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spectre · 10-09-2003, 05:37 AM

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Arrington to Sapp: Don't Tread on Us
Redskin Won't Tolerate Nonsense Sunday

Tampa Bay Buccaneers tackle Warren Sapp is one of the NFL's top showmen as well as one of its most dominant defensive players over the past decade, and Washington Redskins linebacker LaVar Arrington apparently wants a piece of that action.

Arrington, in a weekly news conference that had some pro wrestling-like elements to it, issued a series of warnings to Sapp, saying that he is "going to get Warren" if he lines up at tight end in goal-line situations on Sunday at FedEx Field or attempts to disrupt the Redskins' pregame routine.

"If they line him up on my side, I'm going to get him," Arrington said before a group of reporters at Redskins Park. "I'm going to get Warren. . . . That's disrespectful in my opinion, too, to put defensive guys on offense that are linemen. That's disrespectful. I'm gunning. If you come out there, you've got some killers on the other side of the ball. Just like you're a killer when you're on defense, you've got some killers on that side of the ball coming after you. I'm gunning for him. I'm gunning for everybody on that team, all 11 guys. If they're on the field, I'm gunning for them. I don't want to lose anymore. I feel like this team can really win and I'm going to do my part. I'm striking out. If somebody has got to carry me off the field, then they've got to carry me off because I'm striking out."

At one point, Arrington looked into a row of cameras and addressed Sapp directly. "Sapp, I'm going to get you," he said. "If they put you out there, I'm going to get you."

Sapp indicated later that he took Arrington's comments as theatrics, saying in a telephone interview: "He had to be joking. He's just firing up his ballclub about a game. I'm not taking that seriously at all. We're entertainers. LaVar wants a live crowd. He'll get that now. But it's not about me and him. He's just appealing to his crowd now. It's not about me and him."

One reporter told Arrington as he walked away from his media session that Sapp certainly would be told about the remarks and a verbal battle would be underway, and Arrington said he welcomed that. In recent weeks, Arrington said before playing the New York Giants that he was "not buying into" the accolades being given to Giants tight end Jeremy Shockey. When former Ohio State tailback Maurice Clarett sued the NFL to attempt to become eligible for the draft next spring, Arrington said: "I'm going to try to knock his head off."

When asked yesterday about Buccaneers quarterback Brad Johnson, Arrington said of his former Redskins teammate: "I like Brad. Brad is a good quarterback, a real smart quarterback, very heady. He doesn't let himself get hit too often. I love Brad as a person as well, but it'd be fun to knock his chest off."

Still, Arrington also is one the sport's fiercest hitters and most intense players, and the two-time Pro Bowl outside linebacker is trying to be the Redskins' emotional leader. He routinely hits opponents so hard that veteran teammates such as defensive end Bruce Smith have urged him to tone down his game a bit so he won't shorten his career with concussions and other self-inflicted injuries.

Arrington said he would take it as an affront if the Buccaneers use Sapp as a tight end. Sapp has two catches this season, including one for a touchdown -- which he celebrated with an end zone dance.

Arrington said he also would be insulted if Sapp walks among the Redskins players while they're stretching before the game, as Sapp did to the Indianapolis Colts prior to the Buccaneers' 38-35 overtime loss Monday night.

"I'm expecting for Warren Sapp to cause me to grab him because he's going to try to run through our lineup in the pregame," Arrington said.

Asked to explain that remark, Arrington said later: "If there's one thing I learned at an early age before I even put one pad on, is you never let a man disrespect your side. You don't ever let a man run through your stretching line. If a team crosses your 50-yard line when you're stretching, there's a problem. That's what I grew up seeing, before I ever put a pad on. Once I started playing, then you really understand: You don't let somebody come into where your whole team is. You don't let that happen because that's a blatant show of disrespect. That's a blatant show of, 'Why should I go around you all? I'm going to go where I want to go.' It doesn't go down like that."

It's nothing personal, according to Arrington, who said: "Sapp's my boy. I know a lot of guys on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers squad. It's going to be a very intense game, I think. Guys are going to try to definitely outdo one another."

The Buccaneers come to town with a 2-2 record after squandering a three-touchdown lead late in Monday night's game in an uncharacteristic meltdown by a defense that was heralded as one of the best in NFL history when it carried the club to a Super Bowl crown last season. The Redskins are 3-2 after a late comeback fell short in a 27-25 defeat on Sunday at Philadelphia against an Eagles team that lost last season's NFC title game to the Buccaneers. The Redskins haven't had a game this season decided by more than three points.

