Chad Clifton is out of the hospital, but he isn't yet walking.

And that in itself means Tampa Bay defensive tackle Warren Sapp is going to keep being questioned about his rough hit -- some say unnecessarily rough -- on the Green Bay Packers' tackle during an interception return last week in Tampa, Fla.

But Sapp isn't flinching, and he's not apologizing for anything. Sapp told ESPN's Suzy Kolber that he is hurt anyone would consider him a dirty player.

"I have hunted 35 different quarterbacks and got them on the ground -- over 70 sacks," Sapp said. "And at no time in this league have I ever been called a dirty player, a cheap shot or a dirty player or anything. And that is the most hurtful thing, that (there is) a perception of me that I have turned into a dirty player. Wow! I really don't see that. I am over-excitable and jovial and a loquacious guy at times -- most of the time -- but a cheap shot, (or) dirty (guy)?"

The league has ruled Sapp's hit was within the rules of the game and did not issue any fine.

Sapp also said he was not celebrating his hit on Clifton afterward, but was pumped up about the interception that resulted in a touchdown. He told Kolber he had no way of knowing Clifton was injured.

"How am I supposed to know that?" Sapp asked. "I didn't know more than any other football player would. I put a big hit on a guy, we got a big play, and we celebrate."

Some of Sapp's most pointed comments were reserved for Green Bay coach Mike Sherman, who confronted Sapp after the game in a heated verbal exchange. Sapp still is fuming over the post-game incident and questions Sherman's right to make judgments.

"This is a man that (has) never taken a snap in this league, right?" he said. "How would he know anything about respect or what goes on within the game? Don't talk to me unless you been in the trenches, please.

"(Sherman) violated me. He crossed my field, on my day, after our win and violated us and violated me personally. He called me outside my name in a vicious way, as I looked at it, and I said it and I had to let him know I didn't appreciate that."

While Sapp said he has not tried to reach Clifton in the hospital, he did turn to the ESPN camera and give the Green Bay player a message.

"I hope you get well, big boy," Sapp said. And then he added: "He knows in his heart of hearts that I didn't do anything wrong."