New Orleans Saints Executive Vice President/General Manager Mickey Loomis announced Wednesday evening that the club has agreed to terms with unrestricted free agent free safety Darren Sharper.

"We are pleased to announce the addition of Darren to our team," said Loomis. "Darren is an accomplished veteran player that brings a wealth of knowledge and ability to our secondary and has always possessed outstanding instincts and playmaking skills."

Sharper, 33, leads all active NFL players in interceptions with 54 and has been selected to four Pro Bowls during his 12-year NFL career. The veteran defender played eight seasons with the Green Bay Packers after being selected in the second round of the 1997 NFL Draft with the 60th overall selection. He moved to the Minnesota Vikings as an unrestricted free agent in 2005, where he has spent the past four seasons.

The 6-2, 210-pound product of William & Mary has played in 183 career regular season games, with 167 starts to his credit, and has racked up 992 tackles, 140 passes defensed, 54 interceptions, nine forced fumbles, seven sacks and seven fumble recoveries.

Sharper started all 16 regular season games for the NFC North Champion Vikings in 2008 as well as their playoff game, making 78 tackles with one interception, five passes defensed, a forced fumble and a pair of fumble recoveries.

Sharper has returned eight career interceptions returned for touchdowns during his career (tied for the fifth-most in NFL history), and he has also tacked on two fumble recoveries for scores.

In 10 career postseason games, Sharper has started seven of the contests and registered 50 career tackles, 10 passes defensed, two-and-a-half sacks, two interceptions and two forced fumbles. He played in Super Bowl XXXII as a rookie with the Packers.