Texans rumored to have interest in Darren Sharper/re-signs with Saints

[gtexan02]

Who will Sharpen their secondary?
12:04 PM ET

Darren Sharper | Saints | Interested: Saints?, Cowboys?, Texans?, Redskins? Top Email The NFL Draft was a smashing success from a ratings standpoint, and it's also beginning to shake out the pictures for certain veteran free agents still on the market. One big name that's still floating out there is Darren Sharper, who was a key member of the New Orleans Saints in 2009.

Looking back at our past set of Sharper rumors, we can cross some teams off the list right away, given the high draft choices used on safeties. This would include the Philadelphia Eagles, Kansas City Chiefs and the Chicago Bears. Two other teams used later-round picks on the position, as the San Diego Chargers added Darrell Stuckey in the fourth, and the Miami Dolphins added Reshad Jones in the fifth. It's unknown whether those Day 3 picks will necessarily prevent Sharper from signing in San Diego or Miami.

For now, that would leave the Washington Redskins, Houston Texans, Dallas Cowboys and, of course, the Saints as some options for the possible 2010 home for Sharper. As of now, we'd have to say that the Saints are the odds-on favorites.

http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/features/rumors

[Carr Bombed]

This doesn't say the Texans have any interest in Darren Sharper...it's just matching teams that have a need for a FS, to a vet FA FS that's available. I haven't heard anything coming out of Kirby that says they have interest in Sharper.

[gtexan02]

Originally Posted by Carr Bombed

This doesn't say the Texans have any interest in Darren Sharper...it's just matching teams that have a need for a FS, to a vet FA FS that's available. I haven't heard anything coming out of Kirby that says they have interest in Sharper.

If that was the case, they'd have Texans listed for every available FS. Which they don't. OJ Attogwe is listed, and the Texans aren't listed as interested. They may not have put a reason, but usually they'll only list a team if theres something to link them, no matter how small

[Brandon420tx]

Atogwe is available?

[eriadoc]

I'd love for the Texans to show some interest in Darren Sharper. Even at his age, he's better than Wilson, and would pair well with Pollard, IMO. A nickel package of Sharper, Pollard, Reeves, Jackson, and Quin would be pretty good, I think.

[Ole Miss Texan]

I would approve of this signing!

[False Start]

Originally Posted by Ole Miss Texan

I would approve of this signing!

So would I. The guy plays hard on every play, and can still get it done better than some of the other options the Texans have IMO.

[MojoMan]

get it done!

[Dutchrudder]

Originally Posted by Brandon420tx

Atogwe is available?

Sort of. He was a RFA and the Rams had the rights to match any offer to him, but no one made an offer to him. Now Atogwe is in the twilight zone until June 1st after which he will become a free agent if he doesn't sign a new deal with the Rams. If he hits free agency, then we will likely be one of the teams in the running to get him, but probably won't pony up the 6-9 million per year he is expected to garner.

[gtexan02]

Originally Posted by Brandon420tx

Atogwe is available?

Apparently no one signed Atogwe to an offer sheet, but if the Rams don't sign him by June 1, he becomes a free agent. With that said, they still have a thing about who would be interested in signing him and it lists Miami as the team most likely to be interested

The deadline for other teams to sign restricted free agent Oshiomogho Atogwe to an offer sheet came and went quietly, and now we wait until June 1. On that date, if the St. Louis Rams haven't extended Atogwe, he will become an unrestricted free agent and is expected to generate massive offers.

[Jackie Chiles]

The Texans have been attached to this ESPN Insider rumor since the first day of free agency because one of the writers threw us out there as needing a safety. They haven't bothered to remove us or any of the other teams listed.

[GuerillaBlack]

Originally Posted by eriadoc

I'd love for the Texans to show some interest in Darren Sharper. Even at his age, he's better than Wilson, and would pair well with Pollard, IMO. A nickel package of Sharper, Pollard, Reeves, Jackson, and Quin would be pretty good, I think.

Not to mention the experience from the Super Bowl run (which included the ability to close-out many games). He would be a great asset to our defense.

[GP]

Originally Posted by GuerillaBlack

Not to mention the experience from the Super Bowl run (which included the ability to close-out many games). He would be a great asset to our defense.

Now THIS is a move that I would be thrilled with.

Faneca? Not so much.

