Safety will be able to make free agent visits soon Brad Biggs
Darren Sharper says he’ll be able to hit the road on some free agent visits in about a week or so after his knee is healed up following arthroscopic surgery that was described as a cleanup procedure.
And he’ll hit the road because he says the New Orleans Saints have not shown him enough love yet, according to Mike Triplett of the New Orleans Times-Picayune. Translated, they haven’t showered him with enough cash yet.
"If the love was right, that would have been taken care of. The love would have been reciprocated," Sharper said.
The problem is he will be 35 this coming season. He’s coming off a Pro Bowl season when he tied for the league lead with nine interceptions, and he proved to be a perfect fit in Gregg Williams’ scheme. But he’ll be 35. Triplett points out that Sharper is pointing to Rod Woodson, who was a Pro Bowl performer all the way to 37.
“He's a guy I looked to as I was coming up in the early years of my career," Sharper said. "And I know the way I train and keep myself in shape, I could do that.
“I know what kind of player I am. And I think I showed that last year, showed what I could do. I don't think teams question that I can still play. I don't think they question that at all."
The question right now is if Sharper will be able to find a market for his services. The Saints were the only team that pursued him last year and that led to New Orleans getting him for a bargain, $1.7 million for one season. There was speculation he would be franchise tagged this year, but clearly paying him more than $6 million for one season would have been overpaying. Maybe he can reach a happy medium with the team on a short contract. It’s unlikely the Saints view him as an option for more than two more years. Otherwise, he’ll have to find a bidder elsewhere to help drive up the number.
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I'm willing to bet the Saints offered him something like 6 mill total for a two year deal and he doesn't think that's enough "love" to make his highly inflated ego happy. No team is going to overpay for him as a short-term fix at free safety. He'll end up right where he is now and be happy to retire a Saint in a couple more years or become a coach for the franchise.
Darren, no one cares about you except the Saints. The NFC North can't use you. You got your ring. You can get one more big check, rest on your laurels and decide on coaching, the NFL network or some kind of foundation work. Who is giving you advice. Your Saints won't repeat but you can still collect a big bonus and hopefully go out on a high note. Why do you players have to overinflate your value and make yourselves look like asses. You're not a QB. You're at the end. Go out gracefully and move on.
He'd be welcome back in the north!! He could prove to be a wonderful influence with the Lions and mentor up Delmas a bit. As long as the price isn't horrible I can't see why they wouldn't want him. It's just a matter of would he want them.
Darren, New Orleans loves you and will treat you like royalty until you leave this earth. Then they'll treat your family the same and their kids and their kids after them. Some things cannot be quantified by a dollar amount. The perfect fit does not come around often. People are very fortunate to find that perfect fit in any profession, or aspect of life, just once in their lifetime. It's like a surfer waiting for that perfect wave. You found the perfect wave that you are riding right now. Keep riding it all the way to the beach! Second guessing the quality of the wave or if it cares for you as much as you do for them will only take away from the joy of the ride. And ultimately will throw your balance off. You are IN it right NOW! Embrace it with your whole heart and enjoy being the first D-back to enjoy going to the Pro-bowl as a 38 year-old, wearing 4 Super Bowl Rings!!!!!!
Who Dat!
Mar 10, 2010
05:20 PM
Heres to hoping the Bears don't help him out w/that negotiating thing. He's a perfect fit in New Orleans & if both parties were smart they'd get a deal done that fits both parties. Bargain basement Benson won't shell out stupid cash. He's notoriously cheap. A base similar to last seasons number w/heavy incentive laden language in the contract makes the most sense to me.