Veteran safety Darren Sharper has returned to New Orleans and signed a new one-year contract with the Super Bowl-winning Saints.
Super Bowl winner staying in New Orleans on one-year contract
Veteran safety Darren Sharper has returned to New Orleans and signed a new one-year contract with the Super Bowl-winning Saints.
Five-time Pro Bowler Sharper starred in the Saints' successful Super Bowl season last season, but had been visiting other teams after originally being unhappy with the Saints' latest contract offer.
Sharper had wanted a multi-year deal and had been courted by several other teams, even visiting the Jacksonville Jaguars, but in the end he has opted to remain with the champions.
The former Green Bay Packer will now start his 14th NFL campaign back with New Orleans, after spending eight seasons at Lambeau Field and four seasons in Minnesota.
Sharper was at his very best last season as he grabbed a career-equalling nine interceptions, and returned three of them for touchdowns, while amassing a single-season record of 376 interception yards.
Staying put
"We have said since the end of the season that we would love to have Darren back in a Saints uniform for 2010 and I'm glad we've been able to make that happen," Saints general manager Mickey Loomis said in a statement.
"Darren was an integral part of our Super Bowl-winning team, and we look forward to having him back."
Sharper is the active leader in the NFL with 63 interceptions, and in his 13 seasons so far he also has 1,085 tackles and 7.5 sacks, along with seven fumble recoveries.
His experience was a key for Sean Payton's team last season as they went all the way to an emotional Super Bowl win in Miami, and the veteran is keen to try and win it all once again.
"He's real motivated to win another Super Bowl," Sharper's agent Joel Segal said. "It's rare to have that opportunity, and he's very excited."
Sharper himself says that he is delighted to remain with the team, as he said in a text message to
The Associated Press: "Just wanna tell you I'm extremely happy to be a Saint again. Now we can work on winning another world championship for the city of New Orleans."
