.vresize.36.36.medium.0.png){kind=small}
.vresize.36.36.medium.0.png){kind=small}
Warren Sapp, a former NFL All-Pro and All-American at the University of Miami, appeared on my “Real Talk” podcast at FOXSportsradio.com on Thursday to discuss the controversy engulfing his beloved football program at “The U.”
The Hurricanes are under NCAA investigation and public scrutiny because former booster Nevin Shapiro alleges he provided illegal extra benefits to Miami athletes for almost a decade. Shapiro, who is incarcerated for his role in a $930 million Ponzi scheme, claims he financed lavish Hurricanes parties, gave players cash, provided prostitutes and ran a sports agency.
“The man opened his doors, had a yacht, ladies, a pool party,” Sapp said during the podcast. “Who ain’t going? Who am I hurting? We talking about kids, young adults . . . If you tell me you’re going over here where the pool party is, I’m in. I see the entrapment.
“I guess they don’t have beautiful yachts and stuff in Columbus, Ohio, Happy Valley and College Station, and I see why that’s not on the menu.”
Sapp believes adults, not the players, should be blamed for Shapiro’s involvement with Miami athletes.
“If you’re robbing like a billion dollars in a Ponzi scheme, you’re fooling a lot more than just 19- and 20-year-old kids,” Sapp said. “I have to fault some adults in this one because you hear the story of him verbally assaulting almost — touching the compliance dude — and it killed his relationship with the university. Somebody had to say, ‘Wait a minute, man.’
“As long as I’ve been around Miami, the one thing I’ve known is our alumni is subdued, very laid back. It’s a very expensive, private school to go to. Our alumni normally don’t stand on the corner handing out $100 bills . . .
“I want to know where this man came from. When I heard his name the first time, I was like, ‘He don’t pass the smell test. When did he go to Miami?’"
Sapp and I also talked about the upcoming NFL season.
He is a big fan of Detroit Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh.
“Listen, Ndamukong Suh is better than Warrren Sapp when we talking about rookie year,” Sapp said. “You put rookie years up side by side, you put play up side by side, on that level, we talking about the first 16 games that either of us ever played, he gets a double check from me. Wow.”
Sapp doesn’t think much of Patriots defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth, however.
“I’ve always wondered when did he have this desire,” Sapp said. “When was he this man-eating, 15-, 10-, 12-sack guy that you had to double team, if you didn’t block him, game was over before it ever started? When was he ever this? The man averaged 2.5 sacks his first five years in the league.
“He stepped on somebody’s head and then said he was sorry. Then everybody went, ‘Oh, my god, he can kill you.’ Really? They went to starting this Reggie White comparison. OK, he from Tennessee, I see (No.) 92, but that’s where it stops, that’s where it ends. The best players I’ve ever been around are men who didn’t have a switch. It was always on ...
“I got one rule that I live by: I’m going to rush until my heart blows up and then I’m going to give you one more rush.”
