No end in sight for Minnesota Vikings' Darren Sharper
Safety says he can play past '08 — do Vikings?
By Don Seeholzer
Article Launched: 05/23/2008 12:01:00 AM CDT
For Darren Sharper, there's no time like the present, and that's the only time in which he has any interest.
Heading into the final year of his contract, and with a rookie successor waiting in the wings, the Vikings' veteran safety knows this could be his last season in Minnesota.
He just isn't dwelling on it.
"I haven't thought about it," he said Thursday as the Vikings wrapped up four days of organized team activities. "I'm thinking about 2008."
Sharper believes this could be a big year for the Vikings. It also could be his last hurrah with the team, which used its second-round choice in last month's NFL draft on Arkansas State safety Tyrell Johnson.
Before the draft, Sharper talked about wanting to end his career in Minnesota, but not after just one more season. Coming off a season in which he earned his fourth Pro Bowl spot, he believes he has more football left in him than that.
"I feel I have a lot of good years left," said Sharper, who will turn 32 in November. "I feel fresher now than I've felt probably in the last four years."
Wide receiver Bobby Wade said it shows.
"Obviously, as the years go on, you lose some speed and maybe an extra step," Wade said. "But for Darren, it's really not like that. He has found a way to be more efficient and stay up with the game and stay in front of the game.
"There's no doubt that there's going to come a time when he wants to walk away from the game, but I think he definitely can play as long
as he wants, really. As long as his body holds up and he still has a love for the game, I think he'll continue to play."
Only Sharper knows how much longer he can last, but he's in no hurry to make broadcasting his full-time career.
His standard answer to the retirement question is "when the wheels fall off," and he has no doubt that he's as good a player today as he was three years ago.
"Better," he said. "Because of the knowledge that I have for the game. Each year you pick up little extra things that help you play and see things a lot better and a lot quicker."
Sharper has used those tricks of the trade to intercept 17 passes in three seasons with the Vikings, and he leads all active players with 53 interceptions and 58 combined takeaways.
Included in last season's four interceptions was a 20-yard touchdown return against the New York Giants that gave him a team record-tying three TDs on interceptions. His 1,024 return yards rank eighth in NFL history.
FULL STORY
http://www.twincities.com/vikings/ci_9353189
Sharper wants to retire with the Vikes
Sharper wants to retire with the Vikes
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