Safety Darren Sharper, 33, is in his 12th NFL season and wants to play three more years. “I want to be a three decade guy,” he told Sports Headliners recently. “I think that says a lot about a guy’s career if he can play in three decades and also play considerably well in three decades.”
There is an exception, though, to Sharper’s goal. A starter throughout most of his career, he doesn’t want to play in the next decade as a reserve. “Nah, I never would be a backup,” he said.
Sharper thinks his performance is effective enough now to provide confidence he can extend his career for awhile. If not, Sharper is prepared to accept a job out of football, rather than be a reserve. “If push comes to shove, I gotta get a job,” he said. “I am gonna take the job. I ain’t no fool. …”
Sharper wants to become an NFL or college color commentator after football. He’s appeared locally on Fox 9 sportscasts. He also was a TV color commentator on NFL Europe games from 2004-2007.
The NFL career interception leader among active players with 54, Sharper has one interception this season. That’s far off past years like the nine he had for the Vikings in 2005 or the nine with Green Bay in 2000.
“You know what?” he asked. “It’s kind of weird this season and how it’s been going. The opportunities haven’t been there as they have in the past. I think I am playing solid football. Still playing at a high level. Our season is going well. … When you’re in your 12th year and you can still play on playoff teams that’s something you can be happy about because a lot of people aren’t playing, and if they are they aren’t playing on playoff teams.”