Saints To Franchise Sharper?

Now that the New Orleans Saints have won the Super Bowl they run into the problem every champion runs into, keeping the group intact. The first and probably most important player they need to address (outside of the Drew Brees extension) is free safety Darren Sharper. Sharper joined the Saints this past off season on a one year contract for $1.7 million and the Saints REALLY got their monies worth as Sharper had arguably the best year of his career.

In his 13th season, Sharper produced nine interceptions (tied for a career high), for 376 yards (career high) and three returned for touchdowns (career high). Outstanding numbers for any player, even more so for a player no one wanted last year, thinking he was past his prime.

So what do the Saints do with Sharper? There is no doubt they need him back leading their defense. Even better? He wants to come back to try and repeat. This time it will cost them thou as many teams will see he’s not washed up like they thought but how much do you pay a 34-year old safety? How long do you commit too?

NFL.com’s Steve Wyche said on NFL Networks Total Access today that he’s hearing the Saints will apply the franchise tag on Sharper. The main reason being how much money that would call for. If he wound up with the one year deal his salary would be approximately $6.5 million. A huggggeee raise for the veteran and a deal that almost no team would offer him.

It makes sense as it protects the team should he break down and start to show the signs of aging during the season. It would also make sense as its an uncapped year and wouldn’t prevent them from making other deals. The Saints will enjoy a nice increase in revenue thanks to that Super Bowl title, so they should be able to afford a franchise salary and add/keep other pieces.

There are others around the Saints, mainly beat writers, that report that the Saints won’t apply the tag thou. Those include Mike Triplett of the New Orleans Times-Picayune and Jeff Duncan also the Times-Picayune.

It’s still a little early to know fully what the Saints will do, they have till February 25th too make their decision. Considering all the circumstances thou, I’m thinking along the lines Wyche. It all just makes too much sense for the Saints to franchise Sharper and who knows maybe he’ll work out a deal for a lesser rate after they do.