Sapp Calls Out Stevens as GroinGate Continues

Three days after the Seahawks' Jerramy Stevens and the Raiders' Tyler Brayton engaged in a groin-kicking contest, the debate rages on--mostly about Stevens' immaturity.

Seahawks Insider scared up Raiders' star Warren Sapp's thoughts on Stevens:

"This dude has been a piece of (crap) [read: shit] since he got in this league and it's never going to change about him ... [He's] just a punk ... Something's got to change about it but he's going to get his, guaranteed.

"You wouldn't want him on your ballclub. You wouldn't want to be around him."

Sapp's not alone--we don't like Stevens either. Ask our roommates. They will tell you, because they endured our long diatribe Monday after Stevens knocked the Seahawks out of the red zone with a stupid penalty and dropped a sure touchdown pass.

Our dislike of Stevens stretches back to his UW days. Though he was a dominant force on the field, he was a distracting force off of it, what with his busy schedule of defending himself against rape allegations and driving his truck into nursing homes.

We aren't ones to fret about an athlete's personal life if they do their job right. After we stopped hyperventilating, our roommate pointed out that Stevens is a really good tight end. Is he?

Sure he's got all the tools--height, strength, speed--to be one of the best offensive players in football. But he drops key passes (see THE SUPER BOWL), gets in stupid fights, and just doesn't ever really appear to be in the game.

He's still pretty good, though right? Wrong. He's not. In 2002 and 2003, the Seahawks' main tight end was slow-footed, non-agile Itula Mili (who's still with the team as a backup).

In those two seasons, 6-4, 260 lb. Mili totaled 1000 yards receiving on 89 catches (11.2 yards per catch). His catches resulted in 51 first downs and 6 touchdowns.

In the 6-7, 265 lb. Stevens' two full seasons as the Seahawks primary tight end, he's totaled 903 yards on 76 catches (11.8 yards per catch). His catches resulted in 50 first downs and 8 touchdowns.

So--despite an overwhelming talent advantage that's obvious to anyone who watches the two play, Stevens' production isn't appreciably better than Mili's. Unless you are counting groin punches.

Jerramy Stevens--the Reggie Evans of the NFL.

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By Seth in News on November 9, 2006 8:40 AM

Comments [rss]

Ryan

WTF...

1) Stevens did not kick him at all.

2) Talking shit is a part of the game. The only reason no one ever called Sapp a punk is because that guy is also a psycho and would pop a cap in someone. If you don't like shit talking - you aren't a real competitor.

3) Sapp went to the U. They still HATE the Huskies - like when we beat them in 2001. I went there in 2002 for the game, I got jumped, because I had all my teeth and a 410(k). Fuck Sapp. Fuck Miami.

4) I will give the guy who kneed him credit - he apologized - but he still started it.

5) Stevens puts himself in bad situations - we all know this - but he still would never be dumb enough to do that - he learned from the use-my-school-books-to-get-out-of-the-ditch episode.

6) Did I mention Sapp is an assclown? Just making sure.

jason

it's possible that some of stevens' lack of production is due to dropped passes, but you completely ignored that his numbers being almost equal to mili may be more reflective of how the offense is run. maybe hasselbeck only throws to the TE x times per game regardless of who's playing the position.

until you show a chart comparing stevens to mili on dropped passes, it looks like you're focusing only on specific events you can remember rather than the whole of the season.

also, which TE is a better blocking back? i honestly don't know, but the absence of stevens could be part of the reason the run-blocking has looked so atrocious.

drrew

I'm assuming you haven't watched the clip of what happened. Absolutely nothing has been "established" in regards to Steven starting anything. No reasonable person would watch the video and conclude Stevens was trying to kick Brayton.

That being said, Stevens is a frickin asshole. He has all the talent in the world but his head just isn't there. Toss in the alleged rape, beating a kid with a baseball bat (when you're 6'7 250 do you really need the bat) and the hit and run on an old folks home and you have one great guy.

Seth

I agree he's head and shoulders above Mili as a pass-catcher. I'd say he's head, torso and thighs above Mili as a pass-catcher. So why doesn't his production reflect that? BECAUSE HE SUCKS! (sorry, but I feel very strongly about this)

Oh, and it's now established that Stevens did the first round of groin-attacking, and the other dude was retaliating, which he's since apologized for, while Stevens refuses to talk to the media. WHY LORD WHY? WHY HAVE WE BEEN AFFLICTED WITH THIS MAN?

Jason

You're comparing seasons when Mili started a total of 24 games with seasons when Stevens started 16.

Yes, he still got regular playing time, but it's still an indicator of how many touches he was likely to get.

I'll give you that Stevens has made some extremely costly mistakes and he didn't step up in the Super Bowl. He is, however, head and shoulders above Mili as a pass-catcher.

In summation, I don't care what The Stranger says, you're an idiot.

hi

I saw the game Monday. Stevens is always described poorly by others, but when is the last time you saw a highly rated athelete in the NFL or NBA get kicked in the groin and just stand there laughing it off. While most people- athelets included- would go beserk, Stevens just showed class. Who the fuck is Sapp?

Pauls

Great piece.

However, remember that Sapp is a defensive player, and a friend of Joey Porter's. So: There's no love lost there, to begin with. I kind of like having a player that other defenders hate.

Now, it would be nice if he caught the passes that our QBs put between his numbers in the end zone of crucial games. But... I don't know.

And: Stevens has intangibles! And he did

hang on to that ciritcal pass -- that was called back on the bogus holding call -- in the Super Bowl.

Hey: At least the Steelers suck.