Chucky Saved Warren Sapp’s No. 99
July 9th, 2013
Yes, this Nov. 11, a Monday night game no less, the Bucs will retire Warren Sapp’s No. 99.
In a few weeks, Sapp will be the second Buccaneer to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, following in the footsteps of the late, great Lee Roy Selmon.
No one has worn No. 99 since Sapp departed for Oakland, and both Sapp and Bucs fans can thank Chucky for that. Sapp claimed earlier this spring that it was Chucky who saved Bucs fans the pain of watching a lesser player stain that number.
“Only me and Winston Moss wore it, two Canes,” Sapp said to Joe and other media this spring. “I know Winston Moss wore it. Who is going to wear 55 [again]?
“Gruden called me about two years after I left and he said, ‘You won’t believe this but someone came in here and asked for your number.’ I said, ‘What!? What did you say!?’ Gruden said, ‘I told him to leave my office and leave fast. You think I want to look at that number running around? I won’t let anybody wear that number, you crazy?’
“That was pretty cool by Johnny. I knew Raheem wouldn’t [allow anyone to wear No. 99]”
Sapp didn’t divulge who the brazen fellow was who wanted to wear Sapp’s No. 99 (Stylez White, perhaps?), and it didn’t seem Sapp knew who the fool was who had the balls to ask Chucky for No. 99.
Sapp does raise a good question. Just who will wear No. 55?
Joe’s pretty sure Bucs coach Greg Schiano won’t allow such a disgrace to Derrick Brooks. Joe only hopes it is next season, 2014, that the Bucs are honoring the third member of the organization in Canton.
That would be double-nickel himself, Brooks.
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July 9th, 2013 at 4:07 pm
This year #99 …next year #55 …in the future #22.
July 9th, 2013 at 4:42 pm
Bravo Joe. Great article. Man 55, 99, 20, 47, I’ll even throw in 40. Those numbers should never be worn by another Buc player EVER!!!!
July 9th, 2013 at 5:00 pm
^^^ well since your going to name them all, don’t forget #97
July 9th, 2013 at 5:16 pm
^^^Rice was never drafted by the Bucs I considered him a missing piece to the puzzle. Sure go ahead if you want to throw him in their too, but he’ll have to have his number retired in Arizona too.
July 9th, 2013 at 5:24 pm
i echo buc1987. 40, 20, 55, 47, and 99…..retire them now please =)
July 9th, 2013 at 5:50 pm
Jon must have been trading for Strahan.
July 9th, 2013 at 6:02 pm
Who still hates Jon Gruden? Only Super Bowl winning, playoff winning record, all-time wins coach in Tampa’s history.
Who still hates this guy?
July 9th, 2013 at 6:25 pm
Well Buc Fan #238..I have a family member that played on the Super Bowl team. Even though Gruden was the only one that actually signed him, kept him, and started him. He hates him. I don’t know why, it could be because he cut him the after 2 years with the team. He’s not the type to be a bitter person. He does however say that Chucky is one of the fakest people he’s ever met. His dad despises him for some reason too. I always defend Gruden whenever my uncle tries to lay into him. I always say the only coach that ever gave a damn about your son and signed him, yet you say he’s a terrible coach. It makes no sense. There’s been a few problems with other players as well. Simeon and Meshawn for instance.
July 9th, 2013 at 6:47 pm
Yeah Gruden always seemed to have somewhat of a sarcastic attitude and I’m sure he rubbed quite a few wrong along the way.
July 9th, 2013 at 6:56 pm
@Buc Fan #238
I wonder if Gruden would still be around if he (or Allen) had made the following draft decisions:
2002 – Brian Westbrook instead of Marquise Walker
2003 – Jason Witten instead of Dewayne White
2004 – Vince Wilfork instead of Michael Clayton
2005 – Aaron Rodgers instead of Cadillac Williams
2006 – what the heck, let’s stick with Davin Joseph
2007 – Darrelle Revis instead of Gaines Adams
2008 – Antoine Cason instead of Aqib Talib
Of course, we can all cherry-pick drafts in hindsight. But as I recall, every one of those choices were players Bucs fans were clamoring for pre-draft.
I don’t hate Gruden, I’m just glad we fired him. He couldn’t draft, and didn’t make much effort to develop young players anyway.
Hell, if he had drafted Rodgers, he might have ruined him.
