Winless Raiders have nothing to celebrate
Warren Sapp walked by Randy Moss’ locker recently and saw a framed picture commemorating the receiver’s 100th career touchdown catch.
“You catch 100 TD passes, you think that would bring a little happiness to your life,” Sapp commented.
On this Oakland Raiders team there’s little to be happy about.
Moss goes on the radio weekly and criticizes the team. Last year’s leading receiver, Jerry Porter, hasn’t played a game all year and has been suspended by coach Art Shell for insubordination. The winless Raiders are off to their worst start in more than four decades.
After spending most of his career on winning teams in Tampa Bay, Sapp is struggling with the losing and negativity around the Raiders.
“It’s probably the worst time in my life right now,” Sapp said.
Oakland (0-5) heads into Sunday’s game against the Arizona Cardinals as the NFL’s only winless team and having lost 11 in a row dating to last season.
The Raiders haven’t been this bad since 1964, when they lost their first five games in Al Davis’ second year as coach.
Barber ponders retirement
Walking away from the never-ending pain of professional football after this season for a career in front of a television camera might save Tiki Barber’s body. It also would likely mean a significant pay cut for the popular New York Giants running back.
The 31-year-old Barber, who leads the NFL in rushing with 533 yards, created a stir over the past two days by saying he is leaning toward retiring after this season.
“I’ve been considering it for a few years now,” Barber said in a telephone interview. “It comes a point where your body just doesn’t want to take it any more. You see other opportunities out there. I’m excited about the rest of my life as well as I am about this football season.”
Around the league
Chicago Bears strong safety Mike Brown is out indefinitely after undergoing surgery to repair ligament damage in his right foot. … Thomas Davis and Al Wallace missed practice for the Carolina Panthers and are listed as questionable for Sunday’s game at Cincinnati. … The NFL suspended Detroit Lions defensive tackle Shaun Rogers for four games for violating a league rule on banned substances. … Ernie Steele, who played in two NFL championship games for the Philadelphia Eagles, died Monday at his home in Seattle at age 88.