Former Tampa Bay Buccaneer Warren Sapp released from jail on $1,500 bond; details revealed by accuser who says he choked her and threw her down

MIAMI BEACH — Former Bucs All-Pro Warren Sapp was released from jail Sunday on $1,500 bond, a day after being charged for allegedly choking a woman in his hotel room.

Sapp, 37, was released at about 11 a.m. Sunday — a time the NFL Network analyst would have been helping with Super Bowl coverage.

The network has pulled Sapp off the air until it investigates.

Police arrested Sapp on Saturday on one charge of misdemeanor domestic battery. An arrest affidavit says the incident happened around 5 a.m. Saturday in the former defensive tackle's hotel room at the Shore Club on Miami Beach.

Sapp's attorney said his client is taking the matter seriously and will cooperate with authorities.

"He sincerely apologizes to the NFL family and fans for taking away any distraction from today's big game," Christopher Lyons said. "We ask that everyone reserve judgment on the matter until all the facts come out in a court of law."

The woman said she had been dating Sapp about two years. She told officers the two were partying with a large group of friends when she got tired and went to lay down.

Sapp entered hours later, pulled her out of bed and tried to get her out of the room, according to the complaint. The complaint says he yelled at the woman about men she had been hanging out with and men's numbers listed in her cell phone.

The woman told police Sapp choked her, threw her down on a couch, then picked her up by her shirt and neck and threw her down again — injuring her leg.

The victim had a swollen knee and bruises on her neck, the affidavit says. She was taken to the hospital.

Sapp told investigators he let the woman stay in his room but asked her to leave a few hours later because he was expecting company. He told police the woman fell on her leg when he tried to help her get off a couch.

Sapp played for the Bucs (1995-2003, selected 12th overall in the draft out of Miami) and the Raiders (2004-07) during a 13-year NFL career.