DARREN SHARPER MAY RETIRE

Attached Thumbnails · 06-02-2011, 07:29 AM

Safety Darren Sharper of the New Orleans Saints is fully prepared to play a 15th season in the NFL even if it isn't with the team he won a Super Bowl with a little over one year ago. The problem is that if the NFL doesn't end up having a season in 2011 then he may be thinking of doing something else with his life and hanging up the cleats for good.

The NFL's active leader in interceptions (63), Sharper is focused on football at the current time but that could all change.

"If there's no football in the fall, I'll have to start looking at other options -- maybe some television, or whatever," said Sharper, 35. "But right now, my goal and my focus is playing football and that's why I'm working out now to be ready for the season ... if it starts."

While it is known that Sharper prefers to stay in New Orleans as he did by signing a one-year contract the past two seasons, he wouldn't object to just being on a team anywhere this season. The formidable safety has been practicing with the Saints players at Tulane University as they've gathered for player organized workouts put together by Drew Brees.

Continuing on as to the affection he has grown for this city as a whole, Sharper will host a charity event on July 23 at Zephyr Field in Metairie. The event called "Home Runs for Kids" will seek to raise money for a variety of Louisiana charities. There will be a monster truck and boat show, a tailgating fest, and even a drunk tank to go along with the home run derby to be held.

The Saints are also holding a raffle to spend a day with the team and the proceeds from it are also going to various charitable organizations.

Sharper is trying to stay busy and also in shape as the normally scheduled beginning of training camp draws ever closer. It's not known exactly how this long lockout will harm or help the rookies and veterans, but the five-time Pro Bowl safety has an idea.

It's going to benefit older guys that have played the game and know how to play the game," Sharper said. "The thing that I'm looking forward to is, if it gets worked out and it's only a couple weeks of teams being able to prepare, especially offenses being able to prepare and get on timing, I think I'm going to have a great opportunity to take advantage of a lot of those missed, off-timed passes.

So I'm a little bit excited to see how it's going to work out."

Last year was a bit of a hard one for Sharper after coming off a nine-pick season in 2009 when the Saints won their first Super Bowl. 2010 was marred by injuries and offseason micro-fracture surgery that limited Sharper's playing time considerably. That and the emergence of Malcolm Jenkins in his new position at safety.

Only playing in eight games though, starting one of them, and not having a single interception is not the way this veteran wants to end his career.

"I've never dealt with a season as frustrating as the past year was, not only not getting back to the Super Bowl and having a chance to repeat, but just not being healthy all year long, nagging injuries, not being able to play like myself," Sharper said. "If I'm going to go out and it's going to be my last year, I want to make sure I go out and leave a mark that year and play at the level that I've played throughout my career. I don't want to be remembered as a guy that hobbled his way out of the league. So that's a little bit of motivation that I have right now."

Not only the experience and knowledge of Sharper is valuable to the Saints though. It is his expertise, leadership, and the fact that he still can run with the best of them at 35 years of age that makes him so important to this team. When he's on the field, opposing quarterbacks look the other way. His teaching of younger players could make quarterbacks do the same thing even when he's not on the field for the Saints.

Hopefully this labor issue between the NFL owners and players gets resolved soon as it would be a shame to see a career end without number 42 stepping out onto the field at least one more time.

Linkback

Also...

Darren Sharper says he may retire if season cancelled - ESPN

Halo · 06-02-2011, 02:29 PM

Prediction: There will be football, Sharper will play in the NFL for his last season...

SmashMouth · 06-02-2011, 02:37 PM

Originally Posted by Halo

Prediction: There will be football, Sharper will play in the NFL for his last season...

Good thing I'm sitting down .... lol.

Luda34 · 06-02-2011, 03:49 PM

He will be back and I hope we sign him for one more year

AlaskaSaints · 06-02-2011, 04:18 PM

Great attitude and perspective. I'm a fan.

Alaska

breesfan27 · 06-02-2011, 06:09 PM

I would hate to see him retire, but if he does, at least he went out on top.

QBREES9 · 06-03-2011, 08:49 PM

One more year, one more year !!!!

Rugby Saint II · 06-03-2011, 09:27 PM

Darren Sharper is hoping for a one year contract offer of at least $1 with the New Orleans Saints. I sincerely believe that he would make the same impact that he did in our Superbowl season if he were to stay in NO and be used sparingly until later in the season. Jenkins is a future Superstar. I do hope we resign Harper.

SaintPauly · 06-04-2011, 12:31 PM

"and even a drunk tank to go along with the home run derby to be held."

Wow.... Drunken home run derby? This sounds like one hell of a fundraiser....

jnormand · 06-05-2011, 03:42 AM

Originally Posted by saintpaul25

"and even a drunk tank to go along with the home run derby to be held."

Wow.... Drunken home run derby? This sounds like one hell of a fundraiser....

I noticed that too! A "drunk tank" sounds awesome! Ha ha!

