Darren Sproles To Test Free Agency

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http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/playoffs2008/news/story?id=3874595

As if trying to figure out what to do with LaDainian Tomlinson isn't enough, the San Diego Chargers also have to contend with the future of his backup, Darren Sproles.

On Friday, the running back said, to no one's surprise, that he wanted to wade into the free-agent market, but added that his desire was to remain with the Chargers.

"I'm going to test it," Sproles said Saturday, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune. "It makes sense. But I like where I'm at. I want to stay a Charger."

Free agency begins Feb. 27. Sproles was third in the NFL in 2008 in kick-return yardage (53 returns for 1,376 yards). He also set career-highs with 61 carries for 330 yards and 29 receptions for 342 yards and five touchdowns.

Sproles had a coming-out party of sorts in the AFC wild-card game against the Indianapolis Colts, with 328 all-purpose yards and the winning touchdown in overtime in the Chargers' 23-17 victory.

The following week, however, in his first career start in place of the injured Tomlinson, he didn't have nearly the same impact. Sproles was held to 15 yards rushing on 11 carries in the AFC divisional game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. He had a 62-yard touchdown catch, but the game already was out of reach.

That performance only added to the notion that Sproles, at 5-6, 180 pounds, is not suited to be the featured running back, and there are questions as to whether he could withstand the pounding of 16 games as a starter.

Sproles was in Tampa on Friday doing a series of interviews with radio stations at the Super Bowl media center. Sproles, who has stuttered since childhood, knows his profile is growing, and a marketing team is working with him to get acclimated to high-intensity media situations.

By all accounts, Sproles has little difficulty in one-on-one situations, but enormous clusters of cameras and microphones sometimes hinder his communication during interviews. His appearances on radio this week are part of the learning process.

"It's time for me to do it," Sproles told the Union-Tribune, "so I can do it with more ease."

 

[SuperNova854]

noooooooooooooooooo

 

[Woy]

Guess this means the Chargers are keeping LT huh?

 

[MRN]

Time for LT to get hurt so I can laugh at the chargers for having no RB's anymore.

Letting Turner go was stupid.

 

[OnlyOneBeerLeft]

They will prob trade LT anyways...I have a feeling they are going to want Moreno in the draft...and IDK if the Giants will be able to sign both Ward and Jacobs...there will be some other options its not the end of the world...Rivers is playing great...He can pick up the slack

 

[The Messenger]

Ward said after that Panthers game that he doesn't mind sharing the load with Jacobs, but he also said "Every runningback dreams of being that featured back."

I think Ward will test free agency, but I think Ward is also more of a system back. If you look at it, every runningback for the Giants has been successful over the last couple of years (Tiki, Jacobs, Ward, and Bradshaw). Like someone else said, if the Giants drafted Ron Dayne with this offensive line he'd be a beast.

But with all that said, every runningback in San Diego has done great over the last couple of years (LT, Turner, and Sproles), so Ward should be able to get it done if he were to go to San Diego.

If the Chargers are gonna keep LT, they better find a replacement quick. Look what happened when Shaun Alexander went down for Seattle....

 

[OnlyOneBeerLeft]

The chargers have a good o-line too..prob not the same as the Giants but Ward will do fine i think...and Jacobs is prob going to want big money, I don't think he really cares where he goes as long as they are contenders...I would really Like to see Jacobs go to the broncos, or should i say i see that as a possibility and Sproles go somewhere that he can be properly used, he isnt a feature back but a great change of pace guy...

 

[OnlyOneBeerLeft]

and Tiki was a good RB, Jacobs is a beast, Bradshaw is quick, and ward has pretty good vision I mean you dont keep breakin big runs jsut cuz of a system...unless its shanahans running lol but he did have good RB's too like TD and Portis

 

[Maestro]

Ward i dont think is feature back material.Sproles can be used like a Chris Johnson,with a strong back in the backfield with him hes a good RB.

 

[The Messenger]

I expect Sproles to do well after what we've seen from Turner. I know that they're two completely different runners, but they've both shown that they can be very productive as the back-ups in San Deigo. If the Cards are looking to get rid of Edge and find a complementary back for the powerful Hightower, I'd suggest looking to speedy Sproles.

What you're forgetting is Turner is a big guy. I don't mean he's tall, but he's a big guy who can carry the full load and take 350 hits a season. I don't really think Sproles can do that. Like other people are saying, Sproles is a great change of pace back.

Honestly, I'd like to see the Cowboys trade Felix Jones for Sproles. Felix has very good speed and can carry the load more than Sproles. If we (cowboys) picked up Sproles, he could be our change of pace and he could return kicks.

Felix Jones did great at that for us last year until he got hurt, but Sproles is a bigger game changer imo.

 

[dboy_dc]

What you're forgetting is Turner is a big guy. I don't mean he's tall, but he's a big guy who can carry the full load and take 350 hits a season. I don't really think Sproles can do that. Like other people are saying, Sproles is a great change of pace back.

Honestly, I'd like to see the Cowboys trade Felix Jones for Sproles. Felix has very good speed and can carry the load more than Sproles. If we (cowboys) picked up Sproles, he could be our change of pace and he could return kicks.

