Suprise: (Warren) Sapp to don silver and black

Yahoo! News ^ | 3/20/04 | Fred Goodall - AP

[NormsRevenge]

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) -- Seven-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Warren Sapp agreed to terms on a seven-year, $36.6 million contract with the Oakland Raiders on Saturday, ending his nine-year relationship with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

``The bad news is I won't be back with the Bucs,'' Sapp said by telephone from Miami. ``The good news is I'm a Raider.''

The surprise move came only a day after Sapp's agent, Drew Rosenhaus, said the one-time NFL defensive player of the year was close to signing a four-year deal with the Cincinnati Bengals.

Sapp's contract is expected to be signed within the next few days, pending the passing of a physical, the Raiders said.

``Warren Sapp is another popular player to join the organization just like a Jim Plunkett, a Rod Woodson, and a Jerry Rice,'' Raiders spokesman Artie Gigantino said.

Sapp will receive a $7 million signing bonus. He earned $6.6 million last year in the final season of a six-year, $36 million contract he signed in 1998.

``It's a great development for him,'' said Rosenhaus, who would not comment on negotiations. ``He couldn't be happier.''

Earlier this month, the 31-year-old tackle said he was optimistic about the prospect of re-signing with the Bucs. But that changed when his old team failed to make him an offer during the first week of the free agency period.

``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,'' Gigantino said.

Bucs general manager Bruce Allen, who left Oakland for Tampa Bay this winter, wished Sapp well.

``We appreciate Warren's contribution to the Buccaneers and he will always be remembered as a Buccaneer,'' Allen said. ``We anticipated this signing and wish Warren and his family success on the field and in Oakland.''

Sapp joined the Bucs as a first-round draft pick out of Miami in 1995 and -- along with linebacker Derrick Brooks and safety John Lynch -- helped transform the Bucs from a laughingstock into Super Bowl champions.

Lynch was released last week after 11 seasons with Tampa Bay, a move that cleared about $4 million under the NFL salary cap.

Sapp leaves the only pro team he has played for two sacks shy of the franchise record of 78 1/2 held by Hall of Famer Lee Roy Selmon. Before free agency opened, he said he believes he can continue to play at a high level for four more years.

[NormsRevenge]

Al Davis doesn't think like most normal folks. He does make a heck of a lot more money than most folks.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers' Warren Sapp makes a silly face during the Buccaneers 19-13 win over the New York Giants Monday night Nov. 24, 2003 in Tampa, Fla. According to his agent, Drew Rosenhaus, Sapp could be a Cincinnati Bengal by as early as Saturday.(AP Photo/Scott Audette)

[SevenofNine]

Norm I am Raider fan

Is Warren Sapp kinda old????

I think so

[Petronski]

Perfect fit. Absolutely perfect.

[NormsRevenge]

oh, boy..

ya see Keyshawn became a Cowboy too?

salary caps .. ouch...

[NormsRevenge]

Al likes 'em old..lol

[mwfsu84]

The Raiders had a huge salary cap problem. How are they able to sign guys like this?

[Howie66]

"Perfect fit. Absolutely perfect."

No kidding!!

Oakland...the place where NFL elephants go to DIE.

[martin_fierro]

Another reason to hate Oakland.

[NormsRevenge]

I haven't seen details on the package yet, maybe it's loaded with incentives

[CounterCounterCulture]

I just care about the Raiders returning to "Just Win Baby" instead of "self-destruct and whine" like last season.

[robjna]

this lowland gorilla is an idiot. look at his stats last year and you will see he is worthless

[Buckeye Battle Cry]

Mike Brown (owner of the Bengals) is a bone head. It is going to take years for the Bengals to overcome the damage to their reputation from this condescending, arrogant nitwit.

Until then, they will continue to be used by Big Name free agents for nothing more than leverage to get largewr deals from legitimate bidders for their services.

I would have loved to have seen Sapp in the Bengals' stripes, but I knew he was simply using the fool Mike Brown for leverage.

[CounterCounterCulture]

I haven't seen details on the package yet, maybe it's loaded with incentives

As long as it's not loaded with Big Macs and supersized fries ;-)

[NormsRevenge]

Altho , I guess making a little over 5 million a year for 7 years ain't too bad a deal.. Not bad for 31 years old..

Good agent..

[SevenofNine]

Norm you know what I used belong to sport website we call Al Davis the Godfather

GET IT?

THE GODFATHER yeah well Al has connection to the family up in Frisco and Oaktown area

[Future Snake Eater]

"Perfect fit. Absolutely perfect."

No kidding!!

Oakland...the place where NFL elephants go to DIE.

With the exception of Jerry Rice, the Raiders get every thug reject in the NFL. Warren Sapp could not possibly find a better home. Too bad the Cowboys already got Keyshawn Johnson; he would've fit right in at Oakland, too.

[ThreePuttinDude]

"Is Warren Sapp kinda old???? "


Warren Sapp is an "Ego sucking, rotten POS"..Just wait until he starts pulling his pranks in Oakland. You all will hate him as much as many of us in Tampa. Sorry to say, but you guys got the crappy end of this stick.

[GraniteStateConservative]

Everyone knows the reason Russ Hochstein got cut by the Bucs was because he made Fat Sapp look bad in practice. The Raider Nation deserves this pile of crap.

[Charles Henrickson]

I think the aptly named Sapp (like a number of other NFL loud show-off jerks) has gotten way too much publicity over the years. The guy on that Tampa defense I think has not gotten enough publicity is Derrick Brooks, who may well be one of the best linebackers I have ever seen.

[BOOTSTICK]

Davis is senile, Sapp has been all done for quite a while. Expect Sapp to be on the sidelines with injuries for most of his tenure with Oakland.