The PUP List stands for “Physically Unable to Perform”, and that’s exactly where Darren Sharper and Clint Ingram will start the 2010 season. Because of NFL rules, once you start the regular season on this list, you do not count against the 53 man roster, but you are shelved for 6 weeks. The Saints will be unable to use Sharper or Ingram for any of the first 6 games. Once those 6 games pass, the Saints will have to either release the player, add him to the active roster, or put him on injured reserve which would end the player’s season. On Friday, Sharper claimed he was ready to start practicing and preparing for the Vikings game to play. The Saints obviously felt otherwise. This means Malcolm Jenkins will be thrown into the fire at free safety and will be the team’s starter. I’m not going to lie, that makes me extremely nervous. Sharper was the glue that held everything together last year, and he provided a legitimate and consistent playmaking option back there. Is Jenkins ready to produce on that kind of level? My guess is no, realistically. Add to that that Jonathan Vilma isn’t 100%, Scott Fujita left this offseason, Clint Ingram is also on the PUP list, and that Jonathan Casillas just got hurt – our linebacking core is a mess. Gregg Williams does not want to face an offense like the Vikings to start the season in this kind of shape. I hope I’m wrong, but I believe that currently, the Saints’ defense is not as good as it was at this time last year. That scares me immensely, especially given the opponent we face Thursday.
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