Porrata said that zolpidem generally stays in an individual’s system about 36 hours, but that it can go undetected depending on what type of instruments are used at labs conducting the tests. There are two accredited labs with extensive testing related to sexual assault cases, one in Minnesota and the other in Pennsylvania, and Porrata said law enforcement agencies routinely contract out to both labs.
Sharper worked for the NFL Network after his football career, but he was suspended indefinitely without pay in January following his arrest for drug possession (morphine). One football source said the news of the charges against Sharper and the other open investigations on him are “shocking to people.”
The source added that Sharper, a resident of Miami, was known to have a reputation as “charasmatic” and a “ladies’ man,” and was frequently out with different women over the years.
One of Sharper’s former Saints teammates, safety Malcolm Jenkins, told The News he would “rather not talk about” Sharper when reached by phone.
“I guess the bottom line is you just never know about people,” said the football source.