FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NFL-88                   10/14/03

NFL FINES SAPP $50,000 FOR REPEATED
ABUSIVE CONDUCT TOWARD GAME OFFICIALS

            Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive tackle Warren Sapp has been fined $50,000 for repeated abusive on-field conduct toward NFL game officials, the NFL announced today.

            The fine was issued by NFL Director of Game Operations Peter Hadhazy following a review of three on-field incidents this season involving Sapp and the game officials. Hadhazy informed Sapp that any further abusive conduct toward game officials – whether verbal or physical in nature – will result in a suspension of at least one game.

            Prior to last Sunday’s game between Tampa Bay and Washington, Sapp bumped into a game official as he was entering the playing field. Rule 12, Section 3, Article 1(d) of the NFL Playing Rules prohibits “unnecessary physical contact with a game official.”

            “There was absolutely no need for you to do so,” Hadhazy stated in a letter to Sapp. “To the contrary, it is apparent that you deliberately made contact with the official…This misconduct occurred even though you had been strongly advised by the Buccaneers’ management only days before to refrain from taking actions during the pregame warm-ups that were disruptive to your opponents, disrespectful to the game officials, and in violation of league rules regarding unsportsmanlike conduct.”

            The previous Monday night, prior to Tampa Bay’s October 6 game against Indianapolis, Sapp used excessively abusive language with the game officials, which violates Rule 12, Section 3, Article 1(b) of the NFL Playing Rules. Sapp ignored the directions of a game official and verbally abused the game officials after they attempted to warn him against committing unsportsmanlike conduct by disrupting the Colts’ pre-game on-field routine. Players and coaches were notified prior to the season that pre-game taunting and other pre-game misconduct would be a point of emphasis this year and would not be tolerated.

            The Indianapolis incident took place three weeks after Sapp had been penalized in Tampa Bay’s September 14 game against Carolina for verbal abuse of a game official.

            “Your continuing disrespectful and intimidating conduct has no place in the game,” Hadhazy wrote. “You have repeatedly abused game officials and ignored their directions and authority in at least three of the Buccaneers’ games this season.”