A day after his agent, Drew Rosenhaus, said he was close to signing a four-year deal with the Bengals, Sapp inked a seven-year, $36.6 million US contract with the Oakland Raiders on Saturday
"The bad news is I won't be back with the Bucs," said the one-time NFL defensive player of the year. "The good news is I'm a Raider."
Warren Sapp has inked a seven-year deal with the Raiders. (CP Photo)
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"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.
"We feel he's got a lot of football left in him and will make a positive contribution to the Oakland Raiders' defence the next couple of years," Gigantino added.
The 31-year-old has spent his entire nine-year NFL career in Tampa Bay, missing only three games. Sapp has collected 398 career tackles along with 77 sacks and three interceptions over 140 NFL regular season contests.
In 2000, the six-foot-two-inch, 303-pounder had one of the greatest seasons for a defensive tackle in NFL history, amassing 52 tackles, 16.5 sacks and a forced fumble.
The seven-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle and his Tampa Bay mates won Super Bowl XXXVII to finish off the 2002 season, during which the University of Miami product notched 47 tackles, 7.5 sacks and two interceptions.
In 2003, Tampa head coach Jon Gruden began to use Sapp in certain offensive formations, primarily as a fullback or tight end in short yardage situations. Sapp had four catches for 39 yards and two TDs last season.
with files from Associated Press
