Warren Sapp has claimed that he apologised to former New York Giants pass rusher Michael Strahan for questioning his Hall of Fame credentials last week.

Strahan was one of seven players to be elected into the Hall of Fame in the class of 2014, despite claims from Sapp that his career did not match up to the other candidates.

However, the former Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Oakland Raiders defensive tackle, who was voted into the Hall of Fame himself last year, insists that he has now apologised for his comments and would "beg for forgiveness".

"I hugged him and wouldn't let him go. I said, 'Please forgive me.' I said, 'Dumb Lex Luthor came to the city of Gotham and pulled Superman's cape. How foolish could I have been, my man? Please forgive me,'" Sapp told NFL Network.

"If he tells the story any different, he's lying to you, America, because I sure did apologise. I'm going to beg for forgiveness because there's a party in Canton, and I promise you, I'm not going to miss it."

Strahan set the single-season record for sacks with 22.5 in 2001, while he is fifth on the NFL's all-time list with 141.5.