Sharper strikes a deal to leave Vikings for Saints

Darren Sharper admitted on more than one occasion over the past three seasons that the Tampa-2 defensive scheme used by the Vikings limited his play-making ability. After agreeing to a free-agent contract with New Orleans on Wednesday, the veteran safety drove that point home again.

"You love to play for coaches who don't just get caught up in saying, 'This is my system and this is how it's done,'" Sharper told the New Orleans Times-Picayune. "That's how it was in Minnesota. ... It's a good defense, don't get me wrong."

Just one that Sharper felt didn't suit him. Sharper signed with the Vikings in 2005, a year before the Tampa-2 came to Minnesota. His interception total went from nine in '05, to four each of the next two seasons, to one in 2008.

Had the 33-year-old Sharper lost a step or was he really in a system that didn't fit him? We're about to find out because the defense run by new Saints coordinator Gregg Williams should be a good fit for Sharper.

"[Williams] is going to let playmakers be playmakers, and that's what I've always done," said Sharper, who spent his first eight seasons with Green Bay and still leads active NFL players with 54 interceptions.

Sharper visited the Saints about two weeks ago in his only known free-agent visit. "I'm excited to bring leadership to this team and I'm excited to bring play-making ability," Sharper told the Times-Picayune. "When I started free agency the Saints were one of the teams on top of my list. I know the relationship between me and [Williams] will be a great one, and I'm excited to play for Sean Payton. This is a team that's getting close."

Sharper will be expected to assume the free safety job in New Orleans, making him one of the quarterbacks of the defense. The Vikings had no real interest in keeping Sharper; second-year safety Tyrell Johnson is expected to replace him.

The Vikings are close to agreeing on a one-year contract with wide receiver Glenn Holt. The story was first reported Wednesday evening by the website ProFootballTalk.

Holt, who has been with Cincinnati since signing as an undrafted free agent out of Kentucky in 2006, likely interested the Vikings because of his ability to return kickoffs. He was the Bengals' primary return man for much of last season and averaged 24.1 yards on 46 kick returns with a long of 60. Holt has averaged 24.3 yards on 122 returns in 42 career games.

Holt, 24, caught only three passes for 26 yards and a touchdown in 15 games (two starts) last season. He has 20 receptions for 172 yards and two touchdowns in his career.

JUDD ZULGAD

Buffalo Bills running back Marshawn Lynch said that he expects to be suspended by the NFL for his latest run-in with the law and that he's gotten the message that the league "won't tolerate any more screwups" from him.

Lynch, who pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor gun charge this month, met with Commissioner Roger Goodell on Tuesday and said Wednesday that he came away believing he'll be suspended.

• Arizona quarterback Kurt Warner has undergone arthroscopic surgery on his left hip and said he rode a stationary bike a few hours after the surgery.

• Running back Noah Herron has signed with the Cleveland Browns. Herron, 26, has rushed for 273 yards, caught 29 passes for 211 yards and scored five touchdowns in 23 career games with Green Bay and Tampa Bay.