Former Saints safety Darren Sharper has denied an NFL investigation that claimed the team instituted a "bounty" program between 2009-2011. "I think this is something that, from when I got in the league in 1997, has happened thousands and thousands of times over," Sharper said about payments among players for big plays that resulted in injuries. "It's ridiculous that someone is trying to say that we made bounties on knocking guys out, when basically all it was is that when a guy gets an interception, then he might get paid. That's something that guys do amongst themselves." Sharper painted a picture of how players regularly organize payments, amounting to sums such as $100, for big plays such as interceptions, sacks and turnovers, a custom he said is ingrained in the culture of the NFL. "I know the commissioner is trying to take (out) all the performance-based pay, but that's something you're not going to prevent," Sharper said. "That's something that's just part of guys being guys and playing football."