The Dolphins released backup cornerback Benny Sapp Tuesday. His agent tweeted the news. Benny Sapp was covering Wes Welker during the lil' wide receiver's record-tying 99-yard reception on Monday Night Football, in the midst of Tom Brady's 517-yard surgical evisceration of the Dolphins' secondary.
Dolphins Make Benny Sapp Scapegoat, Cut Veteran Backup
You can watch video of that play here. Sapp is No. 27, and he was the victim of the stiff arm that sealed the deal on the touchdown. However, the touchdown was not Sapp’s fault alone.
Re-watch that video. Watch the Dolphins' backup free safety, No. 20 Reshad Jones. Watch him be the last line of defense. Watch him try to jump that route. Watch him come about five yards short of jumping that route, leaving Sapp all alone to cover one of the quickest players in the NFL. Watch how this totally is not all Sapp's fault.
And yet, because Sapp was the victim of the stiff arm, and everyone saw him faceplant, he’s the one shown the door the next day. That’s not to say he did a bang-up job on that play, but that wasn’t even a fifth of Brady’s production. Sapp is a backup guarding a Pro-Bowler.
Sapp played in all 16 games for the Dolphins last season, racking up 41 total tackles and two interceptions. Jones, on the other hand, played in 13 games, had 18 tackles and one interception.
Now, maybe the cut isn't entirely reactionary to that one play, but the Dolphins now have just two backup cornerbacks, and one of their starters, Vontae Davis, missed time in the Patriots' game due to injury. Meanwhile, Reshad Jones still has a job after that nightmare.
Benny Sapp, I feel for you. You know what they say: no man is an island, except when a safety misplays his coverage and whiffs while jumping a route. Then you’re totally an island.
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