Darren Sharper

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Darren Sharper
refer to caption
Darren Sharper in 2011.
No. 42
Position: Safety
Personal information
Date of birth: (1975-11-03) November 3, 1975 (age 48)
Place of birth: Richmond, Virginia
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Career information
High school: Henrico (VA) Hermitage
College: William & Mary
NFL draft: 1997 / Round: 2 / Pick: 60
Career history
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Tackles: 942
Quarterback sacks: 7.5
Interceptions: 63
Interception return TDs: 11
Passes Def: 101
Player stats at NFL.com

Darren Mallory Sharper (born November 3, 1975) is a former American football safety and convicted serial rapist who played in the National Football League (NFL) for fourteen seasons. He played college football for the College of William & Mary. He was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the second round of the 1997 NFL Draft, also playing for the Minnesota Vikings and New Orleans Saints. Sharper was a five-time Pro Bowl selection, and was named to the NFL's 2000s All-Decade Team. He finished his career with 63 interceptions, 6th on the NFL's all-time leader list at the time of his retirement.

In 2014, Sharper was arrested and accused of sexual assault in California. He was subsequently charged with multiple sexual assaults in Louisiana, Arizona, and Nevada, and pleaded guilty to rape charges involving nine women. As part of a complicated plea agreement across multiple jurisdictions he was sentenced to twenty years in prison, though it is unlikely he will serve more than nine. Additionally he will be required to register as a sex offender and spend the rest of his life on parole.

Early years

Sharper has an older sister, Monica, and an older brother, Jamie.[1] The Sharpers attended Hermitage High School in Henrico County, Virginia. Jamie played for the high school football team as a linebacker. Darren played for the varsity football and basketball teams. He was named to the honor roll, had perfect attendance in three of his four years, and was active in the foreign language club and student council. Hermitage honored Sharper with a display on their "Wall of Fame".[2] Sharper graduated from Hermitage in 1993.[3]

College career

Sharper attended the College of William and Mary, where he played for the William & Mary Tribe football team. In high school, Sharper primarily played quarterback, and he wanted to be a quarterback at William & Mary as well, until his college coach, Jimmye Laycock, told Sharper that he had the potential to succeed in the NFL as a defensive back.[3] During his college career, he earned All-America honors twice and was named first-team All-Yankee Conference selection three times. As a senior he was the Yankee Conference Defensive Player of the Year after intercepting 10 passes. He finished his college career with a school record 24 career interceptions and a I-AA record 468 career interception return yards. He also set the school record with 1,037 career punt return yards.

Sharper's college awards and honors include:

  • 3× First-team All-Yankee (1994–1996)
  • 2× I-AA All-American (1995–1996)
  • Yankee Conference Defensive P.O.Y. (1996)

Professional career

Green Bay Packers

The Green Bay Packers selected Sharper in the second round of the 1997 NFL Draft. During his rookie season he played in 14 games, finishing with 19 tackles and two interceptions, both of which he returned for touchdowns. The first of which was a 50-yard return in week 10 to help the Packers to a 20–10 victory over the Detroit Lions. His play helped Green Bay reach Super Bowl XXXII which they lost to the Denver Broncos by a score of 31–24. During his second season he started all 16 games for the Packers, finishing with 73 tackles. In 1999 he started all 16 games for the second consecutive season finishing with a career high 113 tackles and three interceptions.

Sharper's breakout season was in 2000. He finished the season with 92 tackles and a league leading nine interceptions, and made his first career Pro Bowl. Sharper had another great season in 2001 finishing with 94 tackles and six interceptions.

In 2002 Sharper made his second Pro Bowl after intercepting seven passes for a league high 233 interception yards in only 13 games. In 2003 he finished with 82 tackles and five interceptions. During his last season with the Packers in 2004 he totaled 70 tackles and four interceptions and led the league in defensive touchdowns with three.

On March 10, 2005, the Packers released Sharper. He finished his eight-year career in Green Bay, fifth in Packer history with 36 career interceptions, 616 tackles, six sacks, 677 interception yards, and five touchdowns.[4]

Minnesota Vikings

Sharper signed with the Minnesota Vikings on March 12, 2005.[5] Sharper made an immediate impact for the Vikings intercepting nine passes for a league high 276 interception yards and two defensive touchdowns, in only 14 games. His great play earned him a trip to his third Pro Bowl. During his second season with the Vikings in 2006 he made 67 tackles and four interceptions. On November 11, 2006 in a game against the Miami Dolphins, Sharper bumped a member of the officiating crew, but he was not immediately penalized, later the following week the NFL fined him $15,000 for the infraction.[6]

Sharper made the Pro Bowl for the fourth time in 2007, after totaling 63 tackles and four interceptions. On September 16, 2007, Sharper became the 22nd player in NFL history to intercept 50 passes.[7] In 2008, Sharper recorded 69 tackles and one interception. He finished his four-year career in Minnesota with 18 interceptions, 250 tackles, 359 interception yards, three touchdowns, and a sack.

