Darren Sproles Days Are Numbered

Michael Turner, starting running back for the Atlanta Falcons, played second fiddle to Chargers star RB Ladanian Tomlinson for four years. When given the opportunity, Turner balled out, so well that the Falcons took a risk on a player who was never a feature back by giving him a 6 year $34.5 million dollar contract. Turner didn't disappoint either, leading the Falcons to the playoffs and being 2nd in MVP voting this year. Could Darren Sproles be the next Chargers backup RB to get paid this off-season?

Sproles, a fourth-round pick in 2005, will be a free agent at the end of this year. He is a great returner, has good speed, even better quickness and is tougher than you would expect. Coming into the league he was thought to be only a 3rd down back. Like Turner, when provided the opportunity, Sproles has not only played well, but made some fans utter Ladanian who?

His 326 all purpose yard and 2 touchdown effort effort this past weekend in the Wildcard game against the favored Indianapolis Colts put Sproles in the driver's seat of a big time contract this off-season.

The Chargers only main free agency concerns other than Sproles will be RT Jeromey Clary and Guard Mike Goff. Look for Clary to get resigned because he is more talented and younger and for Goff to bolt(no pun intended) to another team.

So what is Chargers management to do? Pay a back up like you would a starter because the back up plays like he should start but the current starter, Ladanian Tomlinson, is a better starter than the back up Darren Sproles who could start for several teams in the NFL? Yes, everyone in the NFL wants to get paid, but it is so much more fun when you get paid and you play a starter's role. This is why I think no matter how much the Chargers put on the table, Sproles wants to start and its not gonna happen in San Diego, so Sproles will be gone at season's end. Heck, the Yankees couldn't resign Sproles if they couldn't promise him the starting gig.

When Sproles does sign his deal this year, he'll have to pay homage to Warrick Dunn and Brian Westbrook who have made it possible for "little guy" running backs to succeed as every down backs in the NFL.

There is something in that San Diego water, because Marcus Allen and Reggie Bush both hail from the 619. LT and Michael Turner have made huge impressions on the league thus far in their careers and now Sproles is making his mark. Chargers management shouldn't take the Sproles loss to hard, they've proven by drafting LT, Turner and Sproles that they know what a good back looks like so they'll have no trouble replacing Sproles in this year's up coming draft.

Good work D-Sproles.

Sincerely,

Rajean Pierre Louis