Teammates Know Sapp's Value The Tampa Tribune, published 29 December 2003 Second-year safety Jermaine Phillips has had a unique view of Warren Sapp this season. From his spot in the secondary, Phillips has seen how much attention the Bucs defensive tackle commands. ``He's someone on the defense that people have to account for,'' Phillips said. ``He takes up two people to help free up others on defense. He's a player. He's an energizer. He's very valuable to this defense.'' Just how valuable Sapp is to the Bucs will be determined in the offseason. Sapp may have played his final game with Tampa Bay on Sunday, contributing five tackles in the Bucs' 33-13 loss to Tennessee. After nine seasons with the Bucs, he becomes a free agent. Recently selected to his seventh consecutive Pro Bowl, Sapp holds the team record for most sacks in a season, 16.5, and is two shy of breaking Hall of Fame defensive end Lee Roy Selmon's career sack record of 78.5. But Sapp doesn't need his name next to Tampa Bay records to prove his worth to the franchise. ``He's done a lot of great things for this organization,'' cornerback Ronde Barber said. ``Warren's a heck of a football player. He still is. I think he's still one of the premier guys at his position.'' Sapp showed off his versatility this season by becoming a part of the offense, finishing with four receptions and two touchdowns. He caught his first career reception in the regular-season opener against Philadelphia and two games later caught his first touchdown pass. Barber said Sapp's legacy with the Bucs is more than what he's done on the field. ``The personality he brings out of everybody goes unnoticed. He's a leader in this locker room,'' Barber said. ``He's the ultimate competitor. He's not so much a rah-rah guy, like [Derrick] Brooks is, but he lays it out there. He cares about what's going on with this team, with the organization. You can tell - it's on his face everyday.'' Sapp did not speak to reporters after Sunday's game. His teammates, on the other hand, had plenty to say. ``I love that guy to death,'' defensive end Simeon Rice said. ``You bet I want to keep playing beside him.'' ``Until he signs another contract, he's still my teammate,'' linebacker Derrick Brooks said. Tennessee quarterback Neil O'Donnell, one of the few quarterbacks Sapp has failed to sack, talked with the All-Pro defensive tackle throughout Sunday's game. ``He's a great player and he kind of knows his days are over there,'' O'Donnell said. ``So, that's what he told me, he's go ing to move on.'' Barber can't imagine Sapp in another uniform. ``I'm not looking forward to it,'' Barber said. ``I'm not expecting it, but if it happens, it happens. It's part of the game we play. It's a business. Wherever he goes, he'll be fine. That's just the way he is. You never have to worry about the guy.'' The Bucs might have to worry about Sapp - worry about facing him as an opponent if they decide not to re-sign him. ``He's a Hall of Fame candidate and the most feared, most productive inside player in my time in this league,'' Coach Jon Gruden said. ``We'll see what happens.''