Michael Strahan, the former New York Giants’ defensive end, is apparently not Hall of Fame material if you ask former NFL defensive tackle Warren Sapp.
On Wednesday,
Sapp, discussing the fact that Strahan was not accepted into the 2013 NFL Hall of Fame class, said he felt the former Giants’ star was overrated, according to the Tampa Tribune.
"Nobody ever talks about Simeon (Rice)," Sapp said referring to his former teammate on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. "Simeon was a better rusher than Michael Strahan any day of the week and twice on Sunday."
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Sapp and Rice played three seasons together for the Buccaneers, during which time Rice averaged 14 sacks a season, the Tampa Tribune notes. Over his ten year career in the NFL, Rice averaged just over 12 sacks a season, compared with Strahan’s nearly 9.5 sacks a season during his 15-year career with the New York Giants, according to NFL.com.
Sapp went on to note that Strahan did not excel on defense until he was moved from right end to the left side.
"(Rice) didn't rush the worst lineman,'' Sapp said. "You know the right tackle is the worst of the five. Strahan played right end his first four years. When they were putting the label on him as a bust, they put 'B-U-S. OK, let's transition him on the other side and see if he can play in his fourth year. "
Sapp, who along with legendary coach Bill Parcells and other NFL greats such as Larry Allen and Cris Carter, was accepted the NFL Hall of Fame this year. The former Buccaneer pointed to one match-up in particular to illustrate his point during his interview with the Tampa Tribune.
"They put him at right end and he couldn't do it, so they moved him to the weak guy. One-on-one with the (Eagles right tackle) Jon Runyans for eight quarters every year, " Sapp added. "[Simeon Rice] won't ever have his name brought up [for the Hall of Fame], and that's a shame. He's one of the best pass rushers I've ever encountered in my life.''
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Strahan, who had the most sacks in a single season in 2001 with 22.5, is ranked fifth in the league’s career sacker list.
Having retired from the gridiron in 2007, Strahan presently hosts the ABC morning talk show "Live! with Kelly and Michael."
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