Felix Jones did great at that for us last year until he got hurt, but Sproles is a bigger game changer imo.

That's a very big opinion my friend but I respect it... My only thing is that you're throwing Felix under the bus already. I mean he was a back up, but however every game he touched the ball he scored. He was a dangerous Return man, and his yards per carry were sick. Plus he was strong enough to go up the middle at times. He just got hurt and the team decided to IR him... But Felix was the pace changer and returner. look at his numbers

I totally understand (your) the Sproles plea, but I just dont agree with it fully. As a defender I'd rather try to tackle Sproles than Jones.

Now my thoughts on Sproles....

I wouldn't be surprised if I'd see him on....

Detroit: with Kevin Smith
Chicago: with Matt Forte
In Tampa:
In STL: with Jackson
In Seattle:
NY Jets: With Jones
In Buf: with Lynch
In Kansas: (They Need One)
In Denver: (They Need One)

 

[celtsxpatsxsox]

That's a very big opinion my friend but I respect it... My only thing is that you're throwing Felix under the bus already. I mean he was a back up, but however every game he touched the ball he scored. He was a dangerous Return man, and his yards per carry were sick. Plus he was strong enough to go up the middle at times. He just got hurt and the team decided to IR him... But Felix was the pace changer and returner. look at his numbers

I totally understand (your) the Sproles plea, but I just dont agree with it fully. As a defender I'd rather try to tackle Sproles than Jones.

Now my thoughts on Sproles....

I wouldn't be surprised if I'd see him on....

Detroit: with Kevin Smith
Chicago: with Matt Forte
In Tampa:
In STL: with Jackson
In Seattle:
NY Jets: With Jones
In Buf: with Lynch
In Kansas: (They Need One)
In Denver: (They Need One)

I dont think he would go to the Jets as they have Leon Washington and he does all that stuff for um. Unless washington is a FA this year

 

[dboy_dc]

I dont think he would go to the Jets as they have Leon Washington and he does all that stuff for um. Unless washington is a FA this year

I cant remember if he is or not.

 

[Len B]

Denver would be the perfect spot for him. McDaniels loves RB's who catch (Faulk) and he'd do great with that team.

 

[~Chance~]

He's going to the Pats. I bet.

 

[The Messenger]

That's a very big opinion my friend but I respect it... My only thing is that you're throwing Felix under the bus already. I mean he was a back up, but however every game he touched the ball he scored. He was a dangerous Return man, and his yards per carry were sick. Plus he was strong enough to go up the middle at times. He just got hurt and the team decided to IR him... But Felix was the pace changer and returner. look at his numbers

I totally understand (your) the Sproles plea, but I just dont agree with it fully. As a defender I'd rather try to tackle Sproles than Jones.

Now my thoughts on Sproles....

I wouldn't be surprised if I'd see him on....

Detroit: with Kevin Smith
Chicago: with Matt Forte
In Tampa:
In STL: with Jackson
In Seattle:
NY Jets: With Jones
In Buf: with Lynch
In Kansas: (They Need One)
In Denver: (They Need One)

No, I agree with what you said about said about Jones. I argued it in a thread during the season, when some idiot said that Choice was our best back. After Jones went down, people forgot awfully fast about what Felix Jones did when he was on the field.

However, I still believe Sproles is the better change-of-pace back and is one of the best do-everything players. Felix was a rookie who did a lot of great things, but he also got injured and I'm not sure how that'll affect a speedy back like Felix Jones.

 

[Deviant]

:didntread:

I said that Sproles was completely different than Turner. And I also said that a team like the Cards, if they were to get rid of Edge, would be a good situation where he can share the load with a big guy, Hightower, since Sproles is speedy.

How do you post "Didn't Read" and then offer a response to what he said in order to clarify what you said?

 

[celtsxpatsxsox]

yeh i wouldn't mind maroney and sproles carrying the load

You mean have Sammy Morris, Lamont Jordan(if he comes back which I think he should), Kevin Faulk, Laurence Maroney, and Darren Sproles split carrys

 

[Deviant]

How about that team that no one has mentioned yet... like Cincinnati?

Ya' know.... the team that had 6 rushing TDs all season (2 of those by a QB)? The team who's leading rusher was... freaking Cedric Benson? And their second leading rusher was... Ryan Fitzpatrick (304 rushing yards), who had almost half as many yards as Benson (747 yards)? Your leading rusher averaging 3.5 yards a carry ain't getting it done.

So... Cincy anyone?

 

[dboy_dc]

How about that team that no one has mentioned yet... like Cincinnati?

Ya' know.... the team that had 6 rushing TDs all season (2 of those by a QB)? The team who's leading rusher was... freaking Cedric Benson? And their second leading rusher was... Ryan Fitzpatrick (304 rushing yards), who had almost half as many yards as Benson (747 yards)? Your leading rusher averaging 3.5 yards a carry ain't getting it done.

So... Cincy anyone?

I doubt he goes to Cincy, I thought about that when I made my post. Cincy is too much of a Passing Offense... Now NE is also, but NE can get a HB 1000 yards... I cant remember the last time a Cincy back had a solid 1000 yard season. But the 2 teams I'd expect more than the others are Denver and Chicago, those are base running teams.