New Orleans Saints

An unrestricted free agent after the 2008 season, Sharper signed a one-year deal with the New Orleans Saints on March 18, 2009.[8] On October 4, 2009, Sharper returned an interception 99 yards for a touchdown, the longest in Saints history. It was also his second 95+ yard interception return for a touchdown for the season. On October 25, Sharper returned his third interception for a touchdown on the season, a team record. At the end of Week 8, on Monday Night Football, Sharper intercepted a pass from Atlanta's Matt Ryan to help keep the Saints' perfect record. It was his seventh interception of the season. On November 30, once again on Monday Night Football, Sharper intercepted a desperation pass from New England's Tom Brady and returned it 35 yards, which left him 4 yards short of the NFL record for interception return yards in a season, set by Ed Reed of the Baltimore Ravens in 2004.

Sharper then broke that record in a December 27 game against Tampa Bay, intercepting Josh Freeman's pass and returning it 21 yards. This gave him 9 interceptions on the year and 376 return yards (including 3 interceptions returned for touchdowns). It was the 63rd interception of Sharper's NFL career, tying him for sixth on the all-time list.[9] His 376 interception return yards broke the NFL single season record of 358 previously held by Ed Reed. Sharper also shares an NFL record with Deion Sanders for most games with 50+ interception return yards (9) and owns the NFL record for most games with 75+ interception return yards (6).

For his performance in 2009, Sharper was selected for his fifth Pro Bowl and as a first team All-Pro. On February 7, 2010, Sharper earned his first Super Bowl ring as the Saints defeated the Indianapolis Colts in Super Bowl XLIV by a score of 31–17. Characteristic of the play of the New Orleans defense all season, the game was decided when cornerback Tracy Porter intercepted a Peyton Manning pass late in the 4th quarter and returned it 74 yards for the winning touchdown.

Sharper had micro-fracture arthroscopic surgery on his left knee during the off-season. On March 5, 2010, Sharper became an unrestricted free agent, allowing him to sign with another team. However, on May 3, Sharper re-signed with the Saints for the 2010 season.[10] On September 3, Sharper was placed on the PUP (Physically Unable to Perform) list, causing him to miss the first six weeks of the 2010 NFL season. He was activated on October 24,[11] but he later missed another two games after a further injury. He was selected as a second team All Pro, despite having missed much of the season.

After workouts with the Denver Broncos, New England Patriots, and Green Bay Packers without a contract offer, Sharper reportedly announced his retirement after a 14-year career. He finished with 63 career regular season interceptions, placing him sixth all time. He took 11 of them back for touchdowns, which ranks him third only to Hall of Famer Rod Woodson & Charles Woodson, with 12.[12] Sharper's 13 career defensive touchdowns (11 interception returns, 2 fumble returns) is tied for 1st in NFL history with Rod Woodson and Charles Woodson.[13] Sharper is the only player to ever lead the NFL in interception return yards in 3 different seasons (2002, 2005, 2009).

NFL stats

Year Team Games Combined Tackles Tackles Assisted Tackles Sacks Forced Fumbles Fumble Recoveries Fumble Return Yards Fumbles Returned for Touchdown Interceptions Interception Return Yards Yards per Interception Return Longest Interception Return Interceptions Returned for Touchdown Passes Defended
1997 GB 14 13 11 2 0.0 1 1 34 1 2 70 35 50 2 2
1998 GB 16 73 53 20 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 9
1999 GB 16 113 84 29 1.0 0 1 9 0 3 12 4 9 0 6
2000 GB 16 92 72 20 1.0 0 0 0 0 9 109 12 47 0 17
2001 GB 16 94 70 24 2.0 1 1 17 0 6 78 13 23 0 17
2002 GB 13 68 51 17 0.0 0 0 0 0 7 233 33 89 1 9
2003 GB 15 82 69 13 2.0 2 0 0 0 5 78 16 50 0 13
2004 GB 15 70 57 13 0.0 2 1 15 1 4 97 24 43 2 7
2005 MIN 14 51 41 10 0.0 1 1 14 0 9 276 31 92 2 16
2006 MIN 16 68 52 16 1.0 1 0 0 0 4 10 3 10 0 9
2007 MIN 16 63 49 14 0.0 1 0 0 0 4 61 15 41 1 8
2008 MIN 16 69 60 9 0.0 0 2 20 0 1 12 12 12 0 5
2009 NO 14 71 51 20 0.5 0 0 0 0 9 376 42 99 3 15
2010 NO 8 16 11 5 0.0 0 1 11 0 0 0 0 0 0 1
Career 205 943 731 212 7.5 9 8 120 2 63 1,412 22 99 11 134

[14]

Sexual assault convictions

After retiring, Sharper worked briefly for WWL-TV as an analyst in August 2012 before leaving to take a position with the NFL Network. On January 18, 2014, it was announced that Sharper would be suspended immediately without pay until further notice from his position at NFL Network, in light of his sexual assault charges.[15] On February 28, 2014, Sharper was officially fired from NFL Network.[16]

