MIAMI — After signing with the New Orleans Saints as a free agent, Darren Sharper had nine interceptions and provided key leadership that helped the team reach Super Bowl 44. Earlier this week, Sharper discussed his contributions with the media, including Sporting News’ Clifton Brown. Question: What mentality have you brought to the Saints? Darren Sharper: I think a playmaking mentality, being able to attack the football and finishing plays. Q: What do you teach young players about creating turnovers? DS: Just to believe in what you see. Everyone studies a lot of game tape, but when it comes to game time some people don’t trust exactly what they see. Q: Do you think you have a risky approach to playing defense? DS: No, I don’t think so at all. If you have the ability to see and trust your instincts, more often than not you will make the play. Many times after games you think back and say, “Man, I saw that coming but I just didn’t pull the trigger.” When you pull the trigger, you will be right more often than wrong. Q: What makes Peyton Manning so good? DS: He is accurate, very intelligent, can make every throw in the book. He knows how to work with his receivers. Whatever attribute you want to give to a quarterback, he has all of those. He says he can’t move too well, but really he doesn’t have to because his arm is so good. Q: Do you think your team plays dirty? DS: We don’t know if we want to call ourselves dirty. It is like taking a shower when you get up in the morning and are going to cut your grass. You are nice and fresh when you cut the grass, but at the end you have a little griminess to you. We want to call ourselves a little grimy. Not dirty all the way, but just maybe a little grimy.
