Posted on 03/20/2004 6:28:09 PM PST by 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.
Sorry to see him go.
I was hoping that Warren the racist would sign with an East coast team so that he'd be as far away from my home state as possible.
Suzie: "No. My parents are Forty-Niner fans as were their parents, and they have taught me that the Forty-Niners are the greatest NFL team on the West Coast."
San Diego Public Schoolteacher: "So? What if you father was a in prison for a stabbing and your mother was a drug addict? What then"
Susie: Oh . . . in that case I would be an Oakland Raider fan."
Word up here is that the Jets have the inside track to signing Lynch, as coach Herman Edwards says Lynch is like a son to him. Knowing the Jets' luck, though, he'll probably sign somewhere else!
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