Warren Sapp: Norv Turner Didn't Practice Two-Minute Offense in Two Years in Oakland

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Warren Sapp, fresh off not winning Dancing With the Stars, returned to his full-time job as teevee analyst for NFL Network. During GameDay Morning, Kara Henderson, in San Diego for today's Falcons-Chargers game, asked Sapp about embattled coach Norv Turner, who has "led" San Diego to a 4-7 record in one of the worst divisions in football.

Sapp, who verbalizes every thought that comes into his brain, was predictably frank:

"I tell you what, [owner] Dean Spanos and [general manager] A.J. Smith need to do their homework because the two years I played with Norv Turner, we did not practice the two-minute offense or defense one time. So when you look at the game last week ... and Norv using his timeouts in a bad situation, that's why.

He does not practice time management in a game; I've been with him two years -- he don't do it.

Sapp's GameDay Morning co-analyst, Marshall Faulk, was shocked by the revelation: "I don't know how you can get by in the NFL and not go over two-minute offense ... that's impossible."

Apparently, you "get by" by going 4-7.

Now, I have no reason to believe Sapp is making stuff up, but I also find it damn near impossible to think Turner doesn't devote at least some practice time to the two-minute drill. Wherever the truth may lie, Norval Eugene's job is safe for 2009, which must make Chargers fans very happy.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

11-30-2008 @ 2:01PM

Dustin said...

I believe Sapp, cause Norv Turner is the worst coach in the league. I am a huge Chargers fan and I would take any other coach in the NFL over Turner. We shouldve never fired Schottenheimer. Him and A.J. Smith didnt get along and so he fired him, and that is why he wont fire Norv Turner. He doesnt want to admit he made a mistake in firing Schottenheimer and hiring Turner. Fire them both. GO CHARGERS!!!!!

11-30-2008 @ 2:26PM

tien said...

Sapp is a story teller, he has a tendency to make things up to try and get attention. I'm sure Norv probably didn't extensively practice the 2-minute drill, but there's no way they "never" practiced it.

His stories about the Raiders and how Al Davis would call down plays from the booth have been proven to not true, among others.

11-30-2008 @ 2:42PM

jseams said...

IM A CHARGER FAN, AND I BELEIVE SAPP. ITS NOT JUST NORV BUT THE FRONT OFFICE AS WELL, IN BAND DECISION MAKING. WE LET GUY LEAVE AND GET NOTHING FOR THEM, OUR DEFENSIVE BACKS HAVE BEEN BAD FOR ALONG TIME EXCEPT FOR LAST YEAR(FLUKE). WE ARE RIGHT THEIR AS SUPERBOWL CHAMPS LETS NOT LET THAT GO.

11-30-2008 @ 3:33PM

Steve said...

With the talent that the Chargers have this season I believe they are way underachieving. Norv was was supposed to lead them to the promised land...but it seems he can't light the fire underneath the team to get them motivated. It must be that Southern California laid back attitude that has them in a funk, and Norv seems to have lost that eye of the tiger attitude as well, he just goes along with whatever the NFL officials hand him.

11-30-2008 @ 6:03PM

Joe Era said...

They are absolutely underachieving they should be atleast 8-4 atleast and thats being conservative. It goes to show you the difference one guy can make on a team. I am talking about Shawn Merriman, they lost him for the year an possibly next year which is his last year in a Chargers uniform, because AJ isnt going to resign him because they dont get along to well either and the fact that AJ philosophy is to not pay too much for that position or the player.I believe Merriman was pretty much the coach last season and the reason why they did so well not Norv Turner, because its been proven over and over again that Turner is not a good coach by every team Turner has ever coached he has a losing record as a head coach so why would AJ Smith get rid of Shottenheimer who has one of the Winningest records as a head coach to hire a coach who was a losing record as a head coach. Thats the problem with AJ he lets his personal feelings control his decisions and thats not the way you win in the NFL. He needs to be fired and replaced with someone who knows how to do their job without letting their personal feelings get in the way, theres no room for personal feelings when running a team in the NFL. Although Shottenheimer hasnt won a Super Bowl he's still one of the best coaches in the NFL and its not his coaching thats the reason he didnt win one yet he was a man or two away from winning one in San Diego now San Diego is more than a few away an falling further and further away each year and if AJ continues to run things will continue to just fade further and further away get rid of AJ Smith and hire someone who knows how to do their job the right way and maybe San Diego will get there sometime in LT's and Philip Rivers career and also get rid of Norv Turner cause hell never win a Super Bowl as a head coach. He's a great cordinator but a horrible Head Coach

