His departure from the Bucs wasn't unexpected. The surprise is Oakland and its $36.6-million, 7-year deal.
By ROGER MILLS
Published March 21, 2004
TAMPA - The Bucs took the Raiders' coach. They took their front office executive. They even took some of their players.
Now, the Raiders have taken something back: the face of the franchise.
Defensive tackle Warren Sapp, selected to seven consecutive Pro Bowls, agreed to a seven-year, $36.6-million contract with Oakland Saturday.
The contract came with a $7-million signing bonus, significantly higher than expected, and brought to an end one of the most storied careers in Buccaneers history. Once Sapp passes a physical, the deal will be official.
"The bad news is that I won't be back with the Bucs," Sapp told the Associated Press from Miami. "The good news is, I'm a Raider."
The Bucs play at Oakland this season.
"It's a great development for him," agent Drew Rosenhaus said. "He couldn't be happier."
Sapp's deal with the Raiders was a bit of a surprise. After his ninth season with the Bucs, the 31-year-old free agent made it clear he wanted to finish his career where it started. A Floridian from near Orlando, Sapp, who made $6.6-million last season, vowed not to go on too many trips and hoped the Bucs would make him a reasonable offer.
But the Bucs never got into the Sapp sweepstakes and appeared resigned to losing him. Before the free-agency period, the Bucs signed defensive end/tackle Ellis Wyms to a six-year, $20-million contract with a $1.5-million signing bonus, indicating the team was ready to move on without Sapp.
"We appreciate Warren's contribution to the Bucs and he will always be remembered as a Buccaneer," general manager Bruce Allen said in a statement. "We anticipated this signing, and wish Warren and his family success on the field and in Oakland. We hope he remains a Tampa resident."
Relatively quiet the first week of free agency, Rosenhaus said last week his client was tired of waiting on the Bucs and would begin to look at offers from other teams. Tuesday, SI.com reported Sapp had received a four-year, $16-million offer from the Bengals and it appeared he was heading there.
On his Web site, QBKilla.com, Sapp initially listed six teams in the running for his services: the Bucs, Giants, Saints, Chiefs, Ravens and Bengals. Saturday morning, the Bucs and Giants were off the list.
The Raiders never were listed. But Oakland, known as a franchise willing to take in older or renegade players, always had been considered a possible home for the media savvy and at times controversial Sapp.
"Warren Sapp is another popular player to join the organization, just like a Jim Plunkett, a Rod Woodson and a Jerry Rice," Raider spokesman Artie Gigantino said. "We feel he's got a lot of football left in him and will make a positive contribution to the Oakland Raiders defense the next couple of years."
Unquestionably one of the game's most intriguing personalities and most dominant players, Sapp was a key part of Tampa Bay's rebuilding process. He teamed with linebacker Derrick Brooks and safety John Lynch, released last week, to form the nucleus of a defense that brought credibility to a franchise that had none. Now, Brooks stands alone.
"In both situations, with Warren and John, as long as the process went, it became more of a reality that they would not be my teammates," Brooks said. "With John, he told me at his golf tournament (weeks ago). The other day, Warren told me he was going to clear out his locker and when I went over there on Tuesday and saw it cleared out, it kind of hit me. I guess, in my case, it's time for me to move on."
Taken with the 12th overall pick of the 1995 draft, Sapp has been one of the NFL's most destructive defensive forces. Playing under tackle, Sapp revolutionized the position by being a furious pass rusher and sacking quarterbacks from a position not commonly associated with sacks.
"Obviously, when you think about it, Warren was part of the resurrection of this franchise," said Anthony McFarland, who likely will move to Sapp's position. "He's been here since 1995 when they were terrible and has to be considered partly responsible for the rise of the franchise."
Two weeks ago, Lynch was told he would not come back to the Bucs and he was released last week. Now, Sapp's departure stands as another reminder that the NFL is a business.
"No question, most players, players who have Hall of Fame potential like Warren, would love to finish their careers with the team that drafted them," McFarland said. "But we saw it with Joe Montana, we saw it with Jerry Rice. The economics of the league don't allow for that anymore."
Whatever the case, Sapp leaves Tampa Bay with an accomplished legacy. He played in 149 games, won a Super Bowl, and leaves with 77 career sacks, 11/2 shy of the franchise record set by Lee Roy Selmon.
"It was a blast and a joy," defensive end Simeon Rice said of playing alongside Sapp. "Here's a guy that came to work with a lot of energy and made it worthwhile. I hate to see him leave, but I understand the business. It's not the thing you like, it's not the thing you want. But it is the business of the NFL. As players, we have to understand and accept it. We have to get over it."
Understandably, when the Bucs meet Monday to begin their offseason conditioning program, the absence of Sapp and Lynch will be felt, Brooks said.
"The ride has been tremendous," Brooks said. "I wouldn't trade one journey on the road. Not one bump. Not one dip. Those guys helped me grow as a player and as a man. I'll be positive about it. I'll leave my emotions private. I'm going to wish them the best with their future teams. I do know this, I'm going to get their best effort and they know they'll get mine."
