Say goodbye to Darren Sproles

[UberBroncoMan]

I believe he's just played his way into a "Michael Turner."

Expect him to get big bucks this off season and leave our division.

I for one couldn't be happier :D!

[Broncoman13]

Far from Michael Turner. No team is going to pay him huge money to be their starting RB, he just doesn't have the size or the ability to play in most sets. I suspect somebody like the Patriots would consider bring him in though. He would really complete that offense. The way they like to throw to the backs and all... man, that offense would be sick! Oh, you mean it already is???

[BroncoDoug]

I say we sign him! Sproles and Hillis!! woot!

[AbileneBroncoFan]

Far from Michael Turner. No team is going to pay him huge money to be their starting RB, he just doesn't have the size or the ability to play in most sets. I suspect somebody like the Patriots would consider bring him in though. He would really complete that offense. The way they like to throw to the backs and all... man, that offense would be sick! Oh, you mean it already is???

Yeah, I agree that would make them virtually unstoppable. But, the Patriots wouldn't give a top flight corner (Asante Samuel) big money, so I doubt they invest big money in a running back. Running back is the easiest position in football to find. I think a major player in the Sproles sweeptstakes could be Cleveland. Mangini will want new players, and Jamal Lewis is about 800 years old. Arizona would also be an outstanding fit, as James is as good as gone. If either of those two have the cap room to sign him, they'll make a hard push. I'm not sure what San Diego's cap situation is, but if it's tight, I would strongly consider trading Tomlinson. He's at that magic 30 range, and I don't see him ever returning to top RB status. He is certainly not worth the money they are paying him, and they could get equal production out of a young guy in this year's draft. Hopefully Norv and the gang are too dumb to realize this. Of course, calling Norv dumb is the same as calling Al Davis a fossil, so I like our chances.

[BroncoMan4ever]

no chance in hell will Sproles land a contract with feature RB money. he lacks the size and strength to be an every down runner. while he is fun and exciting to watch as a change of pace and return man, he isn't a feature back and he isn't going to get paid like one.

[Doggcow]

no chance in hell will Sproles land a contract with feature RB money. he lacks the size and strength to be an every down runner. while he is fun and exciting to watch as a change of pace and return man, he isn't a feature back and he isn't going to get paid like one.

He's been pretty featured the past few weeks.

[broncofan2438]

No way does Sproles leave the chuggers.....LT leaves

[Popps]

He's been pretty featured the past few weeks.

People get very caught up in size and stereotypes when it comes to RBs.

It's the reason a guy like Hillis can come in and run better than any back we've had since Portis for a few games, and people still want to make him a long-snapper or some ****. Is it because he's big? White? Also played fullback? I have no idea.

Then a guy like Sproles, who had a massive performance as a RB in a playoff game tonight comes up in conversation, and "no one is going to pay him because he's small."

It's as if no amount of factual information is ever going to put people off a preconceived notion of how things are supposed to work, or how they worked 15 years ago.

The modern-day NFL is about using multiple backs. Guys like Hillis and Sproles may not be 30 carry a game guys (though I still hold that Hillis could easily be) ... but they make great tandem-backs and are highly valuable in today's NFL.

Sproles may not get a Turner-type contract, but he'll get paid. Trust me.

[Popps]

No way does Sproles leave the chuggers.....LT leaves

Sounds far-fetched until you start thinking it through.

I don't think it'll happen, but it'll be interesting to watch.

[400HZ]

No way does Sproles leave the chuggers.....LT leaves

They don't have the balls to move LT, but I think they will still do what they have to to keep Sproles a Charger.

[baja]

Sproles is a football player I would love to see him in denver. He was the best player on the field tonight

[Crushaholic]

In an ideal world, I think the Chargers would do everything in their power to keep both Tomlinson and Sproles. Each back brings something different to the table.

[SonOfLe-loLang]

People get very caught up in size and stereotypes when it comes to RBs.

It's the reason a guy like Hillis can come in and run better than any back we've had since Portis for a few games, and people still want to make him a long-snapper or some ****. Is it because he's big? White? Also played fullback? I have no idea.

Then a guy like Sproles, who had a massive performance as a RB in a playoff game tonight comes up in conversation, and "no one is going to pay him because he's small."

It's as if no amount of factual information is ever going to put people off a preconceived notion of how things are supposed to work, or how they worked 15 years ago.

