Warren Sapp Says Belichick Was Very Interested in Drafting Him in Cleveland
When it comes to the draft here in New England, Bill Belichick runs the show and for the most part has made some selections that have certainly worked out well here in New England.
 Belichick apparently really wanted former NFL defensive lineman Warren Sapp during his days in Cleveland. (FILE:USPresswire) |
Back during his days in Cleveland he and then GM Mike Lombardi had their own ups and downs, and an entry on TheBigLead.com this morning highlighted a recent interview where former NFL defensive lineman Warren Sapp revealed to ESPN Radio that at the NFL Combine two months before the draft in 1995, he met with Belichick, who apparently was very interested in selecting him.
“He said ‘I wanna draft you so bad that I have an erection right now. But [GM] Mike Lombardi will not let me draft you. I just want you to know it is not on me. I want you in Cleveland.’”
Or so Sapp says. You can listen to his quote here - it's at the 1:10 mark.
Cleveland initially had the 26th pick in the draft, but traded up to the 10th spot, which could have landed them Sapp. According to the entry Lombardi was scared of Sapp, so he traded down to the 30th spot and took linebacker Craig Powell.
It didn't end up being a good move, as Powell lasted just four seasons in the NFL. Belichick's Browns went 5-11 in his final season and he was fired.
Five years later he landed here in New England and the rest is history. As they say, everything happens for a reason and had he selected Sapp and Cleveland had become a dominant team, who knows how things would have turned out here with the Patriots.
