All-Pro safety Darren Sharper is returning to New Orleans for a chance to repeat as Super Bowl champion in 2010.

"He's real motivated to win another Super Bowl," said Sharper's agent, Joel Segal. "It's rare to have that opportunity and he's very excited."

Saints general manager Mickey Loomis also confirmed in an e-mail that Sharper had agreed to terms for one more season. He did not disclose financial terms.

Sharper said in a text message to The Associated Press: "Just wanna tell you I'm extremely happy to be a Saint again. Now we can work on winning another world championship for the city of New Orleans."

The 34-year-old Sharper intercepted nine passes last season, returning three for touchdowns, and helped the Saints win their first Super Bowl.

Sharper was hoping for a multiple year deal, but his negotiating position appeared to weaken when he had minor arthroscopic surgery after the Super Bowl to alleviate swelling in his left knee that bothered him intermittently during the second half of the season.

He talked with other clubs, including Jacksonville last week, before deciding yesterday to remain in New Orleans, where he made several offseason appearances to soak in post-Super Bowl celebrations.

STEELERS

REPORT: BIG BEN SPENT WEEKEND AT CLINIC

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported yesterday that Ben Roethlisberger spent the weekend in a clinic being evaluated as part of the sanctions handed down by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell.

The newspaper cited an unidentified team source saying the evaluation will take days rather than weeks. Goodell suspended the Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback six games without pay last month.

A Steelers spokesman said the team is prohibited by league rule from discussing Roethlisberger's treatment. NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said all details of the evaluation are confidential.

The two-time Super Bowl winner was ordered to undergo a "comprehensive behavioral evaluation by professionals" after violating the NFL's personal conduct policy. Goodell announced the punishment a week after prosecutors decided not to charge Roethlisberger in a case involving a 20-year-old college student who accused the quarterback of sexually assaulting her in a Milledgeville, Ga., nightclub.

Meanwhile, wide receiver Limas Sweed underwent surgery to repair a damaged left Achilles' tendon.

The team did not disclose whether Sweed tore or ruptured the tendon during the final day of the team's three-day minicamp on Sunday. Sweed had the operation yesterday, but the Steelers have not estimated how long he will be out.

BRONCOS

WR DRAFT PICKS ARE SPECTATORS FOR NOW

Tim Tebow isn't the only risk the Denver Broncos took in the NFL draft.

While all eyes were on the former Florida quarterback during the Broncos' three-day minicamp for rookies over the weekend, two players who figure to have more of an immediate impact served as sideline spectators.

Wide receivers Demaryius Thomas and Eric Decker are both recovering from foot surgeries.

The two draft picks are the biggest receivers on the Broncos' roster. They will be counted on soon following the departure of Brandon Marshall to Miami.

ELSEWHERE

Bills: Buffalo signed undrafted free agent centers Sean Allen and Kyle Mutcher and wide receiver Donald Jones.

Allen started 30 career games at East Carolina, and earned first-team All-Conference USA honors in 2009.

Jones' 77 receptions last season set a Youngstown State single-season record, while Mutcher earned FCS All-America honors at Weber State in 2009.

Cardinals: Arizona signed free-agent cornerback and kick returner Justin Miller to a one-year contract.

Miller participated in Arizona's minicamp in Tempe last weekend on a tryout basis after playing briefly last season for both Oakland and the New York Jets.

Cowboys: Unrestricted free agent guard Montrae Holland signed a two-year contract to stay with Dallas after being inactive for all 16 regular-season games last season.

Holland started only two of the eight games he played in 2008 after the Cowboys acquired him from Denver just before that season started.

Jets: New York signed undrafted free agent linebacker Cory Reamer, and waived linebacker Broderick Stewart.

Reamer received a tryout during the Jets' rookie minicamp over the weekend and signed yesterday.

Patriots: New England signed former Brown wide receiver Buddy Farnham as a rookie free agent.

The 185-pound Farnham was selected co-Ivy League Player of the Year after finishing the season with 74 catches for 1,003 yards.

Redskins: Defensive lineman Anthony Montgomery, wide receiver Marko Mitchell and three other players were released by Washington.

Running backs Anthony Alridge and P.J. Hill, and wide receiver James Robinson also were cut.