Shark Bites Former Buc Warren Sapp

MARATHON, FL — Former Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive tackle Warren Sapp is known for going toe-to-toe with some of the biggest men in the NFL. On Wednesday, he got to try his hand at wrestling a shark. Not surprisingly, the Hall of Famer won the battle, but not without taking a bite in the process.

According to an Instagram post made by Two Conchs Charters out of Marathon, the now-retired pro football player was bit in the arm while out on a lobstering charter Wednesday. It seems Sapp was in the process of pulling in a lobster when a 4-foot nurse shark decided to take a bite out of him.

Two Conchs Charters posted a photo of a rather deep bite to Sapp’s arm on its Instagram account. Sapp is reportedly OK after his brush with the shark. Patch has included Two Conchs’ Instagram post at the end of this story. Be warned though: the image is pretty graphic.

“The shark wanted the lobster just as bad as Sapp,” Capt. Jack Carlson was quoted by the Tampa Bay Times as saying. “Sapp got the lobster and the shark got his lick in, too.”

See also:

• Nurse Shark Bit Woman, Wouldn’t Let Go
• Florida Diver Attacked By Bull Shark
• Shark Attack Numbers Break Record In 2015
• Shark Attacks: What Are The Odds?

Florida leads the nation and the world in the number of unprovoked shark attacks reported annually. Last year, there were 30 confirmed unprovoked attacks in the Sunshine State. North Carolina and South Carolina tied for second place in the country after Florida with eight confirmed attacks each.

George Burgess, the director of the International Shark Attack File, which is part of the Florida Museum of National History on the University of Florida campus, explains: “Sharks plus humans equals attacks. As our population continues to rapidly grow and shark populations slowly recover, we’re going to see more interactions."

While Florida’s 2015 attacks added up to 30, that number didn’t break the state’s record. The record high was 37, recorded in 2000. Brevard County once again led the state with eight attacks, followed closely by Volusia County with seven.

Although the number of shark attacks is rising, Burgess said the likelihood of being attacked remains low. Spiders, dogs and lightning killed more people than sharks last year, according to Burgess.

“Shark attacks in general are really a nonentity when we think of causes of mortality involved with humans,” Burgess said in a previous interview. “It’s a lot more dangerous driving to the beach.”