PHOENIX (AP) -Former NFL lineman Luis Sharpe was sentenced Friday to six years in prison and four years' probation for a series of drug offenses.

The 47-year-old Sharpe played for the St. Louis and Arizona Cardinals from 1982-94 and was a three-time Pro Bowl selection.

In a pre-sentence report, Sharpe admitted that he first started using cocaine when he was a 21-year-old rookie in the NFL and it was ``the worst mistake I ever made.''

Sharpe has been convicted of nine felonies since 1995 and spent several months in prison after a drug conviction in 2000. He also was sentenced to 2 1/2 years in prison in 2004 on other drug charges.

Last month, Sharpe pleaded guilty to four charges stemming from separate arrests for possessing crack cocaine in July and November of 2007 and February 2008.

He was sentenced in Maricopa County Superior Court to six years in prison on two of the charges, to be served concurrently. He was placed on probation for the other two charges.