Why the Detroit Lions Need To Sign Darren Sharper

Sure, Sharper is a great player, future Hall of Famer, great in the locker room, and is currently unemployed. Seems like all the reason to get him to sign the dotted line. Right?

Well, yes. But the Detroit Lions should consider signing Sharper for another reason.

Darren Sharper has made a career killing the Lions, more than any other player, with the exception of a man named Favre. Even when Sharper finally left the black and blue NFC North, Detroit still got stuck with him again.

This time against the eventual Super Bowl champions, the New Orleans Saints in week one. Sharper made sure he left his mark on Detroit, picking off rookie Matthew Stafford twice in Stafford's pro debut.

Over Sharper's accomplished tenure in the NFL, he has accumulated 63 interceptions, good for sixth in NFL history. Thirteen of those interceptions came against the Detroit Lions. That means about 21 percent of Sharper's career interceptions have came against Detroit—that's nearly a one-fourth! Six of those interceptions came in the last four years alone!

Hey, if you can't beat him, have him join you, right?

No, I'm not saying just sign the guy because he's been killing you over his career, but to sign this guy for all the reasons listed above, and because he's been killing you over the years. Not only that, but Detroit needs a veteran free safety.

I don't think any Lions fan would disagree with the pairing of Louis Delmas and Sharper. 

Sharper is also a guy who might only be able to get a one-year contract, being 34 years old and having minor arthroscopic surgery on his left knee.

But seeing how next year is a un-capped season, Detroit should open the checkbooks right now. I don't care if you overpay the guy or not.

Point is, Sharper is far too good of a player to let slip away from you, and if Detroit decides go another route, they better hope he doesn't play them. It would be the first time in his 14-year career that he would not play Detroit in the regular season.

UPDATE: Sharper has decided to return to the New Orleans Saints.

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