Howard County police have arrested an area man who made creative use of a list of NFL players phone numbers to bilk some of the games superstars out of a few thousand dollars. And while he’s not crowing about it on his website (it actually doesn’t appear as if he’s doing much at all with his site), it appears that the scam was uncovered by Oakland defensive lineman Warren Sapp.

According to the Post, Lewis Sills of Elkridge has officially been charged with three counts of identity theft, three counts of theft, and a count each of resisting arrest and assault that stemmed from a sting operation last week that was prompted by an alert Sapp. On Dec. 17, Sills posed as Baltimore Ravens defender Peter Boulware and tricked Redskin legend Darrell Green (at right) of $900. Five days later, Philly QB Donovan McNabb ponied up $600 more to Sills thinking he was actually Skins wideout James Thrash. But when he contacted Sapp under the guise of Redskin Laveranues Coles, Sapp brought his suspicions to his financial advisor and together they called shenanigans on the enterprise and contacted authorities.

Of course, one of the more interesting aspects of this story is the glint of insight into the world of sports figures and their finances. All three of the players whose identities were assumed — especially Boulware and Coles, who are legit stars — are presumed to make scads of money. That Green and McNabb thought these claims were plausible makes you wonder if these gentlemen manage their riches well at all. Perhaps they should seek the advice of Jeff Rubin, Sapp’s financial advisor! Additionally, are we wrong in recalling that James Thrash was Donovan McNabb’s teammate last year in Philadelphia? Man, those two must have NOT been close.

(Photo of Darrell Green from AP via NFL)