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NFL Player
Interview: Gerome Sapp, S, Baltimore Ravens
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For the first time in his pro career Ravens’ safety Gerome Sapp entered
the ’07 off-season in an unfamiliar role; that of unrestricted NFL free
agent. Sapp’s time being unemployed didn’t last long as the Ravens
re-signed him to a one year deal just over a week ago.
“I actually just wrapped up a deal with Baltimore so I re-signed with
them, a one year contract. I’m very happy with the way it worked out.”
Before being signed, the 26 year old took advantage of his time away
from the game and used the time off as an opportunity for travel.
“It’s been more relaxing (free agency) than I thought it would be. Once
the season was over I did some traveling and went to South America for
two weeks. It’s nice to go somewhere that you can kind of blend in.”
While traveling in the Southern Hemisphere, Sapp was allowed a rare
luxury for an NFL player: Anonymity.
“It was cool to get away to a place where most people could care less
about football. Most people don’t know what American football is and
the ones who do really don’t understand it.”
When asked about differences in sporting culture, Sapp referenced the
non-American version of football; Soccer.
“I went to a couple soccer games and that is a true sporting event. To
go to one of those games, where the light firecrackers in the stands it
was like a non stop party. They literally party for 20 minutes
following a goal. It was beyond anything I’ve ever seen in my life and
I enjoyed it.”
During his four year career, spending two years in Baltimore and two in
Indy, Sapp has been to the playoffs every year. His team’s regular
season record during that span is a remarkable 49-15. In the playoff
however, his teams have struggled to an unimpressive 1-5 mark.
“What’s really killed us in big games has been inconsistency and that’s
the common thread no matter who I played for. My rookie year when we
played the Titans (’03) we had plenty of chances but we weren’t
consistent and we lost. In my first two years with the Colts, one
versus the Patriots (’04) and one versus the Steelers (’05), in those
games we fell apart as a team. Luckily we were good enough individually
to hang in those games but as a team we fell apart.
This year we just couldn’t put things together for whatever reason and
the Colts took advantage, and in this league, everyone is so good, the
difference between a good player and bad player is who consistently
makes plays. And in the playoffs, the teams I’ve been on just haven’t
been consistent enough.”
During his four years, Sapp has played with two of the best
quarterbacks in the NFL: Peyton Manning and Steve McNair. Working with
both in practice on a daily basis has made him a better player
physically and mentally.
“Peyton is a league of his own and Steve is such a veteran that he
defines the word ‘poise.’ That’s the biggest thing with Steve is how
poised he is. Things are just going on all around him and he just sits
in the pocket and he’ll sit and take a hit in order to deliver the ball
where it needs to be. That kind of person controlling your offense is
priceless.
“Peyton’s whole demeanor and the way he prepares is amazing. Every
frame of defense we go over on film in practice he could pinpoint the
guys who were moving and what they were going to be doing on that play.
He knows what everyone on the defense was doing just because of a
couple guys. ‘If this guy does this, than this guy will be here and
he’ll be there,” etc…He takes all of that mental prep onto the field
and executes it which is why he’s so successful.”
Prior to last season Sapp was used primarily as a special teams player.
But toward the end of ’06 Ravens defensive coordinator Rob Ryan started
using him in various ways in the secondary.
“Basically, the role I had towards the end of the year is what they
want me to do in ’07. I’ll still come in as a dime back during those
types of situations, but they also want to use me in a lot of different
ways as well, trying to confuse the offense and not let them know
whether I’m coming or going. (Rex) Ryan loves to use speed in the
3-4 so he’s going to put me on the field with (Ed) Reed and (Dawan)
Landry so we’ll have three safeties on the field at certain times,
essentially using me in place of a linebacker. We have a speed
advantage with three safeties and taking a linebacker or cornerback out
gives us a lot of versatility. So, basically they’re going to expand on
that.”
Sapp is also one of the Ravens primary special teams contributors,
making 71 special teams tackles in four years, and will continue
undertaking that role even with an increased role in the defensive game
plan.
“The bottom line is to go all out every play and that’s similar for the
safety position and playing special teams. But there are certain
control elements especially safety, you can’t just go all out every
play in terms of seeing and reacting. You have to see it, make sure
you’re seeing what you’re seeing, and then if your instinct says go,
you go.
Special teams you’re just going, because you have so many guys going
all around that usually if your instinct is incorrect, you’ll have
someone to help you. With safety you have to be more poised. You can’t
bite just because it looks appealing. The underlying mentality of the
two positions is always the same, but the difference is you got to have
more poise and control at safety.”
Prior to being drafted in 2002 Sapp played collegiately at Notre Dame,
something that helped ease his transition to the NFL.
“Coming out of Notre Dame, there were two things that helped me
directly: I knew I could learn any scheme and I could do it quick. The
other thing was the competition. I had no fear of playing anyone,
because I had probably played them already in college and if not, I
played someone like them. The whole physical aspect didn’t bother me
either, nor did the speed, and that gave me a chance to prepare for the
efficiency of the game rather than worrying about the other two
aspects. So, mentally and physically coming out of Notre Dame, I was
more prepared than most guys.”
When asked to pick one facet of NFL life that surprised him the most,
Sapp echoed a popular sentiment amongst many of the leagues
‘employees’.
“Probably just the business side. The average fan hears about the
contracts and thinks that is the business side, but the real business
side is what 99 per cent of NFL players hate. The way they cut guys,
sometimes just because it’s a numbers thing. It’s a business that makes
money and just like any other business, guys get laid off for no
reason. The league does a good job of not letting the average fans see
that and they should. The underlying cutthroat mentality is the one
thing that most people don’t see.”
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