Warren Sapp is ''very close'' to signing a four-year deal with the Cincinnati Bengals, his agent Drew Rosenhaus said Friday night, potentially ending his nine-year run as one of the cornerstones of the Tampa Bay defense.
The defensive tackle had been in negotiations with at least seven other NFL teams, Rosenhaus said, since not being immediately re-signed by the Buccaneers. The deal could be done by Saturday, he said.
''They've definitely become the front runner,'' Rosenhaus told The Associated Press. ''It could be just a matter of hours.''
Sapp is not in Cincinnati overseeing the potential deal, but may travel to meet the team soon, Rosenhaus said.
The Bucs have been reluctant to sign a long-term deal with the 31-year-old Sapp, who's production has fallen off in recent seasons. Sapp had just five sacks last season and has not had more than 7.5 sacks since he had a career-high 16.5 in 2000.
The deal would end Sapp's stay in Tampa Bay where he helped lead the Bucs from perennial laughingstock to Super Bowl champions in 2003.
Sapp has 77 career sacks and has been selected to seven Pro Bowls.
Sapp, the 1999 NFL defensive player of the year, had grown increasingly impatient with the slow pace of the Bucs. Tampa Bay has signed six players in recent weeks and restructured the contracts of a number of others.
He would likely replace Tony Williams as the Bengals starter.
Sapp was a first-round draft pick from the University of Miami in 1995.
Rosenhaus had previously said several teams have expressed uncertainty about whether Sapp is open to leaving.
