He Raised the Bar.

Warren Sapp. Sit there for a minute, say those two words aloud, "Warren Sapp." Now reflect.

What words come to mind? For me, loud. Proud. Obnoxious. Intense. Focused. Dedicated. Mean. Nice. Professional. Honorable. Reliable. Assertive. Accountable. Winner. Champion. Buccaneer!
What images come to mind? The first image that came to my mind, was his look of intense displeasure that he had just been drafted by the "Yucs." That's how he referred to the organization that he would come to love and cherish. Then images flooded my mind of his first TD against Chicago. His intense and comical interviews. His on field competitive feud with Brett Favre that escalated in the 1997 Divisional Playoff game, and provided us with years of intense Buccs/Packer games. His airplane celebration after a sack. His congratulatory praises to other players when they made the play. His intense and fiery inquisitions when someone didn't make the play. His gleeful skip through opponents calisthenics. His first offensive TD as a Tight End. Followed by his Beyonce TD celebration. Finally he and Derrick Brooks, arms around each other, on the sideline during the Super Bowl.
What thoughts come to mind? I thought, you don't know what you've got 'til it's gone. I wish he was still in Tampa. Can he ever be replaced? How long will it be until he's replaced if he ever is? Will he retire a Buccaneer?

Warren Sapp revolutionized the position of Defensive Tackle. Every year when the flowers start to bloom, and the trees begin to bud, it's draft time and we are guaranteed to hear comparisons of this year's college DT's to Warren Sapp. "This kid is the next Sapp. That kid reminds me of Sapp. He has Sapp's explosive first step."
By virtue of it's position, and it's responsibilities in the overall defensive scheme, the position of DT isn't meant to sack the QB. Any sacks by a DT are a bonus. The DT's job is to create havoc inside. Against the run, The DT's job is to occupy as many Offensive Linemen as possible to keep the Linebackers free to make tackles. DT's job on passing plays is to collapse the pocket from the inside, not allowing the QB to step into his throws or escaping the pocket inside, and forcing them outside into the waiting arms of the Defensive Ends. This is hard and fast evidenced by DE's gracing the top of the all time sack leaders list, both for seasonal and career standings. One to three sacks is respectable. Four to six sacks is great. Seven to eight sacks per season by a DT is Hall of Fame worthy. Sapp has averaged 7.87(almost 8) sacks per season during his twelve year career. He's had such exceptional seasons compiling 10.5, 12.5, 16.5, and 10 in 1997, 1999, 2000 and 2006 respectively. Those totals are Hall of Fame worthy with out question.
The problem we as Buccs fans face after witnessing first hand what Warren accomplished, is our expectations. We want...no we expect every DT who walks through 1 Buc place to perform at the same level. Well folks, that's just not going to happen any time soon if ever again. Anthony McFarland averaged 2.8 sacks per season, which is respectable. The problem was, he was a first round draft choice, and we expected him to replace Sapp someday. To the fault of Booger, he accepted the type of money Warren made, but didn't produce the same results. Sure we can't expect him to say, "no Rich, I don't deserve that money, I'll take half." But you reap what you sow. His Grim Reaper was a fan base that turned on him and labeled him a bust.
In 2005 Chris Hovan was our best defensive lineman. He was an animal, and was the key factor to a resurgence to run stuffing by the Buccs defense. Sure Chris got credit by most fans, but there were still a portion of fans and media who pointed out the fact that he had zero sacks on the season. What? The guy puts in a team MVP performance, and still has detractors? Sorry Chris, you followed too closely behind a Buccaneer legend. You played great, and this Buccs fan loves you for it. The team rewarded you for it with a nice contract, but you and any other DT who walks through the Buccaneer locker room will be compared to Warren for the foreseeable future.
So right now, up front I will apologize to you Kevin Carter, Jovan Haye, Greg Peterson, Julian Jenkins, Darrell Campbell and Ryan Sims. If you're Boo'd, it's not your fault. Warren Sapp raised the bar, and it's almost unattainable.
...JJC/ABuccsFan