NFL Network’s Sapp silenced after arrest

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. | Former football star Warren Sapp was arrested Saturday following an alleged domestic violence incident at a Miami Beach hotel, police said.

Sapp was charged with one count of misdemeanor domestic battery and is expected to appear before a Miami-Dade County judge Sunday, Miami Beach police spokesman Juan Sanchez said.

Shortly after police officials confirmed the charge NFL Network spokesman Dennis Johnson said in an e-mail to The Associated Press that Sapp — who is an analyst — wouldn’t be part of the Super Bowl coverage for Sunday’s game between the Indianapolis Colts and New Orleans Saints.

“We have been made aware of the arrest of Warren Sapp by the Miami Beach Police Department,” a network statement said. “In light of these circumstances, Warren Sapp will not appear on NFL Network while we review the matter.”

The domestic violence allegation was reported around noon Saturday and detectives interviewed Sapp later that day, Sanchez said. The incident occurred early Saturday morning at the Shore Club hotel, according to a police news release.

The victim had a swollen knee and bruises on her neck, according to an arrest affidavit. She told detectives that she was partying with Sapp and her friends at the hotel and asked for his room key when she grew tired. Sapp reportedly woke up the victim a few hours later and they started to argue. She told investigators that Sapp started to choke her and pushed her down on a couch.

As the argument escalated, Sapp grabbed the woman by her shirt and neck and threw her down again, the affidavit states.

Sapp told investigators that he let the woman stay in his room but asked her to leave a few hours later. He told police that the woman fell on her leg when he tried to help her get off a couch.

A telephone message left for Sapp’s attorney was not immediately returned, nor was an e-mail.

Sanchez said Sapp was expected to be transferred to Miami-Dade County jail Saturday.

Sapp, a former defensive tackle, played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Oakland Raiders during his NFL career. He was also once a contestant on ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars.”

RELATED STORIES
• Super Bowl ads bring back humor
• Storm could leave Super Bowl fans in dark
• Ex-ESPN analyst faces sexual assault suit
• Hillyer: of Saints and winners
• Manning is master of the audible
• Cajun Colts look to spoil hometowns hopes