A Brief Analysis of Darren Sproles

by John Gennaro on Jan 31, 2011 3:00 PM PST in San Diego Chargers Players

It's the NFL offseason, which means people are flat running out of actual things to talk about and instead are letting their brains run wild with rampant speculation. The hot topic the last few days? One Darren Sproles.

Darren seems to be on or near the top of many fan's wishlists unless they're 100% happy with the teams backfield. Even the Chiefs and Broncos fans, who have plenty of young talent RB, are glancing at Sproles' way and asking if he can fulfill some of their team's needs.

I couldn't have been happier that the Chargers finally found the right uses for Darren this year, bringing him in mainly as a 3rd down RB and limiting his returns to kicks (and not punts). He turned out to be one of the best 3rd down RBs in the league, which turned out to be incredibly useful when the Chargers would need to abandon the running game in an attempt to come back from a large deficit.

I really wish the Chargers could sign Darren back to play the same role, but to do so they'd need to find a way to pay him about as much as an NFL team normally pays a return guy/3rd down RB (almost nothing). That's not going to happen as long as there are teams out there that believe he can be a backup RB, part-time starter, and/or full-time KR/PR. The question that leads us to, then, is whether it the teams or just the fans that think he can handle that role.

I'm sure there are a few teams out there that would use him the right way. The Colts, the Patriots, the Cowboys, etc. However, if he lands somewhere that's a little more desperate for RB help (like the Redskins or 49ers), he might have to go through the experience of being over-valued and disappointing fans all over again. Nobody wants to see that.

Personally, I see Darren landing a long-term contract for good money (5 years, $15 million sound about right?) and hope he has success wherever he lands. Unfortunately, I don't see that being with the San Diego Chargers.

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I would not say such things if I were you...

I hope he “settles” for a 4 year contract to stay here. As the 3rd down guy and KR. Yeah.

Dielman on Rivers: "I've tried to get him to say s--- or f--- and all he'll ever do is say, 'Golly gee, I can't do that."

by Superduperboltman on Jan 31, 2011 3:19 PM PST reply actions

Agreed.

"Watch out where the huskies go, don't you eat that yellow snow."- Zappa

by QuesaDiaz on Jan 31, 2011 3:40 PM PST up reply actions

I’d rather see Tolbert on first and second down and Mathews on first, second, and third downs. I don’t want sproles back, even for peanuts. He had a good run, made his set-for-life money; best of luck elsewhere.

by Orz on Jan 31, 2011 4:02 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs

Rec

Thanks for the memories, Li’l Tankie!

An autumn Sunday,
Perched in front of the big screen,
Beer in white knuckles.

by Neoplatonist Bolthead on Jan 31, 2011 10:18 PM PST up reply actions

Mathews needs to learn to block before I’m fully comfortable with that

by ramezes on Feb 1, 2011 1:27 AM PST up reply actions

Guess how he learns... by doing!

by Orz on Feb 1, 2011 8:58 AM PST up reply actions

This is what offseasons are for.

Don’t assume that a guy can’t block just because he was a rookie last year. The vast majority of rookie halfbacks are sucky blockers.

An autumn Sunday,
Perched in front of the big screen,
Beer in white knuckles.

by Neoplatonist Bolthead on Feb 1, 2011 10:48 AM PST up reply actions

Good point

John was getting dangerously close to rooting against the chargers there…

#feelinacertaintypeofway

by sd_Baby-B on Jan 31, 2011 7:08 PM PST up reply actions

I love Sprolesy!

He has been a great addition to the Bolts playing the 3rd down back and become a fan favorite. Sadly, it just doesn’t make much since to try and keep him with all the other players we NEED to sign (including free agents). He just has become too pricey for the role he plays. I would let him walk and look for his replacement in this years draft. Quiz Rodgers would be sweet. Derrick Locke is elusive and looked pretty good at the senior bowl. I’m not sure if he declared or not but, Jeff Demps from Florida is a home run hitter and could fit in nicely.

by ttawdvr4 on Jan 31, 2011 6:51 PM PST reply actions 1 recs

Maybe he's made enought the last two years

and likes the situation hes in, hopefully he will take a decent deal and stay, if not then best of luck to him

by cameronm on Jan 31, 2011 10:53 PM PST reply actions

do you really see that happens?

I think his days as a bolt are over. And I’m OK with that

by itay n. on Feb 1, 2011 2:27 AM PST up reply actions

If I were him, I'd retire with my health.

An autumn Sunday,
Perched in front of the big screen,
Beer in white knuckles.

by Neoplatonist Bolthead on Feb 1, 2011 10:49 AM PST up reply actions

Sproles was great

he’s just too pricey for us. Obviously he’s going to be successful elsewhere. I just hope that whoever we get to replace him can hold a candle to Sproles at his best.

by Kame on Feb 1, 2011 2:30 AM PST reply actions

Love Sproles! But..............

He’s probably not worth $3 million dollars a year. We’ve grossly overpaid him for two years now. Perhaps if he acknowledges he’s been extremely well compensated for 2 seasons ansd is willing to take a “home town discount” moving forward I’d like to have him back. But I doubt he’s going to take less than market value and it’s been pointed out repeatedly someone will be desperate enough to offer him big $.

We’ve got a lot of draft picks and there are several, undersized Sproles like RB’s and WR’s in the draft. We could probably grab one of those dudes in the 3rd or 4th and let Sproles go.

I think any of the following guys would be good fits:

Quizz Rodgers, RB, Oregon State
Derrick Locke, RB, Kentucky
Noel Devine, RB, West Virginia
Nic Grigsby, RB, Arizona
Jerrel Jernigan, WR/KR, Troy

by J Korber on Feb 1, 2011 4:57 AM PST reply actions

I love Sproles but,

He is aging, will be 28 before the 2011 season starts. He is definitely a valued 3rd down RB, and blocker, but I believe this is a role filled adequately by a ROLE PLAYER. His best days are behind him, which is not to say he can’t break the game here and there, but a 3rd round pick this year on a similar type of back would probably fill the role much more cheaply. My contract offer would be 2 years $8 million.

by SJO on Feb 2, 2011 11:33 AM PST reply actions