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SHARPER OUT IN MINNY?
Vikings safety Darren Sharper, who was signed after being jettisoned by the Packers two seasons ago, could now be on his way out of Minnesota.
Sharper was benched in the fourth quarter of the Vikings' loss to the Rams after St. Louis running back Steven Jackson broke free for a touchdown run that pushed the score to 41-7.
Regarding whether he'll be back, Sharper said: "I don't know. I'd like to, but that's never up to me to make that decision. I'm under contract, so I guess I'd say I am coming back. Until I'm told differently. We'll see. . . . Whenever you don't finish a game out and you want to be out there playing, you always raise questions about [the future]."
The Vikings' 6-10 record, featuring a pathetic 2-8 finish after a 4-2 start, gave Sharper the first losing record of his entire career.
"Ten years and I've never had a losing record, and that's something," he said. "That's kind of hard this year to deal with that, end of season, seeing 6-10. That's terrible. I've never experienced that and don't want to experience it again."
Sharper feels his future as Viking clouded by final game
The 10-year-veteran safety was benched in the final quarter for the first time in his career and wonders what is ahead for him.
By Judd Zulgad, Star Tribune
Last update: December 31, 2006 – 9:55 PM
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Vikings safety Darren Sharper questioned his future with the franchise Sunday after being benched for the first time in his 10-year NFL career during the Vikings' 41-21 loss to St. Louis in their regular-season finale.
Sharper, in his second season with the Vikings, was lifted in the fourth quarter in favor of rookie Greg Blue after the Rams' Steven Jackson raced 59 yards for a touchdown that gave St. Louis a 41-7 lead. Sharper said he was surprised by the move and no explanation was given. "It doesn't matter, I'll find out soon enough," he said.
Although the Jackson touchdown run might have looked like the reason Sharper was pulled, Blue had been told at the beginning of the fourth quarter that he would be taking over at strong safety. Plus, Sharper was playing in the deep middle when Jackson broke free, meaning there were plenty of other Vikings who could have made the tackle.
"When you're the last guy back there, you have nine, 10 guys in front of you so it shouldn't really get back to you," Sharper said. "That's what I've always been told."
Blue, a fifth-round pick by the Vikings last April, could be a candidate to replace Sharper, 31, as the Vikings' starter at strong safety in 2007. Blue started two games this season and played the entire season opener at Washington in place of Dwight Smith, who was inactive for disciplinary reasons.
Sharper signed a four-year contract with the Vikings in 2005 and is scheduled to make a base salary of $2.9 million next season and $3.9 million in 2008. Asked if he expects to return, Sharper said: "I don't know. I'd like to, but that's never up to me to make that decision. I'm under contract, so I guess I'd say I am coming back. Until I'm told differently. We'll see."
He later added, "Whenever you don't finish a game out and you want to be out there playing, you always raise questions about [the future]."
Sharper, who spent his first eight seasons in Green Bay before joining the Vikings as a free agent, tied his career high with nine interceptions last season and made the Pro Bowl for the third time in his career. But playing in defensive coordinator Mike Tomlin's new defense this season, Sharper's interception total fell to four. A free safety for much of his career, he was considered the strong safety in the Vikings defense.
"I feel it's a good scheme, and I can play in any scheme," Sharper said when asked if Tomlin's defense fit his skills. "It just takes a while to adjust. ... I've been in systems where I've been put in positions to make plays. When you've been doing something for so long, having a chance to be free, having a chance to pretty much do what you want to, freelance, just go after the football, it just takes a little time. I definitely learned a lot this year as far as the scheme. I can be successful in any scheme."
Sharper's frustration Sunday was exacerbated by the fact that the Vikings' 6-10 finish marks his first time on a team that finished with a losing record since being a second-round choice by Green Bay in 1997.
"Ten years and I've never had a losing record, and that's something," he said. "That's kind of hard this year to deal with that, end of season, seeing 6-10. That's terrible. I've never experienced that and don't want to experience it again."
Vikings safety Darren Sharper, who was signed after being jettisoned by the Packers two seasons ago, could now be on his way out of Minnesota.
