Phil Mushnick of the New York Post suggests Showtime is trying to turn former Bucs great Warren Sapp into the football's version of Charles Barkley.

In Joe’s eyes, there is no better writer in America than Phil Mushnick of the New York Post, with the possible exception of Norman Chad. Mushnick is a no-holds-barred writer who crucifies those who need a public scolding. Additionally, Mushnick is hilarious.

Mushnick always seems to be angry. Joe would be too if he had Mushnick’s job. Mushnick covers sports media and there’s a whole lot to be angry about. Just turn on BSPN at any time. If your blood pressure doesn’t rise 10 clicks, it means you must have inhaled a 12-pack of Budweiser or a chugged a pint of Tanquerey.

Or both.

Recently, Mushnick weighed in on the Sapp-on-Meshawn hate. Mushnick thinks Sapp’s being set up and that CBS (owner of Showtime which broadcasts Inside the NFL where Sapp has had his more recent outbursts) is trying to make Sapp football’s version of Charles Barkley.

Showtime/CBS so much wants Warren Sapp to be the next Charles Barkley that it has turned to forced feedings.

On Showtime’s latest “Inside The NFL,” in the “Ask Warren” segment, Sapp was asked if he’ll watch Keyshawn Johnson’s new reality show about interior design.

“Me, watch Keyshawn on an interior decorating show?” Sapp said. “Keyshawn, I knew you were a bitch. And thanks for making it clear.”

Yep, a hateful and crude street put-down – comparing Johnson to a woman, a lower form of human life – proudly presented, and on tape, in the name of sports on a show carrying the NFL’s logo and license!

It’s not just Sapp, whose sense of social sensitivity is limited to whatever best serves him, it’s also that Showtime/CBS was eager to promote this response, to highlight it in a press release, as if, in Sapp, it has the latest outspoken, irreverent ex-athlete/TV character, as opposed to another low-brow act whom dimwits might confuse as outspoken and irreverent.

Beautiful writing by Mushnick but Joe isn’t so sure he agrees. This isn’t the 1950s and, as Howard Stern famously wrote, you have to do things on TV to get people to put down the clicker. That’s what Showtime is doing with Sapp.

So being the football version of Charles Barkley isn’t such a bad thing.