Patrick Reusse: Aggressive style comes with a price

Benny Sapp has been the Vikings' nickel back since Nov. 9, when Charles Gordon suffered a grotesque ankle injury in the victory over the Packers.

Sapp was able to function for a couple of games, without creating much attention other than an interception at Jacksonville. Then, the Chicago Bears came to the Metrodome on Nov. 30 in a contest for first place.

The Bears dominated early and were leading 7-3 in the middle of the second quarter. They were third-and-4 at the Vikings 40 and running back Matt Forte was tossed for a 2-yard loss.

As the front line celebrated this stop, a flag appeared, the officiating huddle was held and then the announcement was made: Personal foul, No. 22, Vikings.

What would've been a punt became a first down at the Vikings 27. This was because Sapp, No. 22, had been caught taking an after-the-whistle shot at an opponent. He came to the sideline and received a mini-lecture from coach Brad Childress and others.

Sapp's defensive teammates got him off the hook by staging a goal-line stand that stopped the Bears inside the 1. On the next play, Gus Frerotte laid out a pass for Bernard Berrian running behind the Chicago defense that went for a 99-yard touchdown.

A day later, Childress was asked about Sapp's performance as the nickel back -- with the preamble that Benny had committed the "dumbest penalty in history.''

The coach said: "In history? I thought the dumbest in history was that guy from Alabama against Rice."

This demonstrated strong credentials as a football historian, since Childress was referring to the 1954 Cotton Bowl, when Alabama's Tommy Lewis came off the sideline to tackle Rice star Dicky Moegle as he raced toward a touchdown.

Moegle was credited with his touchdown and Rice won 28-6. Sapp's colleagues prevented the Bears from scoring after his blunder and the Vikings won 34-14.

So, Chilly was correct: Sapp's penalty against the Bears was merely the second dumbest in football history.

Sapp rebounded with a late interception that ended the Bears' last gasp. And Childress assessed Sapp's overall play as satisfactory as Gordon's replacement.

Then came Sunday in Detroit, when Sapp again tested the coaching staff's patience. He was twice called for being offside as he tried to crowd the line of scrimmage. The second of those gave the Lions a first down at the Vikings 4.

Then, in the third quarter, the Vikings delivered a sack on Detroit quarterback Daunte Culpepper on third-and-5 -- only to have it negated when a late flag surfaced and Sapp was called for holding. On the next play, Culpepper heaved a 70-yard touchdown pass to Calvin Johnson that temporarily put the Lions in the lead.

Sapp was stopped in the Winter Park locker room this week and asked: "What's with the penalties? Could it be the officials don't like your dreadlocks?''

He shook those dreadlocks and said: "I don't know. I was just looking at tape of those offside penalties. Those were close calls. I don't think I was too much offsides. And they weren't part of the play at all.''

What has been the feedback from coaches? "Play smarter," he said.

The fact Sapp has stayed on the field despite the mistakes seems to reflect poorly on second-year corner Marcus McCauley. As a rookie, McCauley made nine starts and served as the nickel back the rest of the time.

He was one reason the Vikings received plaudits for the 2007 draft class. A year later, he has been inactive in six of 13 games and has compiled no defensive statistics.

To this point, the Vikings are content to stick with Sapp's aggressive style and occasional lapses over whatever McCauley has to offer.

Asked about the foolish penalty against the Bears, Sapp smiled and said: "Here's what I don't get: In hockey, the guys that fight all the time are heroes. They sign players just to be fighters.

"In football, where the object is to hit each other on every play ... we're supposed to pound each other for 10 seconds. Then, the whistle blows and we're supposed to turn into gentlemen for 20 to 30 seconds.

"I'm telling you, it's not that easy."

Sapp paused and said: "Maybe I should've been a hockey player."

Patrick Reusse can be heard weekdays on AM-1500 KSTP at 6:45 and 7:45 a.m. and 4:40 p.m. • preusse@startribune.com