The modern-day NFL is about using multiple backs. Guys like Hillis and Sproles may not be 30 carry a game guys (though I still hold that Hillis could easily be) ... but they make great tandem-backs and are highly valuable in today's NFL.

Sproles may not get a Turner-type contract, but he'll get paid. Trust me.

I really do wonder how people would view hillis if he was black

[Doggcow]

I really do wonder how people would view hillis if he was black

He'd be the next Bettis.

[Wes Mantooth]

chargers would be stupid to get rid of him. The only reason they are having any type of success is because of him filling in.

[cabronco]

In an ideal world, I think the Chargers would do everything in their power to keep both Tomlinson and Sproles. Each back brings something different to the table.

It seems they always have a ton of cap room . So I dont see why they wouldnt get both done, unless the owner is stupid cheap.

[Doggcow]

I wouldnt keep LT at this point for anything other than a trade.

[Boltjolt]

Sproles will be back in San Diego haunting you for 4 more years

[watermock]

Turner is slow, Sproles is small.

We can do better.

[Popps]

I really do wonder how people would view hillis if he was black

Well, I don't want to get on the race thing. I also cited Sproles being small... so it's not just race stereotypes. It's size, etc.
But, yea if Hillis was black, there's a good chance we wouldn't be having these conversations about how he's "better suited" as a fullback or a "short yardage back." (That's my favorite... dude rips off 5 yards a carry, had 3 20 yard runs in one game and he's a "short yardage back.")

Same for Sproles. He's small, so no one is going to give him a big contract.

Watch.

[SDfaiderhater]

Well, I don't want to get on the race thing. I also cited Sproles being small... so it's not just race stereotypes. It's size, etc.
But, yea if Hillis was black, there's a good chance we wouldn't be having these conversations about how he's "better suited" as a fullback or a "short yardage back." (That's my favorite... dude rips off 5 yards a carry, had 3 20 yard runs in one game and he's a "short yardage back.")

Same for Sproles. He's small, so no one is going to give him a big contract.

Watch.

which is unfair, the kid is strong, i mean can squat more then Merriman strong. and he made the best block on a guy i've seen a Rb make this year during the pre-season against the Seahawks, they blitzed a LB, full speed at sproles and he made the dude do a complete somersault in the air. whoever gets him, and i really hope its my chargers that keep him, are going to have someone very very exciting.

[Vladimir]

I'm guessing SD trades LT and resigns sproles.

[broncogary]

It's as if no amount of factual information is ever going to put people off a preconceived notion of how things are supposed to work, or how they worked 15 years ago.

The modern-day NFL is about using multiple backs. Guys like Hillis and Sproles may not be 30 carry a game guys (though I still hold that Hillis could easily be) ... but they make great tandem-backs and are highly valuable in today's NFL.

Wow, 480 carries in a season? :P

[Broncoman13]

Turner is slow, Sproles is small.

We can do better.

I'll admit that Turner looked a little slower yesterday, but there is a real reason they call him Michael "the burner" Turner. He had 4.4 speed when coming out of college... oh how I wanted him in Denver the year he was drafted!

http://www.orangemane.com/BB/showthread.php?t=11862&highlight=Michael+Turner

[Ray Finkle]

I'll admit that Turner looked a little slower yesterday, but there is a real reason they call him Michael "the burner" Turner. He had 4.4 speed when coming out of college... oh how I wanted him in Denver the year he was drafted!

http://www.orangemane.com/BB/showthread.php?t=11862&highlight=Michael+Turner

A lot of us wanted them to draft him....especially when he lasted until what, the fifth round?

[Dedhed]

I'd love to see us go after Sproles. He'd be a great compliment to whatever back we feature, he's deadly on special teams, and would save Royal from the pounding of KO returns.

[Popps]

Wow, 480 carries in a season? :P

Well, maybe not every game. ;D

[WolfpackGuy]

What was it Bill Parcells said:
"Fast guys get slower, big guys stay big."
No thanks.

[boltaneer]

I love LT but despite his age and recent injury history does anyone really think that the Chargers give him away at this point. I don't think a team will give up what the Chargers would be asking for him.

I'm pretty confident they'll find a way to re-sign Sproles. He's stated that he wants to continue playing in San Diego. And though he's proven that he can carry the load, I think even he knows that over the course of a season, he is probably best suited as a complimentary back.

