After 13 seasons, Raiders' Sapp, 35, retires

[Scurrilous]

One of best defensive tackles ever in NFL was named to seven Pro Bowls

<snip>

"Warren Sapp announced his retirement on Thursday, ending the career of one of the best defensive tackles to play in the NFL.

Sapp posted a two word message on his Web site, www.qbkilla.com, announcing his intention: “I’M DONE!” He had told teammates and coaches his plans after the season finale Sunday against San Diego. Sapp told the Contra Costa Times earlier Thursday that he had called Raiders owner Al Davis to give him the official news.

Sapp, 35, was the quintessential “three technique” tackle during his 13-year career, lining up between the guard and tackle and splitting that gap. Few did it better than Sapp, who made seven Pro Bowls, won the AP Defensive Player of the Year award in 1999, and was a key cog in Tampa Bay’s Super Bowl winning defense in the 2002 season.

"Every defensive tackle that’s drafted in the top five is supposed to be the next (me)," Sapp said earlier this season. "All of them have that tag. ... I’ve played the game pretty well, so if I’m the standard by which (they’ll) be judged, that’s tough, because I’d like to relive that guy, too. He’s a bad boy. He’s dead now. I give you flashes of him every now and then but, nah, that guy was sick."

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[Forkboy]

1. Why does this make me feel old?

Seems like a quick 13 years.

[MrSlayer]

2. I'll never forget the day the Eagles drafted Mike Mamula instead of Sapp.

I'm still outraged about that to this day. Sapp is a hall of famer.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

3. Well, there are achievements and then there are achievements: