Little Big Man…
It’s not because of his running prowess off of a shotgun hand-off… or his pass-receiving skills in the flats…
I dig this cat because of his intelligence and sure-handed authority on a punt return…
When he calls for a fair catch, I know it’s the right decision…and he always makes it.
I’ve got an old college friend named Andy Pecoraro who played major league high school football in the D.C. leagues back in the day. He later went on to become one of the top Maryland State Troopers of his time. You know, guts and intelligence combined…
But imagine my shock when Andy once told me: “As a cop I have faced speeding vehicles aimed at my car and dudes with guns pointed at my pursuit, but none of that compares to my anxiety as a high school football punt returner standing alone and awaiting to catch a punt…”
It’s a bigger deal than we mere mortal fans can appreciate, I reckon.
But it’s a big reason why Darren Sproles just got extended by the Eagles.
“It says a lot,” Sproles said. “I’m 33 years old. For them to give me an extra year, that says a lot. I love my teammates. I want to stay here.
“I’ve got some tread on the tires.”
“Any time, in my opinion, that you can have a player like Darren Sproles, that you can keep him under contract for a couple of years, it makes you feel good,” HC Doug Pederson said. “I’m just so happy for him and his family. I’m so excited to have him here.”
Acquired by the Eagles in a 2014 offseason trade with the New Orleans Saints, Sproles was named to the Pro Bowl as a return specialist the past two seasons, returning 77 punts for 952 yards with four touchdowns over that stretch.
Since joining the Eagles, Sproles has also rushed for 646 yards and nine touchdowns on 140 carries and caught 95 passes for 775 yards.
“He’s got tremendous quickness and acceleration,” Eagles executive vice president of football operations Howie Roseman said. “He’s a mismatch in the passing game. Every time he’s back on punt returns, you’re thinking a big play could happen. It was a good move for us.”
I’ve always had issues with Sproles’ hands as a receiver… they are small hands and tend to goof up outlet passes too much… but he is so sure-handed on punt receptions and just reading punt situations so well, I give him a “pass” on the receiver role…
Originally drafted by the San Diego Chargers in 2005, Sproles currently ranks 11th all time in NFL history with 17,903 all-purpose yards.
Terms of the deal were not made immediately available by the team, but NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports the deal is for $4.5 million. That would represent a $1 million raise from the $3.5 million base salary Sproles was set to earn in 2016. Rapoport also reports that the Eagles have moved money from the extension into this season.
Sproles, a Pro Bowler in each of his two seasons with the Eagles, is now signed through 2017. He was due to become a free agent after this season.
After five years with the Chargers and three with the Saints, he has enjoyed a career resurgence with the Eagles, making his first two Pro Bowl teams and becoming only the second player in NFL history with four or more punt return TDs after his 30th birthday. The other is Hall of Famer Deion Sanders.
In his career, Sproles has 2,867 rushing yards and 20 touchdowns with a 5.0 average rushing and 473 receptions for 4,156 yards and 28 more touchdowns.
With 133 more rushing yards and 27 more receptions, Sproles will become only the 12th player in NFL history with 3,000 rushing yards and 500 receptions.
Sproles’ 5.0 career rushing average is 14th-highest in NFL history among non-quarterbacks with at least 500 rushing attempts.
In two seasons with the Eagles, he has 646 rushing yards and 95 receptions, although his 3.8 YPC rushing average last year was well below his career average.
He has two punt return TD’s in each of his seasons with the Eagles and is one of only seven NFL players in history with consecutive seasons with multiple punt return touchdowns.
Sproles entered the league as the Chargers’ fourth-round draft pick in 2005. The Eagles acquired him – or stole him – from the Saints in March 2014 in exchange for a fifth-round pick.
That pick turned out to be Ronald Powell, a linebacker who played in just 14 career games and is not currently in the league.
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