Vikings Defense Gets Sharper

It didn’t take the Minnesota Vikings long to decide on their next defensive upgrade. After spending less than a day with former Green Bay Packer Darren Sharper, the Vikings signed him.

The Vikings have upgraded nearly every position they wanted to in less than two weeks of free agency. First they added linebacker Napolean Harris by trading wide receiver Randy Moss to Oakland. Then they upgraded defensive tackle with the signing of big Pat Williams. Earlier this week they inked cornerback Fred Smoot to a deal. The latest improvement to the defense comes at safety, where the Vikings signed eight-year Green Bay Packer Darren Sharper to a four-year contract.

Over that span, the free safety has 677 tackles, 36 interceptions and 95 passes broken up. He has seven defensive touchdowns, has only missed seven games and has made the Pro Bowl twice (in 2000 and 2002).

“Adding Darren Sharper, a player we have a lot of familiarity with, gives us tremendous experience and a player with a winning personality ...” Vikings Mike Tice said in a statement. “We’ve done a great job of adding playmakers to the defense in free agency and have added 52 interceptions through Fred Smoot and Darren Sharper in the past week.”

Sharper is expected to take over the starting duties at free safety.