the top "two way" defensive linemen ever and player for 15 years.
Sapp had a lot of sacks for a DT. He was a excellent player, but I think Sapp got a lot of mileage from the TB Super Bowl win.
I think Sapp's recognition is inflated due to his sacks, while Strahan's is undervalued due to his outstanding play against the run that isn't as "measureable".
Yes, Sapp is a HOFer; just not first ballot with the others in his group.
was that year after year, long after he played at a reduced level, he was back in the pro bowl. Every f'ing year because of name recognition. He clearly was not "pro bowl" caliber during his later years.
I also remember him being an asshole. They don't deduct that when voting for HOF.
I remember when Strahan was at his peak, teams held him on almost every play. Seemed like the refs finally just stopped calling it. Just ask Jon Runyan.
bc I never expect hall of fame voters to get it right the first time, but as stated above, it's absurdity that Sapp got in before Stray
Sapp was a great player, but a one trick pony - 3 technique penetrating DT. When asked to play 1 technique in Oakland, he not only sucked at it, but he whined like the bitch that he is about it
People forget that Strahan was drafted originally as a 3-4 DE in 93, which was LT's last year, before we switched to the 4-3, where Stray made a smooth transition...and he was one of the best 2-way DEs to ever step on a football field.
Strahan > Sapp is a no brainer to anyone with some football sense
But like it or not, Strahan will forever be tied to the farce that is his 22.5 sack record. No doubt in my mind the fact that his biggest (individual) NFL accomplishment being tainted kept him off year 1.
were fucking awesome. You don't have to downgrade Sapp to lift up Strahan. Both were very deserving.
This^^^. Sapp played on some all time great, historically great, defenses. Like the '86 Giants or '75 Bears level defenses, maybe better. Stray didn't have that luxury, or results, as a team.
Those All Decade Teams are voted on by the Pro Football HOF.
Both Sapp and Strahan have 1 ring, 1 DPOY, 7 Pro Bowls, and 4 All-Pros on their resume. There's no way to distinguish the two at all when it comes to accolades... EXCEPT the All-Decade teams voted on by the HOF itself.
When I realized that Sapp had 2 All-Decade nods, I knew the HOF would place Sapp over Strahan. The HOF respects the HOFs opinion too much to ignore that difference in their resumes.
That was an amazing class he was competing against though including Sapp, no shame in being 2nd ballot. But imo Strahan was definitely a better player than Sapp. Both guys were spectacular pass rushers for their position, but Strahan was an elite run stuffer for his while Sapp was nothing special in that aspect.
there should be no question about it, Strahan is like the golden boy and Sapp is going to jail. The two couldn't be more different from a personal standpoint right now.
Strictly football, I just think it's closer than some give credit for, by saying Strahan was "much" better.
but in terms of longevity or # of years playing at the top of his game Strahan was better, so a slight edge career-wise to Big Mike. It's actually pretty close
I think it worked out better for Strahan. The lead going into the induction was all about Strahan. Strahan was basically the lead in his HOF class. Sapp was fifth in his HOF class?
Do i think he deserved it? yes i do and i always though the did. I don't really follow nor care about any of that stuff until the enshrinement weekend happens. The two SB's are huge, his stats are great, but above all else he was a great leader and no doubt that contributed to both SB victories. He should have been a first ballet.
I guess it all depends on who you are going against in that class though...
but in terms of longevity or # of years playing at the top of his game Strahan was better, so a slight edge career-wise to Big Mike. It's actually pretty close
I disagree, Strahan has the edge both in terms of peak and longevity.
At his peak Strahan was putting up 20+ sacks while being a dominant run defender. Sapp was an awesome 3 tech DT who could get to the passer but he was far from a great run stuffer.
I was disappointed that Strahan wasn't a first ballot HoFer.
I think Strahan (and Barber, for that matter) was under appreciated on the national level. No one looks at the run defense, which is poor reflection of the media and fans.
With that being said, I wouldn't think twice about it had Sapp not been bestowed with the honor. Sapp is such a despicable human being and he rubbed it in Strahan's face. It's been all downhill for that couch since then. Hopefully we won't have to see his dumb ass face any more, unless it's on a wanted poster.
It was a slap in the face at the time, but utterly meaningless now that it's over. Sapp is a clown though, that should never be forgotten. And he's finding every possible way to disgrace himself in retirement even before his current legal issues.
but not shocked. he had a few years when his sacks were down, one of those years he was injured. Still, if they viewed sacks and run defense equally he would/should have made it in 1. His run stopping was always on and under appreciated, IMO.
Sapp was a huge player at his position and could carry a team.
One could argue Michael had little to no impact during the Ravens superbowl beat down, and if not for Tuck in the middle , and a helmet catch during superbowl 42 he might not have won a ring at all.
His sack record was a thank to from Farve after the game was in hand.
It was great to see him win going out a champion, make the hall, and have success off the field, but Sapp for his efforts on the field deserved to go in ahead of him IMO.
let's not forget the anti-NY bias of the HOF voters
How else do you explain that they also snubbed Parcells on the first ballot? Or took so many years before they finally voted Harry Carsons into the HOF?
