Darren Sharper Says Farewell To New Orleans

[V.I.P]

Link: PFT
Sharper prepares to say farewell to the Saints

Posted by Mike Florio on February 23, 2010 2:25 PM ET

Saints safety Darren Sharper, whom many believe was a key cog in the team's first-ever Super Bowl win, won't be restricted via the franchise tag.

And he also won't be signing a new contract.

Instead, Sharper will be hitting the open market. He seems resigned to the fact that, if he wants to keep playing, he'll need to join a new team.

"If a team is willing to let you test the market," Sharper told Steve Wyche of NFL.com, "they're willing to let you go."

Of course, it doesn't mean that Sharper definitely won't return. It just means that the Saints are willing to accept the risk that some other team will be willing to pay a Super Bowl premium to a guy who didn't just help that team win a Super Bowl.

If no one will overpay for a guy who arguably is over the hill, then Sharper could land back in New Orleans.

Thoughts ?

[RaiderNation]

Hes gonna get franchised

[yourfavestoner]

Definitely the right move for both parties. Saints have too many other key players to resign to worry about paying a 90345830945 year old safety, no matter how good he may have been this year. New Orleans got him for a bargain price - let somebody else pay for what he did this season. The chances of him repeating that success is almost slim to none.

[bigbluedefense]

Someone will overpay.

Part of the reason why Sharper saw a resurgence in NO is bc of Greg Williams. Williams let him roam and play more of a freelance role than a traditional FS role.

And bc of this, Sharper made some highlight reel plays.

But if he goes to a more structured defense, he'll struggle.

[vikes_28]

He'll finish his career in Green Bay. Bank on it.

[FlyingElvis]

I doubt a team offers him a giant pay day. So there's still a good chance the Saints can retain him by matching an offer.

[FuzzyGopher]

He'll finish his career in Green Bay. Bank on it.

I hope so. He gambles way to much and misses a lot of tackles.

[K Train]

i think malcolm jenkins is primed to take over for him....i thought he would clearly have to move to FS and that seems to be his best fit one year in

[broth223]

Vikings need a FS... Destiny. Favre + Westy + McNabb + Sharper. This team is for old men.

[yourfavestoner]

Vikings need a FS... Destiny. Favre + Westy + McNabb + Sharper. This team is for old men.

He came to NO from Minnesota. He was ******* terrible there.

[Splat]

I still think he will stay with the Saints when all is said and done.

[ChiFan24]

The Bears will overpay him and I'll die a little inside.

[niel89]

I still think he will stay with the Saints when all is said and done.

Yeah I have to agree. It makes too much sense for him to stay. I don't think there is really gonna be that big of a market for him even though he had a great year.

[RealityCheck]

I smell Cincy.

[V.I.P]

I smell Cincy.

Me too. They need secondary help badly.

[T-RICH49]

I don't care mif he's 5 million years old....I want him in KC

[tjsunstein]

I'd welcome him in Green Bay if it didnt come with that huge price tag.

[Prowler]

well he did win a super bowl with them so it would be hard to be mad at him for cashing in elsewhere. if i were a bears fan i'd want him. he's a super bowl magnet.

[neko4]

I was kinda hoping he would retire so he could go out on top.

[thenewfeature06]

He is going to look at his options and if there is a better oppurtunity/more money he wont be back in NO, but if I had to put down money Id say he will go back. Darkhorse GMen!

[yourfavestoner]

well he did win a super bowl with them so it would be hard to be mad at him for cashing in elsewhere. if i were a bears fan i'd want him. he's a super bowl magnet.

Why? He already showed that he's a crap deep/cover two safety in Minnesota.

Hell, right before the Superbowl there was a huge article on ESPN about how he was finally being used right again as opposed to playing in a cover two system.

[umphrey]

I can't imagine many takers. He won't get franchised because he isn't worth the money that comes with the tag.

[mqtirishfan]

Wasn't it Sharper who came out and attacked Thompson about how he handled the Favre situation? If so, I don't see him coming back.

[diabsoule]

I think the chances are 50/50 that he'll resign. If we don't resign him then I except Malcom Jenkins and Chip Vaughn to battle it out for the FS position. If he is resigned I think it will be for only one to two more years while the aforementioned players are groomed to take over for him.

[umphrey]

Wasn't it Sharper who came out and attacked Thompson about how he handled the Favre situation? If so, I don't see him coming back.

Sharper left before Favre did. I think he might have been a little sore about TT not offering up the money, but at the time we had salary cap problems. Absolutely zero degrees kelvin of him coming back.

(sorry, I'm procrastinating chemistry homework right now)

[CC.SD]

I think the chances are 50/50 that he'll resign. If we don't resign him then I except Malcom Jenkins and Chip Vaughn to battle it out for the FS position. If he is resigned I think it will be for only one to two more years while the aforementioned players are groomed to take over for him.

I forgot Chip Vaughn was a Saint, I always liked him as a prospect. Ultimately Malcom belongs in that spot but if he can make it work at corner it would be cool to see Chip succeed.

[diabsoule]

I forgot Chip Vaughn was a Saint, I always liked him as a prospect. Ultimately Malcom belongs in that spot but if he can make it work at corner it would be cool to see Chip succeed.

I loved Chip as a prospect and think him at SS and Jenkins at FS would make one hell of a safety tandem.

[vikes_28]

He came to NO from Minnesota. He was ******* terrible there.
He was alright in Minnesota. He had 9 INTs in his first season with us. Greg Williams just really let him be free on defense. And basically go to wherever he felt was going to get him a big play. That's not how it was in Minnesota.

[Flyboy]

I think the chances are 50/50 that he'll resign. If we don't resign him then I except Malcom Jenkins and Chip Vaughn to battle it out for the FS position. If he is resigned I think it will be for only one to two more years while the aforementioned players are groomed to take over for him.

I loathe you for posting the exact same thing I was about to post on this subject matter.

=/

[Flyboy]

I forgot Chip Vaughn was a Saint, I always liked him as a prospect. Ultimately Malcom belongs in that spot but if he can make it work at corner it would be cool to see Chip succeed.

With Tracy Porter & Jabari Greer pretty much penciled in as starters, it's hard for me to see Jenkins getting on the field as CB. We have major leverage in the whole Sharper ordeal because of Jenkins.. if he comes back, great. More depth. If not, then oh well. Move on to the future.

[Morton]

The Saints have alot of depth @ cornerback, for once.

Amazing what relentlessly pursuing DB upgrades over the past 4 years will do for a team.

[zachsaints52]

The Saints have alot of depth @ cornerback, for once.

Amazing what relentlessly pursuing DB upgrades over the past 4 years will do for a team.

Fred Thomas and Jason David are mad we pursued upgrades :P

But personally I hope he resigns, but if he doesn't oh well. He helped us out alot and got a record while here, but I would hate to see the team overpay for him.

[LonghornsLegend]

I'd love to see what Malcolm Jenkins looks like as a full-time FS, he's cheaper, younger, more athletic, and ready to blossom as a starter I think. He's much better suited to play FS then a corner and most thought he should of been drafted to do so, it'll do him some good.