Sharper can handle his business, and would benefit TREMENDOUSLY from playing alongside a bruising slobber-knocker like Pollard. With those two guys roaming the deep secondary, and our CBs, and then the LB squad we put out there...we could have a really really good defense.

This is the move, for a safety, that absolutely should be made. He has crazy understanding of how to be in the right spots, and has so much background to draw upon.

If this deal could happen, I think it pushes us from 8-8 or 9-7 to easily 11-5 or even better.

[Napa Auto Parts]

Whatever just what we need and AGING VET

[painekiller]

I would be for this one.

as for the restricted free agents

Jun 1:
- Deadline for old clubs to send tender to unsigned unrestricted free agents to receive exclusive negotiating rights for rest of the season if player is not signed by another club by July 22
- Deadline for old clubs to send tender to unsigned restricted free agents or to extend qualifying offer to retain exclusive negotiating rights
Jun 15: Deadline for old clubs to withdraw original qualifying offer to unsigned restricted free agents and still retain exclusive negotiating rights by submitting tender of 110 percent of previous year's salary
Jul 22:
- Trade Deadline for franchise players
- Deadline for unsigned RFA/ERFA to sign with new clubs

The restricted guys can not go any where unless their team gives up the right, and most teams will not let the restricted guy go.

[ChampionTexan]

Originally Posted by painekiller

I would be for this one.

as for the restricted free agents


The restricted guys can not go any where unless their team gives up the right, and most teams will not let the restricted guy go.

The June 1st/15th deadlines require/allow the clubs to swap out the currently tendered salary amounts for 110% of the players 2009 salaries in order to retain their rights. In some cases this is a significant decrease (note that O.D. signed his tender last year on 6/15). In at least one case, O.J. Atogwe, the 110% will skyrocket the amount necessary to keep his rights to around $7 Million (he was playing under the franchise tag last year), and most folks question whether St. Louis is willing to offer that. This will make an interesting "one man" free agent period if St. Louis does in fact let him go.

Another mildly interesting item (emphasis on mildly) is that if O.D. doesn't sign his tender by 6/15, the amount necessary to keep his rights drops by just under $100,000. I doubt that's enough to force him to sign if he's really unhappy, but on the otherhand, if he's absolutely convinced that he's not going to come to terms on a long term deal this summer - it's still almost $100 grand you're essentially donating back to the Texans.

[GP]

Originally Posted by Napa Auto Parts

Whatever just what we need and AGING VET

Well I would rather have an aging vet who is THAT far from the line of scrimmage than to have Faneca who is going to be in the trenches down after down after down after down, well...you get the picture.

To me, Sharper and Faneca are not even in the same book when it comes to "aging vet."

Faneca is a self-centered prima donna who is looking to mount one more team for a big payday. He pulled this boo-hoo, poor-pitiful-me act with the Steelers, and now he's doing it with the Jets.

He sounds a bit unstable if you ask me. As if nobody remembers the way he left Pittsburgh? Hey Faneca, we see you out there...we see what you're doing. Peddle your sob story to someone else.

Him and Dunta should start a seminar circuit: How To Whine and Get Paid For It.

[TexCanada]

Sharper would be a fantastic addition to this team, especially if it was a one year contract. He would be a great teacher to all of our young players in the secondary, and it would buy us one more year to find a FS prospect. Sharper and Pollard as starters with Wilson, Barber and Nolan as back-ups turns our safety position from a weakness to a strength. That being said, I think it is unlikely that we get him.

[gtexan02]

Originally Posted by GP

Well I would rather have an aging vet who is THAT far from the line of scrimmage than to have Faneca who is going to be in the trenches down after down after down after down, well...you get the picture.

To me, Sharper and Faneca are not even in the same book when it comes to "aging vet."

Faneca is a self-centered prima donna who is looking to mount one more team for a big payday. He pulled this boo-hoo, poor-pitiful-me act with the Steelers, and now he's doing it with the Jets.

He sounds a bit unstable if you ask me. As if nobody remembers the way he left Pittsburgh? Hey Faneca, we see you out there...we see what you're doing. Peddle your sob story to someone else.

Him and Dunta should start a seminar circuit: How To Whine and Get Paid For It.

Agree 100% Sharper was instrumental last year in the Saints run. Fanaca was a weak link. I know which one I want

[Ole Miss Texan]

Not to mention the opposing team in the SB was the Colts... a team I'd like us to beat twice, maybe three times a year!