Sapp Blasts Strahan; Lauds Rice
June 20th, 2013
Until recent years, Joe thought the four Hall of Fame worthy Bucs defenders who played in the glory years were Warren Sapp, Derrick Brooks, John Lynch and — not Ronde Barber, but — Simeon Rice.
Now Joe knew even back then that Rice getting in the Pro Football Hall of Fame was a long shot, but Joe thought that much of Rice’s playing ability.
It seems Sapp did, too.
In a colorful rant against his nemesis Michael Strahan (yet again), Sapp went after Strahan, basically claiming he is not Hall of Fame worthy and it should be Rice, not Strahan, who should be getttinh serious consideration for induction into Canton, reports eye-RAH! Kaufman of the Tampa Tribune.
“Nobody ever talks about Simeon,” said Sapp, who played three seasons with Rice in Tampa and saw the right defensive end average 14 sacks between 2001-03. “Simeon was a better rusher than Michael Strahan any day of the week and twice on Sunday.”
Sapp also said Strahan’s 15-year career with the New York Giants didn’t take off until he was moved from right end to the left side.
“(Rice) didn’t rush the worst lineman,” said Sapp, who beat out Strahan for a spot in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2013. “You know the right tackle is the worst of the five [offensive linemen. Strahan played right end his first four years. When they were putting the label on him as a bust, they put ‘B-U-S . OK, let’s transition him on the other side and see if he can play in his fourth year.’ They put him at right end and he couldn’t do it, so they moved him to the weak guy. One-on-one with the (Eagles right tackle) Jon Runyans for eight quarters every year. Sim won’t ever have his name brought up (for the Hall of Fame), and that’s a shame. He’s one of the best pass rushers I’ve ever encountered in my life.”
Joe thinks Sapp is onto something. Rice and Sapp made for an absolutely lethal duo rushing from the right side. To this day, Joe thought Rice should have been the MVP of the Bucs’ Super Bowl, though Joe understands why it was awarded to the good Dexter Jackson (Dwight Smith could have won that award, as well).
Why did Joe change his mind from Rice to Barber as the four possible Hall of Fame candidates from the Bucs? Because in recent years, Barber set records that will be very difficult for a cornerback to beat, establishing himself as one of the game’s elite.
June 20th, 2013 at 11:17 am
Tell em how you really feel Warren. Damn!
June 20th, 2013 at 11:20 am
Once again the phallic head parading around under the guise of Warren is 100% correct.
June 20th, 2013 at 11:23 am
I disagree only because Rice doesnt have the longevity. He only had a few good years in the league, which all happened to be with Tampa.
June 20th, 2013 at 11:42 am
Strahan only had a few good years also compared to Simeon considering Simeon played against the Best T while Strahan played against the worst T.From 1996 -2005 Simeon averaged 11.9 Sacks a Year.That’s 10 years! That’s pretty good!
Strahan had the MUCH easier task playing against weaker competition.He also was on national TV almost every week playing in NY.That’s why his gets more credit IMO.Yeas he had like 20 more sacks but again weaker competition.
Simeon Rice Stats
1996 12.5/ 1997 5.0/ 1998 10.0/ 1999 16.5/ 2000 7.5/ 2001 11.0/ 2002 15.5/ 2003 15.0/ 2004 12.0/ 2005 14.0
June 20th, 2013 at 11:55 am
In 15 years Strahan only had double digit Sacks 6 times.Look up Strahans Sack totals.Most years he only had 5 sacks as a LDE. Really not that impressive except for a few years. In 10 years Simeon had double digit sacks 8 times playing RDE.Much more impressive.Remember Strahan has only ONE SB Ring also.
June 20th, 2013 at 11:55 am
You also need to factor in the fact that a RE will look a lot better playing next to a HOF undertackle that gets double teamed every play. Not saying I disagree with Sapp’s assessment but if Chris Hovan would’ve played UT next to Rice he wouldn’t have had as many sacks the years he played in TB.