Criminal charges against Sharper began being filed in 2014 in Arizona, California, and Louisiana, alleging he is a serial rapist. On January 17, 2014, Sharper was arrested in Los Angeles on two separate counts of sexual assault.[17] The alleged incidents are said to have happened in October 2013 and January 2014.[17] According to USA Today, the New Orleans Police Department indicated that it also was investigating an allegation of sexual assault which was filed September 24, 2013 against Sharper.[17]

On February 14, 2014, Sharper was officially charged with two counts of rape by use of drugs and five related felony counts. Sharper was released on $200,000 bond, which at the request of the prosecution was raised to $1,000,000. Sharper has pleaded not guilty to the charges. Conditions of his bail include not to frequent any establishment that served alcohol, as well as not to be alone with any women with whom he has not had a previous relationship prior to October 13, 2013, the date of his first alleged rape.[18][19] Sharper faced the possibility up to 30 years in prison if convicted of all counts.[18]

Officials in Orleans Parish, Louisiana, filed two charges of aggravated rape against Sharper and another two counts against Erik Nunez, 26, on February 27, 2014, related to the alleged September 2013 incident in New Orleans. Investigators said a second woman came forward with a complaint following an initial report shortly after the alleged rape. Louisiana law states that a person convicted of committing aggravated rape shall be punished by life imprisonment at hard labor without benefit of parole, probation or suspension of sentence.[20] On December 12, 2014, an Orleans Parish grand jury indicted Sharper on two counts of aggravated rape, stating that, if convicted, he will face a potential life sentence.[21] On March 12, 2015, Sharper was charged with an additional sexual assault in Arizona.[22]

On March 20, 2015, Sharper was charged with two sexual assault charges in Las Vegas involving two women in January 2014. Later on the same day, Sharper's lawyer said that Sharper had reached a plea agreement to resolve all of the charges against him. He appeared in court in Los Angeles on March 23 to enter guilty pleas[23] to sexual assault in Arizona and no contest in California to raping two women he knocked out with a potent sedative mixed with alcohol.[24]

On March 24, 2015, Sharper received a nine-year sentence in a plea deal for all nine charges against him, in addition to the year he has served already.[25] Sharper was sentenced to 20 years in Louisiana in response to the multiple rapes he committed there.[26] As part of his plea deal when he is eventually released from prison, Sharper will have to be tracked by California officials with a GPS, have to undergo sex offender treatment, will be prohibited from drinking alcohol or going to bars or liquor stores, be banned from sex shops and Internet dating, have to seek approval before traveling more than 50 miles from his home or spending a night away, and will be forced to take "penile plethysmograph" tests in Arizona, during which a sensor will be attached to his penis to gauge his arousal level as sexual images are shown to him.[27][28]

Hall of Fame Consideration

Sharper is now eligible for induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, leading to debate as to whether or not his criminal convictions should disqualify him.[29] Sports Illustrated writer Peter King, who is on the HOF voting committee, has said Sharper must be considered because voters are prohibited from taking off-field issues into account.[30]

Sharper has already been removed from his college's hall of fame.[31]

References

  1. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Paul Woody, "Hard work, confidence key Sharper’s NFL success", Richmond Times-Dispatch, December 6, 2009.
  4. ↑ Packers Release Darren Sharper, Sparky Hamilton. Packers.com. October 3, 2005
  5. ↑ Sharper stays in NFC North. Sports.espn.go.com (March 12, 2005). Retrieved on 2011-11-17.
  6. ↑ Vikings safety Sharper fined $15K for bumping referee. Sports.espn.go.com (November 24, 2006). Retrieved on 2011-11-17.
  7. ↑ Career Interception List. Pro-football-reference.com. Retrieved on November 17, 2011.
  8. ↑ Saints Agree to Terms with Sharper. Associated Press. March 18, 2009
  9. ↑ Mike Triplett, "Sharper makes history", Times-Picayune, December 27, 2009.
  10. ↑ Mike Triplett, "Darren Sharper and New Orleans Saints agree to a 1-year deal", Times-Picayune, May 3, 2010.
  11. ↑ Brian Allee-Walsh, "Saints safety Darren Sharper to rejoin roster, be active for Browns game", neworleans.com, October 23, 2010.
  12. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  13. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  14. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  15. ↑ Mike Florio, "Darren Sharper arrested for suspicion of rape," NBC Sports: Pro Football Talk, January 18, 2014.
  16. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 "Darren Sharper arrested in Los Angeles on suspicion of rape," USA Today, January 18, 2014.
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 Christian Red, "Darren Sharper, former All-Pro NFL safety, charged with raping two women," New York Daily News, February 14, 2014.
  19. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  20. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  21. ↑ Ken Daley, "Darren Sharper, 2 others indicted in New Orleans rape cases", The Times-Picayune, December 12, 2014.
  22. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  23. ↑ Associated Press, "Lawyer: Sharper to enter plea", ESPN, March 20, 2015.
  24. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  25. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  26. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  27. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  28. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  29. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  30. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  31. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links

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