Sharper May Have Increased Playing Time

If injured safety Malcolm Jenkins is unable to play in Saturday's NFC playoff game, for the New Orleans Saints, against the Seattle Seahawks, veteran Darren Sharper will get more snaps. James Varney, of the Times-Picayune, has the story, below.

Darren Sharper #42 of the New Orleans Saints celebrates a play against the Pittsburgh Steelers at the Louisiana Superdome on October 31, 2010 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (

Courtesy---James Varney/Times-Picayune

Often when an NFL team sees a starter nicked, the fear develops that a rookie might have to pick up the slack. So what might happen to the New Orleans Saints if free safety Malcolm Jenkins can't play in the wild-card game Saturday in Seattle?

The team will turn to the reigning interception champion among current players, Darren Sharper. Rather than a rookie, the Saints' secondary would be in the hands of a 14-year veteran named a Pro Bowl starter five times.

http://www.nola.com/saints/index.ssf/2011/01/new_orleans_saints_have_a_shar.html