11-30-2008 @ 10:12PM

lowdown23 said...

Don't know if Sapp is telling the truth or not, All I know is that I said it when it transpired and I'll say it again........they should not have gotten rid of Mary Schottenheimer. Joe Era you are right on the money.

11-30-2008 @ 10:20PM

Cheri said...

I agree with Dustin above Norv Turner is the WORST COACH in the NFL. The San Diego Chargers fired Marty Schottenheimer for this work of art. I am so pleased I am a Broncos fan. With Norv Turner continuing on next season, they (The Charger's) don't have a prayer. Team president Dean Spanos another complete moron, he was the one who fired Schottenheimer.

12-01-2008 @ 2:09AM

Willie said...

I, too, am a Charger fan. When Marty was fired, it happened AFTER alot of other top staff had left for coaching positions elsewhere. That act of incompetency was followed-up with hiring Turner. The Chargers did as well as they did last year because the players were given more free-reign then, This years' standings shows Norv's effort at 'coaching'.
The players would agree with me, but they would be punished for not being supportive of of the Team. The Charger season is NOW wait 'til next year, which has been the Raider mantra for over 5 years.

12-01-2008 @ 6:54AM

AJM33771 said...

Well, It IS ASSUMED that Warren "The Dancing PERVERT" has a brain, so the article and quotes are FALSE! Second and more important "The Dancing PERVERT" IS AN IDIOT, so a waste of internet space has occurred once again! Warren saPPED Is In Tra-Booo LOL

12-01-2008 @ 7:32AM

Gil said...

Sappy Sapp: There are 60 minutes in a game and a coach is not doing his job if he concentrates on just a 2 minute drill. It's the players under him that cut and run and boo hoo and bawl even when they are paid big bucks to listen to their coach. N.T. is a good man and good coach, the best? NO> But good enough to coach in the big time. Million dollar cry baby players (Sapp are you listening?) should face up to the fact that they aren't as good as they think they are and play ball for 60 minutes instead of 2.

12-01-2008 @ 9:54AM

olal said...

sounds like Warren Sapp.

heard a rumor that he and Barkley are going to team up and run in 2012 for Pres/VP......

not sure who gets which job....guess who spins the best garbage........

12-01-2008 @ 11:07AM

tony banks said...

being a dolphin fan here in san diego , surrounded by charger fans i see their team take on the character or lack there of of their coach , wether Sapps comments are true or not , still dont negate the fact that this team plays with no heart for a coach they dont like , in a system they dont believe in...I went online to the chargers home websight , only to find that alot of fans think this to be a conspiracy theory set up by management to get out of town , lowering the fan base with an incompetent coach...I dont know wether thats true , but I see the dolphins winning with a GM and coach they believe in , ownership , take note...L.T. , gates , chambers , rivers , sproles...there's some talent there

12-01-2008 @ 12:19PM

James Walker said...

Warren Sapp has the brain of a pygmy rattler and would be collecting garbage if not for football. He is a loudmouth egotist and does not belong on television demeaning smart people. The same under-achieving loudmouths ran Tom Coughlin out of Jacksonville only to have him win a super bowl for New York.

12-01-2008 @ 12:49PM

david said...

This should not be a hard game for the Falcons. Not saying it will be easy but should have little problems in this visit to Southern California. I venture the Falcons should win by at least 10.