Sharper was benched in the fourth quarter of the Vikings' loss to the Rams after St. Louis running back Steven Jackson broke free for a touchdown run that pushed the score to 41-7.
Regarding whether he'll be back, Sharper said: "I don't know. I'd like to, but that's never up to me to make that decision. I'm under contract, so I guess I'd say I am coming back. Until I'm told differently. We'll see. . . . Whenever you don't finish a game out and you want to be out there playing, you always raise questions about [the future]."
The Vikings' 6-10 record, featuring a pathetic 2-8 finish after a 4-2 start, gave Sharper the first losing record of his entire career.
"Ten years and I've never had a losing record, and that's something," he said. "That's kind of hard this year to deal with that, end of season, seeing 6-10. That's terrible. I've never experienced that and don't want to experience it again."
Sharper feels his future as Viking clouded by final game
The 10-year-veteran safety was benched in the final quarter for the first time in his career and wonders what is ahead for him.
By Judd Zulgad, Star Tribune
Last update: December 31, 2006 – 9:55 PM
Printer friendly
E-mail this story
Save to del.icio.us
Vikings
Coach casts frosty aura
Vikings: Finale might be opportunity for some
Access Vikings blog: Team MVPs named
Harris hopes to stay with Vikings
Fantasy Reality: The best and worst of 2006
Vikings safety Darren Sharper questioned his future with the franchise Sunday after being benched for the first time in his 10-year NFL career during the Vikings' 41-21 loss to St. Louis in their regular-season finale.
Sharper, in his second season with the Vikings, was lifted in the fourth quarter in favor of rookie Greg Blue after the Rams' Steven Jackson raced 59 yards for a touchdown that gave St. Louis a 41-7 lead. Sharper said he was surprised by the move and no explanation was given. "It doesn't matter, I'll find out soon enough," he said.
Although the Jackson touchdown run might have looked like the reason Sharper was pulled, Blue had been told at the beginning of the fourth quarter that he would be taking over at strong safety. Plus, Sharper was playing in the deep middle when Jackson broke free, meaning there were plenty of other Vikings who could have made the tackle.
"When you're the last guy back there, you have nine, 10 guys in front of you so it shouldn't really get back to you," Sharper said. "That's what I've always been told."
Blue, a fifth-round pick by the Vikings last April, could be a candidate to replace Sharper, 31, as the Vikings' starter at strong safety in 2007. Blue started two games this season and played the entire season opener at Washington in place of Dwight Smith, who was inactive for disciplinary reasons.
Sharper signed a four-year contract with the Vikings in 2005 and is scheduled to make a base salary of $2.9 million next season and $3.9 million in 2008. Asked if he expects to return, Sharper said: "I don't know. I'd like to, but that's never up to me to make that decision. I'm under contract, so I guess I'd say I am coming back. Until I'm told differently. We'll see."
He later added, "Whenever you don't finish a game out and you want to be out there playing, you always raise questions about [the future]."
Sharper, who spent his first eight seasons in Green Bay before joining the Vikings as a free agent, tied his career high with nine interceptions last season and made the Pro Bowl for the third time in his career. But playing in defensive coordinator Mike Tomlin's new defense this season, Sharper's interception total fell to four. A free safety for much of his career, he was considered the strong safety in the Vikings defense.
"I feel it's a good scheme, and I can play in any scheme," Sharper said when asked if Tomlin's defense fit his skills. "It just takes a while to adjust. ... I've been in systems where I've been put in positions to make plays. When you've been doing something for so long, having a chance to be free, having a chance to pretty much do what you want to, freelance, just go after the football, it just takes a little time. I definitely learned a lot this year as far as the scheme. I can be successful in any scheme."
Sharper's frustration Sunday was exacerbated by the fact that the Vikings' 6-10 finish marks his first time on a team that finished with a losing record since being a second-round choice by Green Bay in 1997.
"Ten years and I've never had a losing record, and that's something," he said. "That's kind of hard this year to deal with that, end of season, seeing 6-10. That's terrible. I've never experienced that and don't want to experience it again."
And his invaluable interpretation of Brett's signals :rotflmao: 
