Vikings will give QB Favre heavier protection this season

After knowing that the Minnesota Vikings pending starting quarterback Brett Favre had a surgery to repair his injured ankle, the New Orleans Saints safety Darren Sharper, who formerly also played in Minnesota Vikings jersey, said that the Vikings will have to protect Favre better than last season as his knee is already a target of Saints defensive players.

The Saints defensive men attacked Favre heavily during last season’s NFC championship game. As the result of the attacks, Favre failed to complete a pass to running back Chester Taylor and lost the chance to score first in overtime. No punishment was called after the attack, and the league admitted the mistake a few days later and fined the Saints $25,000 for hits on Favre, and Saints defensive linemen Bobby McCray and Remi Ayodele also had to pay $20, 000 and $5, 0000 respectively for what they did to Favre during the critical game. The fine did not mean much to the Vikings as they still did not get their chance back to win the Super Bowl XLIV.

Favre had the surgery on Friday and the surgery was taken as a sign of his possible return. However, the Vikings have not confirmed any information about Favre’s decision, neither their plan for the starting quarterback in 2010 season. If they still rely on Favre to get the pass for Super Bowl XLV, they may really need a serious consideration of Sharper’s comments.

Saints safety Sharper may leave for higher pay

Leaving the Jacksonville Jaguars without a contract offer, free agent safety Darren Sharper, however, is planning to visit a few teams to see opportunities of signing a better contract than what was offered by the New Orleans Saints, and his next stop is scheduled to be the Dallas Cowboys. No matter which team is on his route, the problem is who would like to sign a safety at Sharper’s age with the money he asked for?

Indeed, Shaper’s performance in last season was above the pay he received from the Saints. At age 34, he still managed to be selected in to Pro Bowl and help the Saints to win the Super Bowl XLIV game against the Indianapolis Colts while he was under a one-year contract worth only $1.7 million. Insisting that he is worth a better contract worth at least $5 million, Sharper was refused by the Saints and was let go to test the free agent market. Actually, if without the contract issued, both sides would like to retain the relationship. But now, Sharper won’t give up before he was refused by all other teams.

The Jaguars and Cowboys both have shown great interests in Sharper as they are really in need of a safety like him. However, they still have to rethink about the contract if Sharper insists the salary level. Besides the age, Sharper is still recovering from arthroscopic knee surgery and may not return for offseason workout until June. So there is still a big chance for him to wear back Saints jersey to play in 2010 season.