remember missing sacks in my days at college. That was unheard of. Whenever you had a chance to bring him down, you brought him down."
- Sapp, in September 1997, looking back on a breakout 1996 season he felt could have been much bigger.
"I'm not afraid of anybody. They still play 11 on 11. They run the ball and throw the ball. You rush the passer and play the run. Pretty easy."
- Sapp, in April 1995, on the transition to the NFL after signing his first professional contract.
FIVE BEST GAMES
SEPT. 21, 2003: Sapp, lining up as a tight end on offense, catches a 6-yard touchdown pass from Brad Johnson late in the first half of a 31-10 Bucs win against the Falcons. His celebratory dance becomes instant legend, and he leads the Bucs defense in holding Atlanta to 29 rushing yards.
NOV. 26, 2001: On a Monday night in St. Louis, Sapp gets two sacks, forces and recovers a fumble and leads the Bucs to a 24-17 win against the Rams. He drops Marshall Faulk for a 4-yard loss early in the third quarter and earns NFC Defensive Player of the Week honors.
SEPT. 19, 1999: Sapp sets his career high with three sacks in Philadelphia, part of a Bucs pass rush that silenced Veterans Stadium with nine sacks - one off the team record - in a 19-5 win. Sapp had a season-high seven tackles and was NFC Defensive Player of the Week, the first big step toward earning Defensive Player of the Year honors.
JAN. 4, 1998: Sapp sacks Green Bay's Brett Favre three times, forces two fumbles and recovers another, but the Bucs lose 21-7 in the playoffs.
OCT. 22, 1995: As a rookie, Sapp gets the only defensive touchdown of his career, intercepting a Jeff George pass and returning it 5 yards for a score. He also picks up his third career sack and makes a key block at fullback on an Errict Rhett touchdown. He would not get another interception until 2002.
