Sapp Casts His Vote
December 28th, 2010
Huddled around the NFL Network set, watched daily by real men, Warren Sapp joined Mike Lombardi and Charles Davis for an NFL Coach of the Year debate.
Sapp’s ballot goes to the guy he “raised from Day 1.” You can watch the interaction here.
Lombardi says “this is Bill Belichick’s finest hour.”
Davis says he likes “Lovie Smith because all year long it’s been ‘they’re not that good.'”
Sapp goes on to say Andy Reid is out of the running because he doesn’t get credit for thinking Kevin Kolb was a better choice than Michael Vick.
Oh, the drama.
As Joe has written countless times, anyone can make a phenomenal argument for Raheem Morris. A win Sunday has to make him the favorite.
If he does snag the award, that also has to jack up has value on the coaching market. Raheem’s not going anywhere now, but this is a business. And those awards look awfully sexy at the negotiating table.
December 28th, 2010 at 3:56 pm
Why should Belicheat get it?! Every year, we all know the Patriots are gonna be good and make the playoffs. So what’s new this year? Tom Brady hasn’t thrown an interception? I’m actually not surprised.
I think it’s more spectacular that Raheem Morris has been able to win with so many rookies and a team with little superstar power. Speaking of Tom Brady’s “MVP caliber” season, Josh Freeman has only thrown 6 INT’s ALL SEASON LONG with rookies as his receivers and a bunch of nobody’s on the O-line blocking for him due to the injuries. Tom Brady has a fantastic team around him. It’s different. Freeman has played amazing and he doesn’t have the team that Brady has.
December 28th, 2010 at 3:59 pm
First team since the merger to have a winning season in which they started 10 rookies……
I don’t know how it can be anybody but Rah
December 28th, 2010 at 4:03 pm
I liked reading Sapp’s comments about Raheem.
They are worth a copy/paste:
What kind of job do you think he’ll do?
“Wonderful. Wonderful. You’re talking about a guy that’s going to be on the ground working with his guys be able, you know, hand in hand. You know what I’m saying…”
On Raheem The Dream being too young:
“No. No. No. Let me tell you like this here. The thing that Raheem did. Raheem came from the bottom up. And when you come from the bottom up you get checked out by Sapp. You get checked out by Lynch. You get checked out by Brooks. You get checked out by Ronde. You know what I’m saying. He’s been checked and double-checked throughout that organization. He’s golden there. ..There’s no question who Raheem Morris is in Tampa Bay. We know exactly who he is and exactly what it is.”
December 28th, 2010 at 4:10 pm
@Patrick
I hate to be the one to defend the Pats, but they’ve run their offense through 2 rookie TE’s and virtual 5’nothing” cast-offs from other teams (Branch, Woodhead, and Welker).
Rah’s done an amazing job, but Belichick’s ability to maintain their elite level is pretty remarkable. Everyone thought they had given up on the season, once Moss was jettisoned to Minnesota; supposedly a sign of rebuilding. As much as I loathe the guy, he always seems to be one step ahead of the rest of the league.
December 28th, 2010 at 4:14 pm
McKay got screwed, Dungy got screwed. Morris shouldn’t get screwed either.
December 28th, 2010 at 5:10 pm
Unbelievable the clowns these guys are talking about for coach of the year. Lovie Smith? BELICHECK FOR CHRISTS SAKE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!?????????
Isn’t Belicek expected to win his division and dominate with that team???? And the Bears? So Lovie Smith deserves credit because his team isn’t vastly underachieving again like they did last year? They are doing what they are supposed to do with that defense and an (allegedly) franchise QB in Cutler. Coach of the year goes to a guy who has gotten his team to go above and beyond what they are supposed to be capable of. If not Raheem then I can see people making cases for Todd Haley or Steve Spagnuolo(If the Rams win their division, even though they will only finish .500 at best). No one else should even remotely be in the conversation. But Smith and Belichek??? What a couple of front running ,big market biased D-bags!!
December 28th, 2010 at 5:19 pm
@HGO- Deion Branch and Wes Welker are castoffs???? Take a moment to ponder just how ridiculous that statement was. And Gronkowski was a highly drafted tight end. Oh yeah and Tom Brady is still a HOF QB. Sorry but Belijerk has done nothing more than accomplish exactly what he is supposed to with that team.
December 28th, 2010 at 5:26 pm
Gregg Olsen anyone?
Ill admit i was for Rah all the way, but if it was not for that offense i dont think we win too many games.
