Way to stand by your word, idiots. Had it been a defensive tackle not named Sapp or other popular player, I'd bet a good sum of money the response would've been much different. http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=1641641 CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue said Tampa Bay defensive tackle Warren Sapp was "lucky to be playing" Sunday because of his recent mistreatment of officials. Sapp was fined $50,000 this week and threatened with suspension after the league reviewed his conduct over a three-game period. The fine came after the six-time Pro Bowl player bumped an official on his way into last week's game against Washington. "He had been warned explicitly by the coach and his organization that if he did anything further in the pregame or otherwise that was disrespectful of the officials, that he would be disciplined," Tagliabue said Sunday before Carolina played Tennessee. "Then he went out and deliberately bumped an official. So he is lucky to be playing this week." Sapp and the Buccaneers played Sunday at San Francisco. Prior to bumping the official last week, the NFL said Sapp used excessively abusive language to officials in two other games. "I think his conduct over a three-week period, which was the basis for the fine, was substantially over the line, to put it mildly," Tagliabue said. Sapp called the fine "unbelievable" and disputed several of the NFL's claims, including bumping the official. "It wasn't intentional. I tried to avoid him," Sapp said this week. "The ref didn't think anything of it because he knew -- just like I knew -- that I didn't try to bump him."
Warren Sapp has become my most dispised sports figure, right after Kobe. It happened when he wanted to fight a sixty year old man after he wouldn't shake his hand because he was upset that he had just sent one of his players to the hospital. Warren Sapp has the mind of a child. The body of a titan, but the mind of a child.
The NFL knows where its bread is buttered. Warren Sapp and Brian Urlacher got off light when "trashing" the refs. (Though Urlacher more than Sapp. Hmm... I'm surprised AB hasn't chimed in yet). Sapp will even have his own show (with Strahan) on the NFL Network. I don't blame them for going easy on the guy (though I wouldn't call a $50K fine 'going easy', no matter how rich you are). I don't agree with the lack of suspension, but Tagliabue is not stupid. He knows whats up.
I think he didn't give the suspension exactly because of the reasons you mentioned, but you can be assured that was his last warning. I have a feeling that this arrogant b*stard isn't done yet.
Until a heavy hand is dropped from Tagliabue, I have a feeling Sapp will keep testing and pushing the limits, like a small child trying to learn his boundaries of behavior from a pushover parent.
BU is a classy player. That's the first time I've ever seen him complain about the refs, he had a valid point. Unless you live in NO or have NFL Sunday Ticket you didn't get to see that horrible game... Sapp cries about everything... he is a disgrace. Don't compare those two ever again please.
I hate SAPP. Why can't he learn from a classy player, like Bruce Smith? Just because you have a championship doesn't mean that you can act like the league's bad kid. Leave that for the rookies.