Darren Sharper pleads guilty to drugging, raping 3 women in New Orleans

Former NFL safety Darren Sharper pleaded guilty Friday to federal charges of drugging and raping three women in New Orleans in 2013, Andy Grimm of The Times-Picayune reports.

The charges carry a maximum sentence of 20 years per count. However, Sharper's sentence would be capped at nine years in prison as part of a series of plea deals across four states where he's been accused of assaulting a total of nine women. The sentence would also run concurrently with his nine-year sentence for another assault in Arizona.

Sharper pleaded guilty or no contest in Nevada and California as well.

U.S. District Judge Jane Triche Milazzo set a sentencing date of Aug. 20 for Sharper in the federal case. Milazzo told Sharper that if she doesn't agree with the suggested sentence, he would be given an opportunity to withdraw his guilty plea.

Sharper was selected to the Pro Bowl five times during his 14-year NFL career, which included stints with the Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, and New Orleans Saints.