[Orange_Beard]

Sproles > LT, been saying it all year. It's the hole so much harded.

[JJJ]

You run a guy that small for 20 to 25 carries a game and he will get hurt. He broke his leg in his second season. Anyone loading him up for a mega-contract for 4 years as a feature back will get 2.5 good years out of him at best. But there is always someone dumb enough to do it.

Unfortunately I don't see anyway he stays as a Bolt as someone will shell out large cabbage to get him. AJ has other priorities. He should have extended him on the cheap before the season started after he definitely showed skills last year.

[Borks147]

get him the hell out of the division. hopefully Alridge can be a poor man's Sproles next year.

[Dark Helmet]

I'm guessing SD trades LT and resigns sproles.

Ditto

[boltaneer]

I'm guessing SD trades LT and resigns sproles.

I'm guessing too many people are Madden fanatics around here. ;)

[Borks147]

there is no friggin way a team pays what the Chargers will want for LT AND there is no friggin way AJ Smith survives the fans' wrath if they let LT go for chump change. Think of all the bandwagon fans that will have to buy another Chargers jersey because the only other jersey they own are Raiders jerseys from 2002.

[Drek]

The Chargers will let Sproles walk, he's got four years in so he's not restricted now and AJ Smith won't throw much cash the way of a #2 HB. He didn't with Turner and Turner had done more to prove himself as a potentially great back.

Its one of the burdens of having AJ Smith as your GM, he's always going to believe he's out smarting everyone and the next 4th or 5th round RB will be a stud like his previous choices. He's been right more than not so for Chargers fans thats a big plus, but expecting them to retain Sproles if he gets offered even decent money? Thats pure fantasy.

Though I'd say you can all probably look forward to using your 2nd round pick on James Davis as a consolation prize, who will probably be a pretty damn good compliment to LT himself.

[kdissette]

he actually would be a good fit here for 2 reasons......1 he is an awesome KR/PR and would add a new dimension to our ST. 2 he would be a perfect shotgun back that can run a seam or take a dump pass, but I wouldnt want him as a feature he just couldnt take the pounding.

[Drek]

he actually would be a good fit here for 2 reasons......1 he is an awesome KR/PR and would add a new dimension to our ST. 2 he would be a perfect shotgun back that can run a seam or take a dump pass, but I wouldnt want him as a feature he just couldnt take the pounding.

If the next coach wants Hillis at RB then I'd be fine with Sproles as the complimentary change of pace/special teams guy, but again, only if the next HC wants to run that kind of a running game.

[Beantown Bronco]

he actually would be a good fit here for 2 reasons......1 he is an awesome KR/PR and would add a new dimension to our ST.

Nah. We've been through this one. Even Devin Hester in his prime couldn't do much better than Royal behind or God awful ST blocking.

[cmhargrove]

get him the hell out of the division. hopefully Alridge can be a poor man's Sproles next year.

I think people are overestimating Alridge a little bit. From what i've seen, he's not half as powerful as Sproles. Fast, yes. Powerful, no.


I think the Chargers saw the decline of LT this year. The injuries are starting to pile up, and they need Sproles to keep things going. I say they pay him and keep him, he's too valuable for them to let go.

[400HZ]

AJ Smith has generally been pretty good about planning ahead since he arrived, so I think there is hope here for the Chargers. After his two major injuries this year, they have to start looking past LT, and Sproles looks like he can be a very strong base of a tandem backfield or three-headed monster like the Giants have. Like others, I don't think that it's wise to expect him to carry the ball 20+ times a game throughout the course of a season.

[Drek]

AJ Smith has generally been pretty good about planning ahead since he arrived, so I think there is hope here for the Chargers. After his two major injuries this year, they have to start looking past LT, and Sproles looks like he can be a very strong base of a tandem backfield or three-headed monster like the Giants have. Like others, I don't think that it's wise to expect him to carry the ball 20+ times a game throughout the course of a season.

He also used a top 5 pick on an every down RB, which I think is what he'd prefer over a tandem backfield.

I'd assume he's going to see how LT is next year with a young understudy HB that they'll draft fairly early on this spring, and go from there. If LT is back to form great, if not then come next off-season they'll know what they got in the freshly drafted rookie and will make the necessary move with LT.