June 20th, 2013 at 12:11 pm
Sapp is 100% right. He didn’t have to throw Strahan under the bus, but he is doing that to prove that Rice is great.
For those of you who don’t understand football, then it makes sense to not get it.
Look at Simeon Rice’s stats over his career. The guy truely was a beast… he never got the credit he deserved with Tampa because after it went to Kiffin, Sapp, Brooks, Lynch and Barber, there just wasn’t enough to go around.
But what I remember is the Bucs defense always stiffling the pass with the pass rush of Simeon Rice.
You guys also don’t give other Bucs credit either… like the years Joey Gallawoy would score 75 yard TDs, just after the Reidel Anthony and Jaqueeze Green era… its a shame.
June 20th, 2013 at 12:11 pm
Couch Fan, I think you need to go look at Simeon’s stats again. Guy was beasting with the Cards before he ever got to Tampa.
June 20th, 2013 at 12:19 pm
@ genocide,
Good point, but you could also argue there was talent on the GMens line too.
The argument is really not with Strahan. That storyline sells the show.
The question is was Sim elite and deserving of the HOF compared to the rest of the NFL players of his time?
I say yes.
June 20th, 2013 at 12:48 pm
I sure hope Strahan sends Favre a gift every single year. It’s the least reciprocation that he could do.
2nd all time in sacks doesn’t have the same ring to it.
June 20th, 2013 at 1:01 pm
Love Rice-Extremely underrated. All that said, not to many guys can say they’ve played with not just one but two of the most phenomenal DT’s to ever play the game.
Sure everyone remembers he played with Sapp. But lets not sleep on Eric Swann.
I know some of you younger guys might not have, had the pleasure to have seen him play. He was literally a man child( If memory serves me correct-He went from JC straight to the league). You had to double, even triple team the guy. Sad that injuries riddled his; once great career
June 20th, 2013 at 1:01 pm
GenocideD- Rice posted the same numbers consistently throughout his career and most of those years were without Sapp. He only had 3 playing with him.
So your argument is not valid!!!
Rice should be a HOF. PERIOD!!
June 20th, 2013 at 2:11 pm
this does makes sense! hopefully the voters will understand this when it comes time. i remember when Simeon Rice came to Tampa ~ very happy!
June 20th, 2013 at 2:35 pm
The only thing that I think really hurts Simeon’s case is that he was considered pretty weak against the run. He did get better later, and made some pretty good moves in pursuit of the run (I remember him hurdling a guy before tackling the back from behind), however he will always have the stigma of being a liability against the run. IMO this is the only reason he isn’t being considered by most.
June 20th, 2013 at 2:36 pm
I always thought Strahan was overrated. Just played in a major market. Got a lot more press.
Strahan: 216 career games / 15 seasons / 141.5 sacks / 9.43 sacks per season / 24 forced fumbles
Rice: 174 career games / 12 seasons / 122 sacks / 10.16 sacks per season / 28 forced fumbles
If Strahan is a hall of famer, then so is Rice. If Strahan is not a hall of famer, then neither is Rice. Plain and simple.
June 20th, 2013 at 2:45 pm
^ J2.0 said it best!
June 20th, 2013 at 3:07 pm
I love how Sapp can just shoot his mouth off now and say what he REALLY feels now that all the ballots are in. We’re in for some great media from 99 leading up to the HOF Game.
June 20th, 2013 at 5:29 pm
Gotta hand it to Warren
Rallying HOF attention to his old Buc Teammates. Bravo Big Guy!
June 20th, 2013 at 6:39 pm
There is no reason for this Warren you already won. It reminds me of when Tedy Bruchie said Derek Brooks wasn’t a HOFer
June 21st, 2013 at 5:55 am
Simeon set the tone early in the Superbowl game coming off the edge like he was shot out of a cannon and slamming Rich Gannon to the turf. It was over right then. Both players were good, but I’ll take Simeon Rice who is surely in the HOF on his home planet.