Saints' Darren Sharper Sees More 'Incentive to Get Back,' Face Brett Favre

Here are a few things from the official end of training camps in the NFC South:

NewOrleans.com had a piece on Saints free safety Darren Sharper, who has missed camp while recovering from offseason knee surgery. The highlight:

"I still have about three or four weeks. So I have time," Sharper said of his return for the start of the regular season. "My goal is to get back, and now with [Favre] coming back, it makes it a little more of an incentive to get back.''

NewOrleans.com reported that Sharper pronounced himself "right on schedule'' based on the six-month prognosis of Birmingham surgeon, James Andrews. Sharper said he is encouraged after getting a medical update Monday. There was more Saints news and it had to do with, who else, Brett Favre. Sharper had the best line for reporters.

"After the last time we played him he didn't feel too good," Sharper said. "We'll see how he feels after this time."

The Saints and Vikings open the NFL regular season, Sept. 9, in New Orleans.

Favre was bounced around by the Saints in the NFC Championship Game last January and injured an ankle that required offseason surgery. The Saints were told Wednesday that the Vikings were bringing up the issue of cheap shots in that game.

"We didn't get any flags, how can they be cheap shots," Sharper said.

Drew Brees weighed in: "When a guy has a chance to take a shot at a quarterback legally, he's going to do it... if he does it illegally he's either going to get a huge fine or he's going to get a penalty.

"I don't feel like our guys were cheapshotting Brett at all. Were they trying to hit him and hit him hard, absolutely. There was nothing dirty about that. It was all clean."

Here is an interesting bit from the end of camp in Tampa:

Rick Stroud and Stephen Holder of the St. Petersburg Times wonder if the Bucs are making a mistake not letting second-year quarterback Josh Freeman play enough. It is a young team and Freeman is trying to build a chemistry with his offense.

Can he do that playing two series against the Dolphins last weekend? There are still three exhibition games left.

Stroud said the club may be cautious with Freeman and take him out when the second-team offensive line is in. They are taking it easy with the O-line starters, so why subject Freeman to some hits allowed by backups?

Holder said he thinks Sean Jones is going to unseat 2009 starter Sabby Piscitelli at safety.

It's not clear when defensive tackle Brian Price is going to play in the preseason. He has been bothered by a sore hamstring. It is Price, along with first-round pick Gerald McCoy, who are supposed to bring havoc on the other side of the line of scrimmage and set the table for the Bucs defense.

In Spartanburg, South Carolina, the Panthers broke camp. Here are some tidbits from the Rock Hill Herald:

Cornerbacks Chris Gamble and Richard Marshall were out with excused, personal absences. Coach John Fox said they would be back at practice Thursday. Defensive tackle Ed Johnson (elbow) was held out of the final workout. Strong safety Sherrod Martin did not practice (groin strain), which means the Panthers were without five defensive starters for the final practice of camp. Wide receiver Steve Smith ran a few routes and then called it a day. Smith, who broke his arm in June, said it won't take long for him to get ready for the NFL season.

In Flowery Branch, Ga., Falcons coach Mike Smith said defensive end Jamaal Anderson (left knee) and cornerback Brent Grimes (groin) may not play against New England Patriots on Thursday in the preseason game at the at the Georgia Dome.

Also, the Falcons will play another preseason game without high-priced cornerback Dunta Robinson, who has a hamstring issue. Others not expected to play, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, include safety William Moore (groin), cornerback Brian Williams (knee), and defensive tackle Peria Jerry (knee).