Benny Sapp has probably played his fair share of Madden video games in his lifetime. He was 11-years old when the first Madden was released. He was 20 when John Madden first uttered the phrase, repeatedly during his pre-recorded video game analysis, “What ever you do, don’t get beat deep.”
And Sapp, like a lot of Madden gamers, probably played with the game on mute because he was sick of hearing that same phrase over-and-over.
He wasn’t the only one.
Eventually, he transferred his skills from virtual football to real football. Sapp, 30, eventually played his college ball at Iowa and Northern Iowa and entered the NFL in 2004 and an undrafted free agent.
Well, my friends, Benny Sapp should have kept that game off mute. He should have listened. Because Sapp got beat deep. And it cost him. More than just a quick strike in a video game. More than just a long gain on the football field. More than just a TD.
It cost him his job. After seven seasons (with three teams), 103 games and 171 tackles, the Dolphins said, “No thanks, we’re good.”
According to Sapp’s agent’s Twitter account, Sapp was cut by the Miami Dolphins Tuesday. Meaning that less than 24 hours after Sapp was beat on a 99-yard touchdown pass from New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady to wide receiver Wes Welker, Sapp is unemployed.
As an aside, it’s just one more reason to hate Tom Brady. He is contributing to the rise in the unemployment numbers in America. Tom Brady is helping to kill the US economy and resuscitate the recession.
Moving on.
Now, keep in mind, both Dolphins starters Vontae Davis and Sean Smith were beaten. Repeatedly. Almost habitually, all game. Brady finished with 517 yards and four touchdowns.
It wasn’t like Brady was 12-for-34 for 78 yards and three interceptions before Sapp was toasted for a 99-yard score. And that one pass didn’t “change the game” or “awaken the beast” that is Tom Brady of the New England passing attack.
To that point, Brady was slicing the Dolphins secondary like cold wind through a fleece jacket. The Dolphins secondary didn’t have the answer. They didn’t have any answers.
But, oh the power of the long ball. It’s the power of the long completion that will get you every time. That’s why Madden said it, “What ever you do, don’t get beat deep.”
It stands to be true.
Today, Benny Sapp is unemployed after a seven year career because he didn’t listen to John Madden.
Makes you wonder what other nuggets of valuable information Madden was releasing during his pre-recorded commentary of games…
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