MVP Profile: Warren Sapp, 1999

Defensive Tackle, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Age:  27 (Dec. 19)

5^th season in pro football & with Buccaneers

College: Miami (FL)

Height: 6’2”   Weight: 288

Prelude:

After being chosen by the Buccaneers in the first round (12^th overall) of the 1995 NFL draft, Sapp had a disappointing rookie season in which he lost his starting job. However, he improved significantly in his second year, in which he recorded 9 sacks and emerged as a leader on the defensive line and in 1997 he had 10.5 sacks and was chosen to the Pro Bowl for the first time. Fast and disruptive in the middle of the line, he was selected to the Pro Bowl again in ’98.

1999 Season Summary

Appeared in 15 of 16 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Sacks – 12.5 [6]

Most sacks, game – 3 at Philadelphia 9/19

Multi-sack games (2 or more) – 2

Interceptions – 0

Fumble recoveries – 2

Fumble recovery TDs – 0

Forced fumbles – 4

Tackles – 27

Assists – 14

Postseason: 2 G

Sacks – 1

Fumble recoveries – 1

Interceptions – 0

TD – 0

Awards & Honors:

NFL Defensive Player of the Year: AP

1^st team All-NFL: AP, PFWA, Sporting News

1^st team All-NFC: Pro Football Weekly

Pro Bowl

Buccaneers went 11-5 to finish first in the NFC Central and gain the second playoff seed in the conference while leading the NFC in fewest yards allowed (4280), fewest passing yards allowed (2873), and fewest points allowed (235). Won NFC Divisional playoff over Washington Redskins (14-13). Lost NFC Championship to St. Louis Rams (11- 6).

Aftermath:

Sapp had a career high 16.5 sacks in 2000 and was a consensus first-team All-NFL selection in each of the next three years, from 2000-02, and a Pro Bowl choice after the next four through 2003. The Buccaneers remained a strong defensive team during that stretch that included a Super Bowl title following the ’02 season. While showing signs of wear, Sapp moved on to the Oakland Raiders in 2004 where he had a down year in a different defensive scheme. Improvement in ’05 was overshadowed by a shoulder injury that cost him six games and required surgery. He came back to reach double-digits in sacks one more time with 10 in 2006 and played one more year, retiring following the ’07 season. Overall, Sapp had 96.5 sacks (77 of them with Tampa Bay, making him the franchise career leader), was a consensus first-team All-NFL choice on four occasions, and was chosen to seven Pro Bowls. Sapp was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Class of 2013.

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MVP Profiles feature players who were named MVP or Player of the Year in the NFL, AAFC (1946-49), AFL (1960-69), WFL (1974), or USFL (1983-85) by a recognized organization (Associated Press, Pro Football Writers Association, Newspaper Enterprise Association, United Press International, The Sporting News, Maxwell Club – Bert Bell Award, or the league itself). Also includes Associated Press NFL Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year.