Sapp has high praise for Kelly

ALAMEDA -- Warren Sapp has been to seven Pro Bowls, owns a world championship ring and is closing in on 100 career sacks. He thinks those numbers will pale in comparison to what his Oakland teammate Tommy Kelly can accomplish.

For weeks, Sapp has been telling anyone who would listen that the Raiders' fourth-year defensive end is one of the best young players in the NFL.

Kelly took a big step toward confirming that last week when he blocked a field goal as time expired against Cleveland, helping Oakland snap an 11-game losing streak dating to 2006.

"He'll be better than me," Sapp said. "He'll have better numbers than me when his game's over. . . . I know him. This kid's picking up everything you could imagine. His game has just evolved."

Sapp should know. The two joined the Raiders at the same time in 2004. Sapp had just signed a free agent contract after spending nine years in Tampa Bay, while Kelly signed with the team as an undrafted and unheralded free agent from Mississippi State.

The two have since formed a close relationship which often calls for Sapp to speak on Kelly's behalf. That's because Kelly, 26, doesn't talk to the media, at least not about football. He will exchange pleasantries with a handshake and smile, but that's as far as it goes for Oakland's 6-foot-6, 300-pound defensive lineman.

"He's just shy with you guys, but he's hilarious," Sapp said. "He'll come up with some off-the-wall stuff that just makes you laugh."

Through their first three years in the NFL, both players had comparable numbers. Sapp made 37 starts, 146 tackles, 22½ sacks and five forced fumbles; Kelly made 31 starts, 133 tackles, 12 sacks and six forced fumbles.