NEW ORLEANS -- Making clear that she thought the sentence was a light one, a Louisiana judge Thursday formally imposed a 20-year prison sentence on former NFL star Darren Sharper, who last week was sentenced by a federal judge to 18 years and four months in a drug and rape case with victims in four states.Defense attorney Billy Gibbens said that the two sentences are essentially the same, when credit for time served and other factors are considered. The sentence follows Sharpers guilty pleas in state and federal courts in New Orleans, and pleas of guilty or no contest to similar charges in Arizona, California and Nevada -- all the result of a multi-jurisdiction plea deal that once called for a sentence of about nine years.Early this year, U.S. District Judge Jane Triche Milazzo rejected that sentence as too light. She imposed the 18-year, four-month sentence last week.In state court on Thursday, Judge Karen Herman made clear she thought two decades was a relatively light punishment for the fallen NFL star, calling his behavior such an epic disappointment.Thursdays second sentencing hearing was again punctuated by tearful testimony from victims. One who said she was determined from the time she realized she had been raped in 2013 to see him prosecuted and see him branded as a serial rapist and a sex offender. She added that, for months, she woke up screaming in the middle of the night because of the ordeal.Another said she forgave Sharper, despite suffering through depression and fears that have caused her to miss work and withdraw emotionally from people who care about her. Im afraid no one understands, she said.Herman pointedly told Sharper that had he been tried by a jury and convicted on his original charges, including aggravated rape, the sentence would have been much harsher. She accepted the 20-year sentence only after consulting with attorneys and victims. She said the deal would help bring closure to the victims.Sharper again apologized to his victims and their families and continued to ask for forgiveness, at one point telling the judge, I am not a monster.Sentenced to nine years already in Arizona, Sharper still faces formal sentencing in California and Nevada. He is expected to serve his sentence in federal custody.Sharper had two co-defendants in the Louisiana cases. Former restaurant worker Erik Nunez and former St. Bernard Parish Sheriffs Deputy Branden Licciardi are set for sentencing in October on related charges.Sharper was named All-Pro six times and chosen for the Pro Bowl five times during a career that included stints with the Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings. He played in two Super Bowls, one with the Packers as a rookie and one with New Orleans Saints when they won in 2010.He ended a 14-year career in 2011. 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FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- The Patriots surprised many around the NFL last month when they traded linebacker Jamie Collins to the Cleveland Browns.It created yet another adjustment for a defense that was already dealing with an injury to linebacker Jonathan Freeny and the offseason trade of pass rusher Chandler Jones.By parting ways with Collins, they not only jettisoned what might have been the most athletic player on New Englands roster, but also instantly put a lot more on the shoulders of veteran linebacker Donta Hightower, second-year player Trey Flowers and rookie Elandon Roberts.The first taste of life without Collins was on Sunday against the Seahawks, and after a 31-24 loss that included the Patriots defense getting pushed around at times late in the game, it appears that unit might take time before it completely figures things out.New England gave up a season-high 31 points to the Seahawks , and allowed an opponent to gain 400 or more yards for the second time this season.Its certainly not all one thing, but in total we obviously need to do a better job than what were doing, coach Bill Belichick said of some of his teams defensive breakdowns Sunday. Thats all the way across the board, all the areas of the defense; front, coverage, run defense, turnovers, you name it. Its not all bad, but it needs to be better.The Patriots did hold the Seahawks to a field goal on four of their seven trips inside the red zone, while sacking Russell Wilson three times.But Wilson managed three touchdown passes on Seattles other three red zone opportunities, including a ppivotal eight-play, 48-yard drive capped by a 15-yard pass to Doug Baldwin early in the fourth quarter.dddddddddddd. The Patriots struggled to get any pressure up front on Wilson during the drive, which took only 4:05 off the clock.We just struggled, Flowers said. It was a tough game, we played a good team. We left some plays out there, no doubt about it.Despite the miscues, there were individual bright spots to build on.The most promising effort might have come from Flowers, who posted his second straight two-sack game in his first career start at defensive end.Meanwhile Roberts, elevated to Collins old spot in the starting lineup Sunday, was credited with only one solo tackle while assisting on three more.After dealing with an early-season knee issue, Hightower continued to be productive with his second 10-tackle game of 2016. But with seven games left, he could certainly use some help from his teammates.Despite the shortcomings, defensive captain Devin McCourty said hes confident they will be able to figure things out.I think weve got room for improvement, he said. We make a couple of stops, not just in the red (zone) area, but early on drives (and) on long drives -- I think we come out with a win. The offense moved the ball. We just gotta get a couple of stops to help out.---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL---Follow Kyle Hightower on Twitter a http://www.twitter.com/khightower ' ' '