Gruden brought us a Lombardi trophy, so his legacy will always be a huge part of the team’s history. Fans just quickly tired of his haphazard playcalling and the year-to-year patchwork rosters he built.
July 9th, 2013 at 7:09 pm
Good post Illi….Buc1987…I believe your cousin is Ryan Benjamin from USF? Never a bad snap….solid During SB run…I think his career demise was his size ( or lack thereof )? Anyhow- the shine came off Gruden with a lot of players and fans but his magical first season helped win a title when the window of opportunity was closing rather quickly. By 2004 it was closed tighter than my slacks.
July 9th, 2013 at 7:15 pm
Ill… Good post. I would have settled for Steven Jackson in 2004 ( hell…he’s still effective. ) Wilfork is great but perhaps better suited for 3-4. That would have really made the Rodgers pick that much more attractive the following year. Hindsight…..
July 9th, 2013 at 7:18 pm
There would be an absolute, unquenchable $#!+ storm if someone came out wearing 55 and they know it.
July 9th, 2013 at 7:45 pm
in his last few years you could really tell Gruden had lost the team. when players are practically rolling there eyes at you after you give them a tongue lashing, thats never a good sign. his tough guy attitude wore out its welcome.
July 9th, 2013 at 7:54 pm
“Jiminy Christmas, Hovan, get out of my office bro. 99? You kiddin’ me?”
http://cdn.bleacherreport.net/images_root/slides/photos/001/033/539/2604716_display_image.jpg?1308606540
July 9th, 2013 at 8:06 pm
^^^^ YEP!
July 9th, 2013 at 8:47 pm
Sounds like Arrelious Benn has a legit shot at sticking with Chip Kelly’s Eagles as their slot receiver. Not that I wish the Eagles any luck but I can’t help but root for an ex-Buc. Benn wasn’t a bad guy, he was just always hurt. As long as they never use him in a Benn’d around play he should be ok.
July 10th, 2013 at 5:27 am
On Ring of Honor night Id like to see Sapp come out of the tunnel and skip through the opponent’s warm-ups like he used to do. After defeating the Dolphins he could do his plane going down dance. Not sure I want to see that bouncing ass TD dance again.
July 10th, 2013 at 6:13 am
Joe’s pretty sure Bucs coach Greg Schiano won’t allow such a disgrace to Derrick Brooks. Joe only hopes it is next season, 2014, that the Bucs are honoring the third member of the organization in Canton.
Joe do you really think they will induct back to back Bucs in the hall? I hope they do, just don’t see it happening though.
July 10th, 2013 at 6:45 am
The player in question was Julian Jenkins. He was even given number 99 for a very short while.
The last thing this organization needs is to start retiring numbers of all really good players. The Bears have retired more numbers than any other team and several of theirs weren’t deserving, now they can’t retire ANYBODY’s number (Urlacher, Singletary) no matter how good they were, are, or will be.
Sure, retire #99…. keep #63 retired. #55, #47, and #20 should be where it stops until somebody proves absolutely deserving of being an all-time great. #40 was a nice player, face of the franchise, but certainly not somebody who should have his jersey retired (though I can’t imagine seeing somebody wearing it). Numerous players have worn #42 of Bell, the 32 of the club’s all-time leading rusher, James Wilder, as well as Simeon’s #97 currently being worn. In time, we won’t mind seeing #40 on the field again.
July 10th, 2013 at 6:55 am
@brandon…yes that’s why I said…even number 40. Kind of meant it’s not a must number.
July 10th, 2013 at 10:51 am
I’ve been here for a while now. It gives me shivers that the Bucs’ are inducting, and retiring numbers. The statue(s) at 1 Buc…the ring of honor. I’m shouting it from the rooftops; always have been. Double nickle, Ronde, Lynch, Rice, Alstott–we missed 10 years of top 10 dominance record with only the other team Cowboys by 1 stupid year when Monty had already left. I will take these men, warts and all. They made me proud.
July 10th, 2013 at 2:15 pm
Players loved Raheem. Look how that turned out.
Not everyone loves Schiano, but the Bucs are a better team.
Who cares if the players like the coach or not. That’s not the coaches job.
Jon Gruden won. Give the man his credit.
July 10th, 2013 at 5:35 pm
And we’ve done so well since Chucky was canned….scintillating.
I can only imagine the hatred toward him if he had not brilliantly coached us to our only Super Bowl victory….and two more division titles after…