Or was it because Sapp worked for the NFL Network?
sack and he would have had tied the sack record. Additionally, one has to consider how many sacks he should have due to holding calls that were not made.
I bet you the members wish he would never show his face again. However, Sapp has no shame and he will take advantage of all the perks afforded to NFL HOF members.
sack and he would have had tied the sack record. Additionally, one has to consider how many sacks he should have due to holding calls that were not made.
I believe that year he had at least one sack taken away on Monday, because Andy Reid complain that the play was a running play.
In the past, first ballot election was for the elite of the elite
were fucking awesome. You don't have to downgrade Sapp to lift up Strahan. Both were very deserving.
This^^^. Sapp played on some all time great, historically great, defenses. Like the '86 Giants or '75 Bears level defenses, maybe better. Stray didn't have that luxury, or results, as a team.
who ended up making "Sackgate" into an issue when it wasn't.
For all the bellyaching about Strahan's sack on Favre, they sure didn't care to look into at least one occasion earlier in the season where Strahan wasn't credited with a sack he deserved.
In effect, they tried to invalidate a record that even if one less sack was recorded would have still been a hell of a year.
With sapp's sorry ass likely in jail for a little bit, I'm pretty sure Mike's laughing right through his teeth lately.
No first. No, because of the football HOF process.
Yes, simply because Sapp made it on the first ballot the same year. Strahan was, by far, the better player and a more likable person. That is what baffles me.
is that virtually every player has plays credited/not credited. catches ruled incomplete. fumbles not ruled a fumble. bad placement of a ball which gives player an extra yard, or takes one away. great plays allowed by non calls, or not allowed because of bullshit calls. Are we to go through every play, every game and decide Strahan would have got a sack if not held, or if Gastineau was ever cheated out of a call?
the Favre flop was epic in it's cheesiness. It would suck if MS weren't in on it and was forever tainted by Favre bullshit, but it was still a flop for the title.
the flop, Strahan should have been a 1st ballot HOF'er. That's really the main point. The Media didn't use that event to build up his case, they actually used it as some sort of way to discredit him. That's oddly bizarre.
It would be like holding Jim Marshall out of the Hall a few years for returning a TD the opposite direction.
who ended up making "Sackgate" into an issue when it wasn't.
For all the bellyaching about Strahan's sack on Favre, they sure didn't care to look into at least one occasion earlier in the season where Strahan wasn't credited with a sack he deserved.
In effect, they tried to invalidate a record that even if one less sack was recorded would have still been a hell of a year.
With sapp's sorry ass likely in jail for a little bit, I'm pretty sure Mike's laughing right through his teeth lately.
I know exactly which play you're speaking of. He had his hands on the QB with the ball with his knee on the ground will beyond the line of scrimmage.
That fact doesn't always show on the stat sheet hence the miss on the first ballot.
However Michael deserved it. No one ran well to his side. Mike also was one of the leagues better pass rushers regardless of the record season. Just a disgrace he didn't get it.
Sapp was a huge player at his position and could carry a team.
One could argue Michael had little to no impact during the Ravens superbowl beat down, and if not for Tuck in the middle , and a helmet catch during superbowl 42 he might not have won a ring at all.
His sack record was a thank to from Farve after the game was in hand.
It was great to see him win going out a champion, make the hall, and have success off the field, but Sapp for his efforts on the field deserved to go in ahead of him IMO.
Awful post. You claim that Sapp could carry a team and then rip Strahan for his Super Bowl performances, both of which were good? GTFO with that shit.
What makes you think Sapp could carry a team? He was apart of probably the most loaded defense in NFL history when we're talking all levels of the field. Derrick Brooks was easily the best player on those Tampa Ds and Sapp had a Hall of Very Good teammate in Simeon Rice helping him out on the DL.
AND
Disgusted that Sapp got the "First Ballot HOF" praise and proceeded to, effectively, rub it in Strahan's face.
Strahan was a much better player IMHO, more deserved First Ballot HOF honors than Sapp.
I think Strahan is having the last laugh though.
1st ballot guys SHOULD BE rare and special cases - guys like LT or Earl Campbell or Peyton Manning or Tom Brady.
Sapp played a different position, but he was pretty dominant and had the same ring, and same accolades as Strahan.
I think Strahan deserved to be first ballot, but Sapp probably did too.
Sapp had a lot of sacks for a DT. He was a excellent player, but I think Sapp got a lot of mileage from the TB Super Bowl win.
I think Sapp's recognition is inflated due to his sacks, while Strahan's is undervalued due to his outstanding play against the run that isn't as "measureable".
Yes, Sapp is a HOFer; just not first ballot with the others in his group.
I also remember him being an asshole. They don't deduct that when voting for HOF.
I remember when Strahan was at his peak, teams held him on almost every play. Seemed like the refs finally just stopped calling it. Just ask Jon Runyan.
Sapp was a great player, but a one trick pony - 3 technique penetrating DT. When asked to play 1 technique in Oakland, he not only sucked at it, but he whined like the bitch that he is about it
People forget that Strahan was drafted originally as a 3-4 DE in 93, which was LT's last year, before we switched to the 4-3, where Stray made a smooth transition...and he was one of the best 2-way DEs to ever step on a football field.
