MINNEAPOLIS -- Serious about upgrading their defense, the
Minnesota Vikings looked to their biggest rival for the latest
addition.
The Vikings signed veteran safety Darren Sharper to a four-year
contract Saturday, inserting another accomplished player into a
unit that has already added new four starters since the month
began.
Sharper, a two-time Pro Bowl pick released by Green Bay in a
cost-cutting move earlier this week, started at free safety the
last six seasons for the Packers and ranks fifth in team history
with 36 interceptions. He led the team with four interceptions last
year and scored three touchdowns.
"Darren is very excited to be going to Minnesota," agent Joel
Segal said.
The Packers tried to get Sharper to restructure his deal, but he
balked at a pay cut -- hoping to make more on the open market than
the approximately $2 million Green Bay was offering for 2005.
The Vikings were only too happy he was available.
"He's a great playmaker and has been a nemesis of ours for
years," Vikings vice president of football operations Rob
Brzezinski said. "He's an outstanding leader and will be a
tremendous addition to our defense."
Segal would not divulge specific terms of the deal, but he said
Sharper received a "significant" signing bonus.
Sharper's signing was the latest move in a busy week for the
Vikings, who also signed cornerback Fred Smoot to a six-year deal
and re-signed tight end Jermaine Wiggins for five years. The team
was in discussions with Jacksonville about a trade for safety
Donovin Darius, but his price was higher than Sharper's. Minnesota
has also signed defensive tackle Pat Williams and traded for
linebacker Napoleon Harris since March began.
Free agent receiver Plaxico Burress visited the Vikings this
week, but he left without a contract. While Brzezinski didn't rule
out resuming negotiations with Burress, he said the Vikings have no
immediate plans to bring in any more free agents.
"We have significantly upgraded our football team this week,"
Brzezinski said. "Now we'll start turning our attention toward the
draft."