06-02-2011, 07:29 AM	#1
Threaded by Luda34 1000 Posts + Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Houston Tx Posts: 1,219 Rating: (0 votes - average) Safety Darren Sharper of the New Orleans Saints is fully prepared to play a 15th season in the NFL even if it isn't with the team he won a Super Bowl with a little over one year ago. The problem is that if the NFL doesn't end up having a season in 2011 then he may be thinking of doing something else with his life and hanging up the cleats for good. The NFL's active leader in interceptions (63), Sharper is focused on football at the current time but that could all change. "If there's no football in the fall, I'll have to start looking at other options -- maybe some television, or whatever," said Sharper, 35. "But right now, my goal and my focus is playing football and that's why I'm working out now to be ready for the season ... if it starts." While it is known that Sharper prefers to stay in New Orleans as he did by signing a one-year contract the past two seasons, he wouldn't object to just being on a team anywhere this season. The formidable safety has been practicing with the Saints players at Tulane University as they've gathered for player organized workouts put together by Drew Brees. Continuing on as to the affection he has grown for this city as a whole, Sharper will host a charity event on July 23 at Zephyr Field in Metairie. The event called "Home Runs for Kids" will seek to raise money for a variety of Louisiana charities. There will be a monster truck and boat show, a tailgating fest, and even a drunk tank to go along with the home run derby to be held. The Saints are also holding a raffle to spend a day with the team and the proceeds from it are also going to various charitable organizations. Sharper is trying to stay busy and also in shape as the normally scheduled beginning of training camp draws ever closer. It's not known exactly how this long lockout will harm or help the rookies and veterans, but the five-time Pro Bowl safety has an idea. It's going to benefit older guys that have played the game and know how to play the game," Sharper said. "The thing that I'm looking forward to is, if it gets worked out and it's only a couple weeks of teams being able to prepare, especially offenses being able to prepare and get on timing, I think I'm going to have a great opportunity to take advantage of a lot of those missed, off-timed passes. So I'm a little bit excited to see how it's going to work out." Last year was a bit of a hard one for Sharper after coming off a nine-pick season in 2009 when the Saints won their first Super Bowl. 2010 was marred by injuries and offseason micro-fracture surgery that limited Sharper's playing time considerably. That and the emergence of Malcolm Jenkins in his new position at safety. Only playing in eight games though, starting one of them, and not having a single interception is not the way this veteran wants to end his career. "I've never dealt with a season as frustrating as the past year was, not only not getting back to the Super Bowl and having a chance to repeat, but just not being healthy all year long, nagging injuries, not being able to play like myself," Sharper said. "If I'm going to go out and it's going to be my last year, I want to make sure I go out and leave a mark that year and play at the level that I've played throughout my career. I don't want to be remembered as a guy that hobbled his way out of the league. So that's a little bit of motivation that I have right now." Not only the experience and knowledge of Sharper is valuable to the Saints though. It is his expertise, leadership, and the fact that he still can run with the best of them at 35 years of age that makes him so important to this team. When he's on the field, opposing quarterbacks look the other way. His teaching of younger players could make quarterbacks do the same thing even when he's not on the field for the Saints. Hopefully this labor issue between the NFL owners and players gets resolved soon as it would be a shame to see a career end without number 42 stepping out onto the field at least one more time. Linkback Also... Darren Sharper says he may retire if season cancelled - ESPN Attached Thumbnails
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06-02-2011, 02:37 PM	#3
SmashMouth I donated, did you? Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Mandeville, LA Posts: 38,044 Blog Entries: 29	Originally Posted by Halo Prediction: There will be football, Sharper will play in the NFL for his last season... Good thing I'm sitting down .... lol. foreverfan likes this.

06-05-2011, 03:42 AM	#10
jnormand 5000 POSTS! + Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: The Free State of Idaho Posts: 5,647	Originally Posted by saintpaul25 "and even a drunk tank to go along with the home run derby to be held." Wow.... Drunken home run derby? This sounds like one hell of a fundraiser.... I noticed that too! A "drunk tank" sounds awesome! Ha ha!

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06-02-2011, 02:29 PM	#2
Halo Site Donor MONTHLY Join Date: May 2002 Location: New Orleans, LA Posts: 20,565 Blog Entries: 45	Prediction: There will be football, Sharper will play in the NFL for his last season...

06-02-2011, 03:49 PM	#4
Luda34 1000 Posts + Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Houston Tx Posts: 1,219	He will be back and I hope we sign him for one more year

06-02-2011, 04:18 PM	#5
AlaskaSaints 1000 Posts + Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Anchorage, AK Posts: 2,484 Blog Entries: 2	Great attitude and perspective. I'm a fan. Alaska

06-02-2011, 06:09 PM	#6
breesfan27 Mrs. Drew Brees Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: The Who Dat Nation (by way of South Dakota) Posts: 2,276 Blog Entries: 1	I would hate to see him retire, but if he does, at least he went out on top.

06-03-2011, 08:49 PM	#7
QBREES9 Moderator Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: New Haven Ct Posts: 23,985	One more year, one more year !!!!

06-03-2011, 09:27 PM	#8
Rugby Saint II Bounty Money $$$ Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 5800 Airline Dr. Metairie, LA. Posts: 24,043	Darren Sharper is hoping for a one year contract offer of at least $1 with the New Orleans Saints. I sincerely believe that he would make the same impact that he did in our Superbowl season if he were to stay in NO and be used sparingly until later in the season. Jenkins is a future Superstar. I do hope we resign Harper.

06-04-2011, 12:31 PM	#9
SaintPauly Senior Citizen Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Gulfport, MS Posts: 3,180 Blog Entries: 1	"and even a drunk tank to go along with the home run derby to be held." Wow.... Drunken home run derby? This sounds like one hell of a fundraiser....