Strahan > Sapp is a no brainer to anyone with some football sense
This^^^. Sapp played on some all time great, historically great, defenses. Like the '86 Giants or '75 Bears level defenses, maybe better. Stray didn't have that luxury, or results, as a team.
Both Sapp and Strahan have 1 ring, 1 DPOY, 7 Pro Bowls, and 4 All-Pros on their resume. There's no way to distinguish the two at all when it comes to accolades... EXCEPT the All-Decade teams voted on by the HOF itself.
When I realized that Sapp had 2 All-Decade nods, I knew the HOF would place Sapp over Strahan. The HOF respects the HOFs opinion too much to ignore that difference in their resumes.
That was an amazing class he was competing against though including Sapp, no shame in being 2nd ballot. But imo Strahan was definitely a better player than Sapp. Both guys were spectacular pass rushers for their position, but Strahan was an elite run stuffer for his while Sapp was nothing special in that aspect.
Strictly football, I just think it's closer than some give credit for, by saying Strahan was "much" better.
I guess it all depends on who you are going against in that class though...
I disagree, Strahan has the edge both in terms of peak and longevity.
At his peak Strahan was putting up 20+ sacks while being a dominant run defender. Sapp was an awesome 3 tech DT who could get to the passer but he was far from a great run stuffer.
With that being said, I wouldn't think twice about it had Sapp not been bestowed with the honor. Sapp is such a despicable human being and he rubbed it in Strahan's face. It's been all downhill for that couch since then. Hopefully we won't have to see his dumb ass face any more, unless it's on a wanted poster.
Sapp played a different position, but he was pretty dominant and had the same ring, and same accolades as Strahan.
I think Strahan deserved to be first ballot, but Sapp probably did too.
This.
One could argue Michael had little to no impact during the Ravens superbowl beat down, and if not for Tuck in the middle , and a helmet catch during superbowl 42 he might not have won a ring at all.
His sack record was a thank to from Farve after the game was in hand.
It was great to see him win going out a champion, make the hall, and have success off the field, but Sapp for his efforts on the field deserved to go in ahead of him IMO.
Or was it because Sapp worked for the NFL Network?
I believe that year he had at least one sack taken away on Monday, because Andy Reid complain that the play was a running play.
But, in recent years voters have been much more lenient in this regard, he should've been voted in.
Ultimately, it doesn't matter.
Quote:
were fucking awesome. You don't have to downgrade Sapp to lift up Strahan. Both were very deserving.
This^^^. Sapp played on some all time great, historically great, defenses. Like the '86 Giants or '75 Bears level defenses, maybe better. Stray didn't have that luxury, or results, as a team.
Who was on the '75 Bears? :)
For all the bellyaching about Strahan's sack on Favre, they sure didn't care to look into at least one occasion earlier in the season where Strahan wasn't credited with a sack he deserved.
In effect, they tried to invalidate a record that even if one less sack was recorded would have still been a hell of a year.
With sapp's sorry ass likely in jail for a little bit, I'm pretty sure Mike's laughing right through his teeth lately.
Yes, simply because Sapp made it on the first ballot the same year. Strahan was, by far, the better player and a more likable person. That is what baffles me.
Meanwhile Sapp engages in actual crimes.....
the Favre flop was epic in it's cheesiness. It would suck if MS weren't in on it and was forever tainted by Favre bullshit, but it was still a flop for the title.
It would be like holding Jim Marshall out of the Hall a few years for returning a TD the opposite direction.
but it was a farce, and it rightfully made the headlines as a farce.
For all the bellyaching about Strahan's sack on Favre, they sure didn't care to look into at least one occasion earlier in the season where Strahan wasn't credited with a sack he deserved.
In effect, they tried to invalidate a record that even if one less sack was recorded would have still been a hell of a year.
With sapp's sorry ass likely in jail for a little bit, I'm pretty sure Mike's laughing right through his teeth lately.
I know exactly which play you're speaking of. He had his hands on the QB with the ball with his knee on the ground will beyond the line of scrimmage.
That fact doesn't always show on the stat sheet hence the miss on the first ballot.
However Michael deserved it. No one ran well to his side. Mike also was one of the leagues better pass rushers regardless of the record season. Just a disgrace he didn't get it.
One could argue Michael had little to no impact during the Ravens superbowl beat down, and if not for Tuck in the middle , and a helmet catch during superbowl 42 he might not have won a ring at all.
His sack record was a thank to from Farve after the game was in hand.
It was great to see him win going out a champion, make the hall, and have success off the field, but Sapp for his efforts on the field deserved to go in ahead of him IMO.
Awful post. You claim that Sapp could carry a team and then rip Strahan for his Super Bowl performances, both of which were good? GTFO with that shit.
What makes you think Sapp could carry a team? He was apart of probably the most loaded defense in NFL history when we're talking all levels of the field. Derrick Brooks was easily the best player on those Tampa Ds and Sapp had a Hall of Very Good teammate in Simeon Rice helping him out on the DL.