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FORMER RAIDERS EXECUTIVE MIKE LOMBARDI REACTS TO OAKLAND'S TAMPERING ALLEGATIONS AND SAPP SOUNDS OFF ON ALBERT HAYNESWORTH AS DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR ON 'INSIDE THE NFL' ON SHOWTIME
NEW YORK (Oct. 8, 2008) -- Warren Sapp sounds off on the play of Tennessee's defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth on INSIDE THE NFL on SHOWTIME on Wednesday, Oct. 8, at 9 PM, ET/PT. And, INSIDE THE NFL "Insider" and former Oakland Raiders executive, Mike Lombardi, reacts to the tampering charges brought against the New England Patriots by the Raiders, stemming from the Randy Moss trade. Lombardi was instrumental in the trade. Also in the program, Phil Simms and Cris Collinsworth recommend the San Diego Chargers rest the ailing LaDainian Tomlinson.
Host James Brown anchors INSIDE THE NFL on SHOWTIME with All-Pro NFL greats Collinsworth, Simms and Sapp serving as expert analysts. INSIDE THE NFL is being produced by CBS Sports and NFL Films with new shows airing on SHOWTIME every Wednesday during the NFL season through February 11, 2009. Pete Radovich serves as coordinating producer. The executive producers are Sean McManus, President, CBS News and Sports, and NFL Films President Steve Sabol.
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► (On Albert Haynesworth being the defense player of the year):
SAPP: Albert Haynesworth is playing the game the way it's supposed to be. But this week I went inside the film, because when you tell me you have the best defensive player in the game right now, you have to jump off that screen like a turd in a punch bowl....when you talk about the best player in the game being dumped on his head by a guy named Ben Grubbs, are you kidding me...(reacting t Tennessee game film)...right now he looks disinterested in playing the game and Baltimore is driving, that's a 10-6 game right there...Four quarters of football and he didn't make a play...I know about drawing double teams, you still have to be effective in the double teams and that is what I want to see if your talking about the defensive player of the year.
► (Mike Lombardi reacting to tampering allegations brought against the New England Patriots by the Raiders, stemming from the Randy Moss trade that he was involved in)
COLLINSWORTH: Did the tampering take place?
LOMBARDI: Absolutely not. After that press conference Al Davis threw everyone under the bus, Bob Kraft, Bill Belichick and myself, saying that I told Bill Belichick that Randy Moss could still run. Well we were trying to trade Randy Moss to the New England Patriots; I thought that was good information to give Bill Belichick. But now he's (Davis) accused all of us of making those charges and now he is going to have to face them.
COLILINSWORTH: Did you help Belichick to the determent of the Raiders?
LOMBARDI: Without a doubt, I did not. I was trying to do the best thing for the Raiders, always have...In this situation Bill Belichick is not going to always rely on my opinion for information he is going to look at what he sees on the tape.
COLLINSWORTH: If they are frivolous claims is there something the league can do to the Raiders?
LOMBARDI: The Raiders received a letter form the league office this week saying look, do you have anything to do claim about the tampering charges, because it's been 18 months. Do you have something to say, because if you don't you are in violation of the club integrity rule...They want to balance the integrity of the game, but they don't want other clubs throwing mud against each other. That's the point here. The Raiders have 18 months to make this charge and all of a sudden after this press conference Al Davis does make the charge. I think it has more to do with (Randy Moss's) 23 touchdowns than it does with actual tampering.
► (On what's happening with LaDainian Tomlinson this season):
COLLINSWORTH: He's hurt. There is no question about it. His toe is hurt maybe his knee is still hurting from last year I don't know. I think to some extent his pride is keeping him on the field, which is ridiculous...He got embarrassed last year in the playoff game. Everyone sort of picked on him because he didn't go out and play because his knee hurt. Now he's out there playing hurt and I think he's hurting the football team. Right now Darren Sproles is the best running back on the San Diego Chargers. It's up to Norv Turner to make the tough calls on superstar players, get him out of the line-up get him healthy again and play Darren Sproles.
SIMMS: Many coaches have told me over the years doing games that the running back position is the most violent position in sports. The collisions, all the hits, if you are not 100% how are you going to go out there and have any chance of success...I watched that game last week of LaDainian and San Diego down in Miami...when he was not running, sometimes you could see him walking around and he was limping. So there is no doubt in my mind he needs the rest. Make that tough call and live without him one week and you have him for the rest of the year.
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