Dear Darren Sharper

Dear Darren Sharper,

Thank you for all you have done for the team during the past two years. Your presence on the team brought attitude to the defense that we haven't had in many years. Oh how wonderful it was to have a turnover machine like you in the secondary. Just knowing you were there made me feel warm and secure when I tucked myself in at night. Deep pass down the sideline? Don't worry Darren will protect us. Scrambling quarterback throwing back over his body? Pick six in the making. Running back running wild? Darren will tame him. (WTF happened on that Marshawn Lynch play though, huh?) Oh, what great times we've shared. But that is the past and I'm looking to the future. The 2011 season is next week and can't help but notice that your name isn't on our roster. At first I thought this must be a mistake, but I've checked the roster several hundred times. You were nowhere to be found. I can't help but feel like you don't love us anymore. Is there another team? I heard rumors about you seeing the Patriots but I keep telling myself that you wouldn't do that to us. Did we not treat you well enough? Is the ring on your finger not big enough? The woman at the jewelry store said you would love it. I know you must be hurt that Jenkins got more playing time then you did last season, but what were we supposed to do? You were injured. That wasn't our fault and how fair would it be to Jenkins for him to lose his starting spot after how well he played? How would you feel if we did that to you? You have to start thinking about how other people feel Darren and not just about yourself. Is it the money? Haven't you made enough money over your career? Don't you have enough fast cars and shiny things? We gave you the most shiny of them all. Is it the playing time? Darren you are at the point in your career that playing time shouldn't be as important to you as it once was. You have accomplished a lot in your career: 5x Pro Bowler, 2000's All Decade Team, Super Bowl Champion, and future Hall of Famer. Why does it matter if you play in a rotation or a backup safety position? There is nothing wrong with that. Your pride shouldn't suffer. Look at it like you have put in your time and you don't have to do all the work anymore. You are 35 and could still be playing in the NFL. You could be on potential Super Bowl team and you are letting it pass you by. We miss you and need you because we do not have any depth at the safety position. What will we do if our starters go down? I don't want to think about it. I don't want to have a panic attack every time Jenkins lays a hard hit on someone or twist my ankle running to the TV to see who the trainers are looking at. Prescription medicine gets expensive for us who are less fortunate. I need to to know you will fly to the rescue. I need security Darren so I can sleep well at night once again. So please have Joel Segal give us a call and we can get all this nonsense cleared up and get you back home where you belong. See you soon!

                                                                                    Sincerely yours,

                                                                                     AcquiredPanic