Radio Row at the Super Bowl is a swirling mix of unpredictability and eccentricity, making it one of the most unique spectacles in sports media. An example is when Warren Sapp abruptly walked out on Infinity Sports Network host Zach Gelb after Gelb complimented Penn State prospect Abdul Carter while comparing him to Micah Parsons. Initially, their conversation about this year’s NFL Draft prospects—where Sapp, as a Colorado assistant coach with Deion Sanders, praised players like Shedeur Sanders, Travis Hunter, and Miami Hurricanes quarterback Cam Ward—was running smoothly. However, when Gelb mentioned Carter, Sapp became combative, questioning what pass rushers Penn State has produced. Upon hearing Gelb cite Micah Parsons, Sapp dismissed it and walked off, snubbing Gelb’s attempted handshake in the process.
.@WarrenSapp says the 3 best players in the draft are Travis Hunter, Shedeur Sanders & Cam Ward.
When I asked about Abdul Carter, he laughed & asked me who was the last good pass rusher to come out of @PennStateFball, I said Micah Parsons & Warren walked off our set.… pic.twitter.com/fskc8aIbuo
— Zach Gelb (@ZachGelb) February 6, 2025
This incident raises an eyebrow: does Warren Sapp have an issue with Abdul Carter or Micah Parsons? It seems to be the latter, as Sapp had previously praised Parsons in a 2022 interview with Rich Eisen, claiming his sack numbers would soar if the Cowboys used him full-time as a pass rusher. However, by last January, Sapp altered his stance on Parsons, stating to Jason Whitlock that he could show plays where Parsons looked more like “Betty Taylor rather than Lawrence.” While Sapp is certainly entitled to his views, asserting that Parsons isn’t a good pass rusher is an extreme hot take that contradicts reality. With 52.5 sacks in just four NFL seasons and never registering fewer than 12 in any campaign—this past year with only 13 games played—Zach Gelb’s suggestion of 15 sacks per season, while slightly exaggerated, isn’t far off. In fact, Parsons is currently 5th overall in NFL sacks, which indicates he’s a formidable pass rusher.
Amidst all this, the odd move of throwing Carter under the bus stands out. Abdul Carter is a consensus Top 5 pick in this year’s NFL Draft, with many mock drafts placing him as the #1 overall selection. Thanks to this bizarre Super Bowl interview with Sapp, Carter may have acquired some unexpected motivation for the next level.
