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Hall of Famer Warren Sapp says Defensive Lineman Gerald McCoy is not a Tampa Bay Buccaneers Legend
Introduction
Heavy words were exchanged between recent former Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive tackle, Gerald McCoy, and ex Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive lineman, Super Bowl champion, and Hall of Famer, Warren Sapp. A major disagreement and war of words was exchanged between the two big boys who used to play for the Bucs in regards to whether or not McCoy deserved to have his number reserved and retired by the Buccaneers.
These words started flying after McCoy’s previous jersey number (#93) was given by the Buccaneers organization to their current defensive lineman, Ndamukong Suh. Apparently, McCoy wants to retire his own number out in Tampa, and is very unhappy that Suh was allowed to wear his old number after he played with the Bucs for the past 9 years and accomplished quite a bit personally.
Although McCoy was very successful individually by making 6 Pro Bowls (2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017) as well as named to 3 NFL First Team All Pro selections (2012, 2013, 2014) he played on a poor team in a poor division and never won much of anything during his time in Tampa. Warren Sapp was a much better football player, on a much better team, and he has every right to say what he said in response to McCoy’s comments after he was let go from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers organization as an unhappy man. Good luck in Carolina...
Media Statements
"I'm one of the best players to ever play in the organization. I'm going to say it -- usually I wouldn't, but I'm going to say it. It kind of shows the respect and how they feel about me," explained former Buccaneer, McCoy.
"I earned that respect. ... Tampa hasn't been a winning team, and we all know it's hard to be considered a Pro Bowl, All-Pro person on a losing team, and I did it six years straight,” McCoy debated. That's hard to do. For the respect I received after doing that, they showed none, and I don't know why."
Warren Sapp said to PewterReport.com, "The thing that kind of threw me sideways was Gerald talking about now that this organization doesn't have a right [to give away his 93 jersey], or it's business that they moved on -- you know, they moved on.”
"And then he wanted to say that Sapp, [Derrick] Brooks, Lee Roy [Selmon], [John] Lynch, Ronde [Barber], nobody wore their numbers. Last time I checked, those were Hall of Famers and champions. We didn't go to one playoff game with him and not one damn divisional title, so, I think he owes some of those hundred million dollars back if you go give it to me in that sense."
"He didn't have no chips in his game. No Defensive Player of the Year -- that's what Brooks and that's what Lee Roy Selmon did -- Lynch got his name in two damn Ring of Honors," Sapp added. "What am I missing here, Gerald? You're talking about something silly. Come on, man -- stop. If you're mad, you're mad, but don't put it on the organization that the organization did it. Every NFL team has to move on."
"He's a damn good player. A damn good player. But not even close [to a legend]. You damn sure don't get legendary status or tell somebody to put your jersey up if you don't take 'em to playoff games [laughs]. ... Not one playoff game. Not even a wild card. I went to nine. We went 5-4."
"Hey listen, we bought championships and divisional titles, and that's why that wall [on the Bucs Ring of Honor] is marked up with our marking," Sapp exclaimed. "That's why nobody wears 55, 99, 47, 20 and 63 -- fool! -- 40, the A-Train. Come on, man -- fool! That's what that is. He's a nice guy -- nice guys finish last. And that's why his jersey's getting worn [by Suh]."
Source:
“Sapp: DT McCoy 'not even close' to a Bucs legend”, Jenna Laine, espn.com, August 14, 2019.