The Saints are playing Sharper perfectly
When it comes to old fashion standoffs, the Saints are taking it to free agent Darren Sharper.
After racking up 71 tackles and nine interceptions (including three INTs for touchdowns), it was apparent last season that Sharper hadn’t lost a step, which is why he wanted to parlay his 2009 season into a big pay day this offseason. He took a modest deal last year to sign with the Saints, but wasn’t about to do it again with those numbers.
The problem is that the Saints knew Sharper had to have arthroscopic knee surgery in the offseason, thus limiting his worth on the open market. The team also knew that he would love to re-sign with them, but that he was also looking for more money then the team was willing to spend on a 34-year-old safety. So what do they do? They made him another modest offer (details haven’t been released yet, but an offer is on the table and it must be modest because Sharper hasn’t signed it yet) and are now banking on him not finding a better deal anywhere else.
It was rumored that the Dolphins and Cowboys were interested in Sharper, yet neither of them have brought him in for a visit and neither of them have made an offer. Sharper had a visit set up with the Jaguars on Wednesday, but as of this posting they haven’t made an offer either.
Meanwhile, the Saints drafted cornerback Patrick Robinson in the first round of last weekend’s draft and the thought is that they’re ready to move 2009 first rounder Malcolm Jenkins to safety. They’d probably prefer to leave Jenkins where he’s at, but the drafting of Robinson signals that they’re not going to overpay for Sharper’s services, despite how vital he was to their Super Bowl run last year.
If a team like the Jaguars isn’t willing to pony up, then the most likely scenario is that Sharper will return to New Orleans. Why leave a Super Bowl team if you’re not going to make more money some place else? If he does wind up back in the “Big Easy,” then the Saints would have played this situation perfectly.
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Posted in: NFL
Tags: Anthony Stalter, Darren Sharper, Darren Sharper rumors, New Orleans Saints