Vikings sign S Sharper to four-year deal
By JON KRAWCZYNSKI, AP Sports Writer
March 12, 2005
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- The Minnesota Vikings signed veteran safety Darren Sharper to a four-year contract on Saturday.
Sharper, cut by the Green Bay Packers in a cost-cutting move earlier this week, started at free safety the last six seasons and ranks fifth in team history with 36 interceptions. He led the team with four interceptions last year and scored three defensive touchdowns.
``Darren is very excited to be going to Minnesota,'' agent Joel Segal told The Associated Press.
The Packers tried to get Sharper to restructure his deal, but he balked at a pay cut, hoping he could make more on the open market than the approximately $2 million Green Bay was offering for 2005.
The Vikings were only too happy to have him fall into their laps.
``He's a great playmaker and has been a nemesis of ours for years,'' Vikings vice president of football operations Rob Brzezinski said. ``He's an outstanding leader and will be a tremendous addition to our defense.''
Segal would not comment on the terms of the deal, only saying Sharper received ``a significant signing bonus.''
The signing was the latest move in a busy week for the Vikings, who also signed cornerback Fred Smoot to a six-year deal and resigned tight end Jermaine Wiggins.
Free agent receiver Plaxico Burress also visited the Vikings this week, but left without a contract. While Brzezinski didn't rule out resuming negotiations with Burress, he said the Vikings have no immediate plans to bring in any more free agents.
``We have significantly upgraded our football team this week,'' Brzezinski said. ``Now we'll start turning our attention toward the draft.''
The Vikings have upgraded a lot. The loss of Hovan might hurt, but drafting Eruasmus James fills that void. They should be a pretty good team, luckily for them the Packers didnt help themselves in the draft, which really leaves the door open to the improved Vikes, the young Lions, and the revamped Bears...interesting
james had probably the best raw talent in the draft at DE...his injury dragged him down to pick 22 or whatever it was...he will be decent with udeze at the other end...
the real question is will the vikes be able to make the big transition from feared O to feared D in one year?
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Ricky "The Hitman" Hatton:44-1, 31 KOs
David "The Hayemaker" Haye:21-1, 20 KOs
Undisputed World Cruiserweight Champion (WBA, WBC, WBO, The Ring Magazine Champion)
Well it's not just James...I'm talking about all the other additions they made, Sharper, Harris, Pat Williams, Sam Cowart, and Fred Smoot, those are all big name guys. Not to mention the maturation of Henderson and Thomas. Pat and Kevin Williams (DT), James and Udeze (DE) Thomas, Harris, Henderson (LB), finally Smoot, Winfield, Chavous and Sharper (DB) that is a daunting defense...just what they need to go all the way.
oh right! so i thought you mistakingly directed it at me...but actually i mistakingly directed it at you...
well you know what i mean.
i agree that on paper that team is awesome. but names dont mean anything until they are on the field and we see what they can do. they could become the next skins (unlikely but possible). so many new names and new faces could lead to a lack of gelling between them as a unit...its hard to say. on paper, great D, in reality, we have to see.
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Ricky "The Hitman" Hatton:44-1, 31 KOs
David "The Hayemaker" Haye:21-1, 20 KOs
Undisputed World Cruiserweight Champion (WBA, WBC, WBO, The Ring Magazine Champion)
Oh phew i am glad we cleared that up, but your right paper is paper football is football. That team has had a hard time coming together in the past so your right we will have to wait and see...i just for some reason think they have something good going for then right now and cant wait to see what they do
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