2011 free agents: Should the Rams take another run at Darren Sproles?

by Ryan Van Bibber on Jan 31, 2011 7:00 PM CST in 2011 NFL Free Agents

The name Darren Sproles should be marginally familiar to St. Louis Rams fans, from an armchair GM standpoint.

Last year, the Chargers floated the idea that they would not retain the restricted free agent. Billy Devaney pounced. A visit scheduled with the bantam-class running back got scuttled when the Chargers extended the highest possible tender to Sproles.

Sproles is scheduled for free agency this year (CBA pending), and it might be difficult for San Diego to hang on to him given how many free agents they have as well as having Ryan Mathews on the roster and Mike Tolbert ticketed for restricted free agency. ESPN's AFC West reporter Bill Williamson doesn't see Sproles in the plans.

This free agent is a luxury player. Because Mathews and Tolbert are a big part of the Chargers' plans, I could see a situation where Sproles is allowed to leave in free agency...Sproles, who'll be 28 in June, was paid nearly a total of $14 million by San Diego over the past two seasons. With other needs and the emergence of the other two backs, I don't see Sproles getting nearly the amount of money he has received the past two seasons.

Sproles can return kicks and fits the profile of a speedy outside runner who catches passes out of the backfield, the perfect complement to Steven Jackson.

Here's the catch. San Diego could easily let Sproles go thinking that they can pick up a similar, newer model in the draft, someone like Derrick Locke or Kendall Hunter. Then again, so could the Rams...and for a lot less money than a free agent with some wear on his tires. St. Louis has already shown some interest in those players at the Senior Bowl last week, an indication of what kind of runner they're looking for to pair with Steven Jackson.

On the other hand, Sproles is a known commodity, not the case with a rookie. There are those who think Sproles has lost a step. He had 5 catches for 48 yards against the Rams last year and another 115 yards on 5 kick returns. He didn't look like he'd lost a step to me, but I didn't watch many Chargers games last year (the NFC West was more than enough for me). Pros and cons either way...definitely something to consider.

Poll

Should the Rams take a flyer on Darren Sproles or look for a backup running back in the draft?

Try to sign Sproles (if there's football)

325 votes

Pass, draft prospects are way more exciting

277 votes

602 votes | Poll has closed

Tweet Comment 16 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

RB Draft in 2012

Lets do Due Dilligence in 2011 and pick up that Back Up RB/Heir to Jackson’s throne next year when LaMichael James is draft eligible!

by Jigzsaw on Jan 31, 2011 7:11 PM CST reply actions

Go for Sproles

because not only would he be a great backup RB, but also a great KR

There is no substitute for victory

by Brandon Birkhead on Jan 31, 2011 7:19 PM CST reply actions

i said get sproles too

but not sure if he is a better returner than Danny…he is exactly what we are looking for total opposite of steven one of the best 3rd down backs in the league IMO

by phx suns on Jan 31, 2011 7:31 PM CST up reply actions

he is way better than Danny

he actually has explosion

There is no substitute for victory

by Brandon Birkhead on Jan 31, 2011 7:54 PM CST up reply actions

yes to sproles

he solves 2 problems a back up that is good and a good returner. he is not worth 7 million but i think he would be good a 6 years 30 million. we could move him to wr in some routes and it helps the offense.

by RAISEtheDEAD on Feb 1, 2011 7:02 AM CST up reply actions

idk

I think theres a lot off good RB’s in the draft this year and i say stay young & let Steven jackson take them under his wing but in the other hand Sproles could be a good back up depending how much we can get him for…?

by Ct St.louis Rams on Jan 31, 2011 7:20 PM CST via mobile reply actions

We have bigger needs in free agency

Sproles is definitely a luxury player. I’m not saying I wouldn’t like to have him on the team; it just doesn’t make sense to sign him with other big name free agents available at positions we desperately need (OLB, G, WR, DT, DE). The money Sproles will be asking for would be much better put to use at position other than backup RB, mostly because that position will probably won’t see more than 12 touches a game.

by jreg88 on Jan 31, 2011 7:44 PM CST reply actions

I want him but at the same time I don't

I really wanted him last year. As for this year we need to spend money elsewhere (like said up above) I also believe steven jackson doesn’t need a great back up. I want to draft Demarco Murray or Noel Devine. He’d be great to have but I’d rather get a Chad Greenway or a Sindney Rice in free agency.

by ramsfanman on Jan 31, 2011 8:02 PM CST reply actions

It's about having a sure C+

or a potential A or D. Risk/reward. What a huge offseason for us…

You don't seem to want to accept the fact you're dealing with an expert in guerrilla warfare, with a man who's the best, with guns, with knives, with his bare hands. A man who's been trained to ignore pain, ignore weather, to live off the land, to eat things that would make a billy goat puke. In *St. Louis* his job was to dispose of enemy personnel. To kill! Period! Win by attrition. Well, *Steven Jackson* was the best.

by 3k on Jan 31, 2011 8:08 PM CST reply actions

I love Sproles.

But the thing is, you really need to hit on players like him in the draft, in lower rounds, the way the Chargers actually did in his case. Look at the leaders in kickoff return average last season (min 20 returns):

David Reed – 5th rounder
Brad Smith – 4th rounder
Eric Weems – Undrafted
LaRod Stephens-Howling – 7th rounder
Stefan Logan – Undrafted
Brandon Tate – 3rd rounder
Michael Spurlock – Undrafted
Leon Washington – 4th rounder
Marc Mariani – 7th rounder
Eric Decker – 3rd rounder

A good organization should be able to find guys who can do this job without paying through the nose, either with cash, or with other resources (read draft picks). The same goes at backup running back, the other place where Sproles would be useful. We shouldn’t need to spend for another Trung Canidate; teams find good running backs in the late rounds all the time. We have to be one of those teams if we’re going to be successful.

Now, if we could get Sproles fairly cheap, he’d be a good addition. He’s a good player. However, he won’t be cheap, because somebody out there will almost certainly overpay for his name. I just hope it’s not us.

by Spielman on Jan 31, 2011 9:18 PM CST reply actions

but not only can he do returns

he is a great 3rd down back

There is no substitute for victory

by Brandon Birkhead on Jan 31, 2011 10:07 PM CST up reply actions

Yes, he can do both KR and 3rd down back.

Still, that isn’t worth anything like $7 million per year. If he would agree to $3 million, sure, but there’s no chance he would come down that far. I think the combination of his age and his salary expectations should rule him out for us, as much as I would like to see his as a Ram.

by andyhawk on Jan 31, 2011 10:34 PM CST up reply actions