December 28th, 2010 at 5:37 pm
Anybody who uses the term “Belicheat” does not deserve to post anything , unless they have something original to say… get a life ………..GO BUCS !!!!!!!!!!
December 28th, 2010 at 5:46 pm
Hire,
Branch was not a cast off, he was a Patriots draft pick (2nd I think). Welker, on the otherhand, was a cast off from Miami. Always wondered about that move, by them?
Gitrlvr,
The Patriots have lost almost all key offensive players and linemen to injuries and/or signings to other teams this year. I think Brady, Welker, and one lineman have been steady for them.
December 28th, 2010 at 5:46 pm
@ HIRE GREG OLSON: Belichick’s genius is in the O line. That in conjuction with Tom “where’s my mirror” Brady is the one constant in New England. Yes they are cheating whores and yes the NFL has a hardon for them and yes they will probably dethrown the Cowboys as “Americas Team” But if you put Brady behind any other O line he falls apart. It’s been proven before that if you get to Brady you have a real good chance to win the game. The Bucs of old proved that point on several occasions!
December 28th, 2010 at 6:57 pm
What about the KC coach? They drafted right behind the bucs and his team actually won the Division.
December 28th, 2010 at 7:27 pm
off the top of my head i cant ever recall a team playing this many 1st and 2nd year players along with a pile of practice squad castoffs that has played this well. no matter what, morris and the front office have done an amazing job. i love this team.
December 28th, 2010 at 7:31 pm
@Oar, @HGO
Wes Welker was not a castoff. He was a young reciever having some success but not being utilized properly by a bad Dolphins team with awful QB’s like Joey Harrington and the Patriots smartly scooped him up. I used to watch Dolphins games every week with my best friend who was a Dolphins fans and it was obvious back then that he had talent. In his first three seasons with the Dolphins the guy had more all purpose yards than anyone in NFL history but Gale Sayers. In 2006 he led the Dolphins with 67 catches. The Patriots traded a 2ND and a 7TH round pick for him!!!!! Castoff????? Really???? Maybe try to have the slightest clue about a guys career before you call him a castoff next time.
December 28th, 2010 at 7:34 pm
The other think about Bellichek is look who they are playing and beating! The Patriots didn’t have the luxery of the Bucs easy schedule. The lost Moss and their offense has improved! Stop hating because you’re jealous.
December 28th, 2010 at 7:51 pm
Who’s hating Derf? Just saying that Raheem has gone way above expectations. Belichek hasn’t. People expect greatness out of the Patriots. Belichek deserved it during the Patriots undefeated regular season because that was more than could be expected even from that team. This year you can’t argue that Belichek has exceeded expectations anywhere near like what Morris or Haley have. Since your so worried about people “hating” on Belichek you can go ahead and feel free to admit if your from the New England area and the Patriots are your other favorite team after the Bucs are knocked out.
December 28th, 2010 at 7:53 pm
Eric: You have a point but… I think the AFC West is somewhat weaker than the NFC South. Also I think KC has been rebuilding for quite a while; TB turned around in one year.
December 28th, 2010 at 8:18 pm
Anyone else bothered by the stat the first guy read off about the Patriots being the youngest team in the NFL. That’s 100% false in any way you can look at it. The Bucs are the youngest team, they have what, like 17 rookies on their 53 man roster? I mean is that guy really that misinformed or does he just spew off random fake factoids to try to persuade viewers to his opinion?
December 28th, 2010 at 8:29 pm
Look, Raheem Morris deserves to be in the conversation for Coach of the Year along with Haley and Spagnuolo for turning around bad ball clubs. But, in the same respect, guys like Belichick deserve to be mentioned for doing what was expected. It’s not like he’s had the exact same team he’s had in the past. The got rid of Moss mid season, Woodhead is playing great, they’ve got two rookie TEs performing well (not just one high draft pick TE). It’s not always about turning around a team, sometimes it’s just about maintaining greatness through turnover. The Patriots have also done an immaculate job hoarding draft picks for each year to stay young while they lose players via free agency.
December 29th, 2010 at 9:25 am
gitrlvr,
Settle down, it’s just a blog!
“In his first three seasons with the Dolphins the guy had more all purpose yards than anyone in NFL history but Gale Sayers. In 2006 he led the Dolphins with 67 catches.”
That is exactly why I said, I questioned Miami’s move, in giving Welker up!
“The Patriots traded a 2ND and a 7TH round pick for him!!!!!”
You say tamatoe, I say tomatoe. Miami didn’t want him, right? Then he seems to be a cast-off.