"We let a tough one get away again," Arrington said. "Obviously it was a division game. But I think we match up pretty well against the Buccaneers. I think we have an opportunity to get a little redemption and at the same time play a spoiler. . . . To put them below .500 would be nice."
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10-09-2003, 05:37 AM	#4 (permalink)
spectre Junkie	Please include the article and not just the link: <hr> Arrington to Sapp: Don't Tread on Us Redskin Won't Tolerate Nonsense Sunday Tampa Bay Buccaneers tackle Warren Sapp is one of the NFL's top showmen as well as one of its most dominant defensive players over the past decade, and Washington Redskins linebacker LaVar Arrington apparently wants a piece of that action. Arrington, in a weekly news conference that had some pro wrestling-like elements to it, issued a series of warnings to Sapp, saying that he is "going to get Warren" if he lines up at tight end in goal-line situations on Sunday at FedEx Field or attempts to disrupt the Redskins' pregame routine. "If they line him up on my side, I'm going to get him," Arrington said before a group of reporters at Redskins Park. "I'm going to get Warren. . . . That's disrespectful in my opinion, too, to put defensive guys on offense that are linemen. That's disrespectful. I'm gunning. If you come out there, you've got some killers on the other side of the ball. Just like you're a killer when you're on defense, you've got some killers on that side of the ball coming after you. I'm gunning for him. I'm gunning for everybody on that team, all 11 guys. If they're on the field, I'm gunning for them. I don't want to lose anymore. I feel like this team can really win and I'm going to do my part. I'm striking out. If somebody has got to carry me off the field, then they've got to carry me off because I'm striking out." At one point, Arrington looked into a row of cameras and addressed Sapp directly. "Sapp, I'm going to get you," he said. "If they put you out there, I'm going to get you." Sapp indicated later that he took Arrington's comments as theatrics, saying in a telephone interview: "He had to be joking. He's just firing up his ballclub about a game. I'm not taking that seriously at all. We're entertainers. LaVar wants a live crowd. He'll get that now. But it's not about me and him. He's just appealing to his crowd now. It's not about me and him." One reporter told Arrington as he walked away from his media session that Sapp certainly would be told about the remarks and a verbal battle would be underway, and Arrington said he welcomed that. In recent weeks, Arrington said before playing the New York Giants that he was "not buying into" the accolades being given to Giants tight end Jeremy Shockey. When former Ohio State tailback Maurice Clarett sued the NFL to attempt to become eligible for the draft next spring, Arrington said: "I'm going to try to knock his head off." When asked yesterday about Buccaneers quarterback Brad Johnson, Arrington said of his former Redskins teammate: "I like Brad. Brad is a good quarterback, a real smart quarterback, very heady. He doesn't let himself get hit too often. I love Brad as a person as well, but it'd be fun to knock his chest off." Still, Arrington also is one the sport's fiercest hitters and most intense players, and the two-time Pro Bowl outside linebacker is trying to be the Redskins' emotional leader. He routinely hits opponents so hard that veteran teammates such as defensive end Bruce Smith have urged him to tone down his game a bit so he won't shorten his career with concussions and other self-inflicted injuries. Arrington said he would take it as an affront if the Buccaneers use Sapp as a tight end. Sapp has two catches this season, including one for a touchdown -- which he celebrated with an end zone dance. Arrington said he also would be insulted if Sapp walks among the Redskins players while they're stretching before the game, as Sapp did to the Indianapolis Colts prior to the Buccaneers' 38-35 overtime loss Monday night. "I'm expecting for Warren Sapp to cause me to grab him because he's going to try to run through our lineup in the pregame," Arrington said. Asked to explain that remark, Arrington said later: "If there's one thing I learned at an early age before I even put one pad on, is you never let a man disrespect your side. You don't ever let a man run through your stretching line. If a team crosses your 50-yard line when you're stretching, there's a problem. That's what I grew up seeing, before I ever put a pad on. Once I started playing, then you really understand: You don't let somebody come into where your whole team is. You don't let that happen because that's a blatant show of disrespect. That's a blatant show of, 'Why should I go around you all? I'm going to go where I want to go.' It doesn't go down like that." It's nothing personal, according to Arrington, who said: "Sapp's my boy. I know a lot of guys on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers squad. It's going to be a very intense game, I think. Guys are going to try to definitely outdo one another." The Buccaneers come to town with a 2-2 record after squandering a three-touchdown lead late in Monday night's game in an uncharacteristic meltdown by a defense that was heralded as one of the best in NFL history when it carried the club to a Super Bowl crown last season. The Redskins are 3-2 after a late comeback fell short in a 27-25 defeat on Sunday at Philadelphia against an Eagles team that lost last season's NFC title game to the Buccaneers. The Redskins haven't had a game this season decided by more than three points. "We let a tough one get away again," Arrington said. "Obviously it was a division game. But I think we match up pretty well against the Buccaneers. I think we have an opportunity to get a little redemption and at the same time play a spoiler. . . . To put them below .500 would be nice." <hr> __________________ "Fuck these chains No goddamn slave I will be different" ~ Machine Head