Darren Sharper has been sentenced to 18 years in prison in a case in which he was accused of drugging and raping as many as 16 women in four states.

U.S. District Judge Jane Triche Milazzo sentenced Sharper, telling that former NFL star that she couldn't understand how he did what he did, since he was college educated and obviously had grown up "in one of the most loving households."

"We can never ignore the damage you inflicted on those women and society at large," she said.

Sharper had pleaded guilty in federal court in New Orleans to drugging three women so he could rape them.

"I would like to apologize a thousand times," Sharper said. He looked at the floor as he said, "I'm still trying to figure out why I made some of these choices. ... I lived my life right for 38 years, then I took this path."