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Michael Strahan and Warren Sapp Feud: NFL Linemen Continue War of Words

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Michael Strahan took more critical comments from Warren Sapp following the induction of the NFL Hall of Fame's class of 2013.

In an article published Wednesday by the Tampa Tribune, Sapp, who will be inducted, commented on Strahan not being chosen for the Hall of Fame. He proceeded to say Strahan, who played defensive end for the New York Giants, made his career by beating other teams' weak offensive lineman.

Sapp, a defensive tackle who played most of career for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, said his former teammate Simeon Rice should be in the hall before Strahan.

"(Rice) didn't rush the worst lineman,'' Sapp said. "You know the right tackle is the worst of the five. Strahan played right end his first four years. When they were putting the label on him as a bust, they put 'B-U-S. OK, let's transition him on the other side and see if he can play in his fourth year.'"

Sapp said the Giants moved Strahan to the left side of the defensive line so he would be matched up against the right tackle.

"They put him at right end and he couldn't do it, so they moved him to the weak guy. One-on-one with the (Eagles right tackle) Jon Runyans for eight quarters every year," he said. "Sim won't ever have his name brought up (for the Hall of Fame), and that's a shame. He's one of the best pass rushers I've ever encountered in my life.''

Sapp played with Rice from 2001-03 and during that three-year period, the right defensive end averaged 14 sacks per season.

"Nobody ever talks about Simeon,'' Sapp said." Simeon was a better rusher than Michael Strahan any day of the week and twice on Sunday.''

Strahan ranks fifth on the all-time sack list with 141.5 while Rice ranks 13th with 122. Strahan also recorded 22.5 sacks in 2001, breaking the single season sack record previously held by Mark Gastineau.

The public feud between the two former defensive linemen began in February, following the initial Hall of Fame class of 2013 announcement, when Sapp critically called Strahan a "media darling."

"You never cease to amaze me!'' Strahan said in response to Sapp via Twitter. "Enjoy your moment. You don't need to take a shot at me to justify yourself to other people.''

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