Darren Sharper says that a possible return
 

Darren Sharper says that a possible return to the New Orleans Saints starts with a big “if.”

Sharper, an unrestricted free agent, remains on the free agent market following minor arthroscopic surgery on his left knee this offseason. He told NFL Total Access Tuesday his status isn’t due to his recovery, but that he’s taking the time to decide what team is the best fit while he focuses on his rehab.

While Sharper says he would love to return to the Saints, he doesn’t hold any animosity toward the franchise.

“We know this is a business,” Sharper told Rich Eisen. “You always have to weigh all of your options. We’ll see what happens.

“I understand, in this game, there are two sides. And everyone knows this. You have the game and you have the business side. And that comes from being a guy who has been around the league as long as I have. You understand that, and you go on.”

Re: Darren Sharper says that a possible return
 

darren sharper sounds like he's still ticked at the saints about not throwing the 6 mill at him. darren was an all pro and all but he showed signs of wear and tear during the season, the pics came far and fewer as it got 2 thirds into the year. when the super bowl came he was there thats it he were a part of it. now when i witnessed the missed tackle on indy's adai on there last td i said to my buddies around me that darren looked tired and done as a saint and most people agreed. what was that sharper everyone said, tackling an invisible man said another brother. that looked bad on sharper and that swayed the front office on his returning on our terms not his 6 million last lick for cash. i hope he comes back he could be a hell of an asset for the young and get a starting roll. it showed why the vikqueens let him walk.

Re: Darren Sharper says that a possible return
 

But he said he'd love to go back.

Re: Darren Sharper says that a possible return
 

All this team was missing from making a Superbowl season run was a solid, veteran, Pro Bowl Safety. I thought this even amidst all the Jason David woes and so on. Signing Sharper wasn't an experiment or a gamble, it was a necessity. If you loose him, you better have someone in line to fill a huge gap. Our Corners are now holding it down, but this team has also shown that they can live or die by the accountability of our safety.

This is mostly due in part to the fact that asides from an occassional blitz, the Saints have about the worst pass rush production from the front 4 in the NFL. That's why Sharper was so key, our guys up front weren't getting to the QB. They better either improve the DE position, bring in another stud safety or get Sharper paid.

Really, I'm gonna keep harping on it, because it urks me to no end that they are paying a hit-or-miss, novelty, haven't proved I'm worth it, lowest production among his counterpart, "not-really a real" running back Reggie Bush the kinda money for one season that would otherwise lock in Sharper for years. This is a mistake!

Re: Darren Sharper says that a possible return
 

You can't get mad at the Reggie money he was the second pick in the draft he gets what every second pick in the draft gets.Its a flawed system to blame. Paying a guy that kind of money that hasn't proven anything on an nfl field.

Re: Darren Sharper says that a possible return
 

yes i agree with him needing to come back , at least one more season then we will have someone ready. i know you have beef with reggie and his 8 mill payday. i read your input on him and somewhat agree but you state that his decoying would have worked the same with p.t. or some one else that were i have to dissagree.i think the whole gameplan senerio changes from one to the other play wize anyway. a defense may put a backer or d.e. on p.t. when it would be a corner taking on reggie out of the backfield. this meaning it would allow more space and timing routes to 3 or more different recievers all over the field. i just saying that the stats would be so different h.o.l. its my opinion only theres no stock in my seeing things. to sum it up reggie does open recievers and has a lot to do with the power house offense we have.

Re: Darren Sharper says that a possible return
 

^^ I see Reggie covered by LB'ers and sometimes even DE's all day.... often caught up with and tackled by said guys with ease. I rarely (or can't say I've ever) seen a CB leave his WR to jump on Reggie (do you?) or is this just recycled and exaggerated theory? If Pierre comes out of the backfield (or even hangs around in the flat), he's drawing the exact same coverage as would Reggie... I assure you. Which is, usually one LB'er.

As for Reggie's decoy accountability for our Powerhouse offense.... this means nothing when we've continued to be the NFL's leading when Bush was injured or only being used a half dozen plays per game. It's nice to think we really are taking advantage of him, really I mean that. With all the hope I held out for him, all the money and fanfare involved with him, it'd be nice, but it's merely a stretch from my view at this point.

See, it's kinda a double standard.... when Reggies on the field and something good happens, say something big in the passing game, almost by default people are attributing Reggie for fooling everybody or simply opening it up..... But, for the other 4/5ths of the big and similar plays that evolve while Bush is on the sideline.... people don't give the rest of the O the credit to just plain kick arse with him... Which, BTW, THEY CAN!

EDIT: Oh yeah, I meant to say too..... that as far as the accountability the D has when Reggie is put in.... if anything, I'd say it more henders our O because Reggie is very 1 dimensional. He can dart to the sideline on a handoff or he's making his way to the flat for for a screen (a huge majority of the time). So from a LB'ers point of view, you're facing that... and I'm sorry, but on the NFL level, they are not that dumb. So yeah, he is accounted for, but it comes down to that.

I feel it's the other way around. I think because our offense is so dammed talented at every skill position, and that every one is a threat with Brees gunning, that this spreads the field for Reggie to get his "gimmie" yards before they close in on him. If Reggie was on an average to struggling offense, that were pretty one dimensional.... leaving him the go to guy, he'd get eaten up all day. Reggie is lucky.

Re: Darren Sharper says that a possible return
 

Reggie is Payton's "Security Blanket".

I would love to have D-Sharp back too but I am growing weary of this playing out in the media.

Re: Darren Sharper says that a possible return
 

hmm.. no...

If you tell me Sharper was the catalyst for the SB run, I'll ask you to pass the dutchie by the left hand side. Rod Woodson would have not put the Saints defense over the top. The real change was the system and attitude GW brought to the defense.

There was a reason why Sharper signed with the "lowly Saints" for a cheap 1-year contract after he was released from Minnesota: nobody wanted him. Sharper benefited GREATLY from a) the play of Jabari and Tracy and b) GW's system.

And as for Reggie getting paid, stop it. Payton wants Reggie, he gets Reggie. That's that. And I am sure the stream of revenue the Saints realize from Reggie from marketing and merchandising, helps a lot also.
Besides, it is an uncapped year. So what's the difference?

Re: Darren Sharper says that a possible return
 

Is it possible that Sharper brought a swagger and confidence to the D the was equally if not more important than just William's attitude?

.... either way, What Sharper did on defense was more consistent and impressive than Bush on O. Sharper was consistent and accountable, not to mention, leading the league in his position. How many games did we see see Bush get randomly tossed in and out, only to find himself watching from the sidelines because he couldn't get anything going.

As far as "Payton Wanting Reggie"..... this doesn't ease my mind. First off, 2010 season hasn't started yet, so easy with the assurance. Secondly, Payton has proven that he has a lot of pride riding with Reggie as his first big move as a head coach. I don't know what might drive him to stick with him, and that it may not be silly little trivial things like his friends and/or family saying, "ahhhh, we love Reggie". Maybe he doesn't want to be the A-hole..... maybe it's pressure from front office / marketing for the amount invested with him in marketing, anything like this I can imagine and understand, but it doesn't mean anything to me as a fan.

as far as it being an uncapped year.... why are we struggling to to retain some of our pro bowl caliper players? ...... see my concern?