Safety Darren Sharper, 33, is in his 12^th 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 12^th 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.”

Wide receiver Bernard Berrian, who joined the Vikings in the off-season as a free agent from Chicago, has become a big play producer including last Sunday against Arizona when he returned a punt 82 yards for a touchdown and also had a 41-       yard touchdown reception.  The Bears had the opportunity to put the franchise tag on Berrian and keep him.  Instead the Bears are being second guessed including by chicagotribune.com writer David Haugh who wrote the following earlier this week:

“Of all the regrets that eventually could define this Bears season, the biggest one popped up Sunday on your TV screen. Don’t adjust your set if it happens again. Bernard Berrian is right where the Vikings programmed him to be, dominating the NFC playoff picture with big plays.  The guy the Bears didn’t do enough to keep around last winter won’t go away now, and it will be his image more than any other that haunts the Bears this off-season if they miss the playoffs. …”

Savvy rookie quarterback Matt Ryan of the Falcons, here to play the Vikings on Sunday at the Metrodome, TiVo-ed press conferences of Tom Brady and Peyton Manning while at Boston College to better himself for media relations, according to a story in the December 15 issue of Sports Illustrated.

The Vikings and Arizona, with four players each, have the most starters on the first team NFC offensive and defensive Pro Bowl teams.  Chicago, competing for first place in the NFC North with the Vikings, had just one player (linebacker Lance Briggs) who made either the first or second teams.  Not only do the players enjoy a trip to Hawaii in February, those on the winning team receive $45,000 each while losers pocket $22,500, according to the NFL Players Association website.

Vikings executive Steve LaCroix reported by e-mail that playoff ticket invoices for season ticket holders are due today and general public sales (via Ticketmaster) will start immediately “upon qualifying for the playoffs.”

An MIAC officiating crew will work the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl, the Division III national championship gme, tomorrow at Salem, Virginia.  Mount Union will play Wisconsin-Whitewater.  Officiating will be Twin Citians Pat Whalen, Tom Tucker, Dan Pelletier, Dave Wittman, Scott Mitchell, Bill Nelson and Bill Merritt.

St. Thomas junior center Josh Ostrue and Carleton senior safety Drew Ziller have been named to the American Football Coaches’ Association (AFCA) Division III All-America team. Only 25 players nationwide were named to the team. The pair was also named to the D3football.com All-West Region first team last week.  D3football.com’s All-American team will be announced tomorrow.

Breck wide receiver Bryce McNeal is the only Minnesota prep selected for the January 3 U.S. Army All-American Bowl in San Antonio.  The game will be telecast on NBC.

Adrian Peterson, who leads the NFL in rushing with 1,581 yards, is also ahead of the league’s players in another category, most fumbles.  The second-year soon to be All-Pro has six on the season, one more than eight other running backs and quarterbacks who have five.

Peterson fumbled twice against the Lions a week ago Sunday and had two other near fumbles.  He avoided his third fumble in two weeks last Sunday against the Cardinals when officials ruled Peterson was on the ground before losing the ball.

Vikings fullback Naufahu Tahi was asked by Sports Headliners last week if Peterson receives leniency because of his extraordinary ability and performance.  No, Tahi answered, and he said Peterson knows that regardless of his “status” he has to secure the football.

Tahi said the coaching staff doesn’t have a set policy on discipline for fumbling. “There’s no set rule if you fumble (that) you gotta come out of the game but … you want to be able to take care of it and have the coaches trust that you can take care of the ball. …”

Peterson fumbled four times last year as a rookie in 238 rushing attempts.  This season, with two games to play, he has two more but he also has 320 rushing attempts.

Apparently the fumbles are an annoyance to his father, Nelson, who communicates with Vikings coach Brad Childress and tells him he will talk to his famous son about correcting the problem, according to Joe Buck of Fox Sports.  Buck spoke about that during the telecast of Sunday’s Vikings-Arizona game.

The fumble subject has been minimized by the Vikings four game winning streak and closing in on the NFC North Division championship.  Also, by Peterson‘s three consecutive 100-plus yard games including 165 on Sunday against the Cardinals.