Middleton's big chance

Going against Sapp a large order for Oakland's big guard

SAN DIEGO -- Everything, and I mean everything, about Frank Middleton is big.

He finds himself on the biggest stage his profession provides -- it better be a big one, to hold this guy -- staring down the biggest mouth in the NFL, in the single biggest game of his six-year professional career.

Living large? It's the only way Middleton knows.

The Super Bowl on Sunday will mean a lot of things to a lot of people. For Middleton, the Oakland Raiders' 6-foot-4, 330-pound guard, it will be a chance to rekindle his practice battles with Warren Sapp, Tampa Bay's Pro Bowl defensive tackle and Hall of Fame motor mouth.

And, of course, the Super Bowl will give Middleton a chance to show everyone how far he's come since Sapp first showed him the ropes back in 1997.

"It's like getting two fat boys in the ring," Middleton says of the matchup, "and whoever wins gets to eat."

Middleton spent four years in Tampa Bay (1997-00) playing almost daily practice patty-cake with Sapp. They pushed each other around on the field, then hung out together off it.

But after that '00 season, Middleton moved on to Oakland -- not entirely by his choice -- where he has become part of one of the most effective lines in the league, anchoring the NFL's most dangerous offense.

• King: Bucs' defense rests its case • Banks: Bucs' Johnson validated • Banks: No. 1 D the difference • Donovan: Raiders too slow • Donovan: Controversy burns Raiders • Statitudes: Havenots can have faith • Statitudes: By The Numbers • Mandel: Broadcast took its time • George: Super Bowl ads fun again

Sunday, with Sapp staring at him across the line, Middleton will face the best defense in the league.

"Sapp is the last of the great D-linemen. They don't make them like Sapp anymore," Middleton said Tuesday during the Super Bowl's annual Media Day. "This should be his best opportunity to show what he's got."

Because the Raiders use a lot of one-on-one blocking, Middleton figures to have Sapp all to himself for much of the Super Bowl. Shutting down Sapp, who weighs in at more than 300 pounds and has been selected to six straight Pro Bowls, would do wonders for Middleton's reputation.

That's good because, really, his reputation needs the work.

Middleton has been called a dirty player -- that often goes with the territory when you play for the Raiders -- and Sapp, in fact, calls Middleton a "mauler." Still, "dirty" is not something Middleton considers particularly accurate. He's not even buying into Sapp's "mauler" description.

"How can you maul for 61 pass plays?" Middleton said. "He could be a little bit wrong. I'm a finesse player.

"Look, the Raiders are a team to get flags ... we'll get a couple [Sunday]. But people don't understand. I play hard, but I don't play dirty."

As much as everyone in San Diego wants to get these two natural talkers at each other's throats, neither is taking the bait, at least not yet. Sapp was uncommonly restrained in his dealings with the media Tuesday, and Middleton was awfully giving in his praise for Sapp. Middleton gladly credits Sapp for improving his game, pointing to one practice in '97 in particular.

During the practice, Sapp advised Middleton to slow down and save some of his energy for the game. It's an oldie, but a goodie.

As soon as Middleton eased up, Sapp slipped by him for a practice sack.

"He taught me a lesson," Middleton said. "Never slow down."

Sapp has had good things to say about Middleton, too.

"Me and the big fella have been grinding since he got here. I watched him develop into the player he is now," Sapp said. "He's just a big old country boy from Texas. We went at it for four years, and it won't be any different Sunday."

Sapp, who has 72 sacks in eight years in the NFL, had 7 1/2 sacks this season, tied for first in the NFC among defensive tackles. Though he may not be the dominant player he was in 2000, when he had a career-high 16 1/2 sacks, he still is considered the premier defensive tackle in football. "Sapp's a killer," Middleton said. "He's got that killer instinct."

Sunday, a guy who has never made it to the Pro Bowl and who most NFL fans couldn't identify even with his name printed on the back of his jersey, gets his chance to stop Sapp in his tracks -- and, perhaps, win a Super Bowl in the process.

If he can do that, Middleton truly will be living large.

John Donovan is a senior writer for CNNSI.com.

Comments? To e-mail Donovan, click here.

 

Related information

Stories

John Donovan: Raiders-Bucs -- a sexy Super Bowl John Donovan's Insider Archive

Multimedia

Visit Video Plus for the latest audio and video