Given a rebirth in Philly, Darren Sproles becoming one of NFL's most exciting players
INDIANAPOLIS – Darren Sproles was at his home in California last April when the news broke he'd been traded from New Orleans, where his career had flourished across three seasons. Out of nowhere, he was headed to Philadelphia.
"The stuff [you] find out on Twitter," he tweeted that day, although not that he was overly emotional.
The Saints needed to find cap space and Sproles was expendable, but that's how his career in the NFL always seemed to be. He was too short, too small, too whatever to be considered a featured back. He was a fun toy for an offense, but he always had a deferential role. He was always a support player, never a star.
Of course, he'd find out his fate on Twitter. He was cool with it.
"That's just part of the business," Sproles said. "You don't take nothing personal. It is what it is."
Besides, no matter Sproles' fondness for the Saints, his first thought wasn't of what he was leaving. It was what – and whom – he was coming to: Chip Kelly's Eagles.
"For me, watching the offense last year, it's actually the best place I could come," Sproles said.
Sproles was sitting at his locker here late Monday after the Eagles pulled off another come-from-behind victory, 30-27 over Indianapolis to move to 2-0 on the season. The place was alive, a second consecutive double-digit deficit erased with a second-half offensive explosion, another bit of proof Kelly and Philly are onto something potentially big here.
And in the center of it, not as a scatback, not as a change-of-pace guy, not as whatever else he'd been pegged over a nine-year career, was Darren Sproles.
He'd just put together one of the finest nights of his career: 152 yards receiving, 26 yards rushing and 25 more yards returning punts. The highlights were seemingly endless.
There was a 19-yard bowling ball touchdown romp through half the Colts defense, when he appeared tackled three or four times.
"When I got near the goal line [it was], 'Just finish, just finish this run,' " he said.
There was a game-breaking, fourth-quarter, 51-yard screen pass where he slipped through defenders and followed his blockers – even hid behind his blockers – tho set up the tying touchdown. That shouldn't be confused with a 57-yard catch-and-run in the first quarter.
Finally there was a 17-yard screen pass reception on the final possession that set up the game-winning field goal. That was Sproles' favorite, he claimed.
"Because that kind of sealed it," Sproles said.
At 5-foot-6, at 31 years old, at an age when he supposedly should be losing a step, he's proving more difficult than ever for defenses to deal with. The Eagles can't be more excited about it.
"He's a beast," tight end Zach Ertz said.
"He can make some plays, man," Jeremy Maclin added.
"He does stuff," Malcolm Jenkins marveled, "we don't understand how he does it."
Kelly's offense has always been about getting playmakers into space and then letting them shine. That's what drew him to Sproles. This was everything Kelly always looks for, a versatile mismatch. Last week he ran Sproles 11 times for 71 yards. This week the Eagles kept throwing screen passes and letting him go.
Forget height or size or age, when Kelly was able to acquire Sproles for just a fifth-round pick, he was giddy about all the possibilities.
"He's just a special player," Kelly said. "The first day we had him, it was, 'How many different ways can we find ways to get him the football?' He's just a dynamic football player. He can run it, he can catch it, he can do it all. He's a complete running back."
For Sproles, this has been a rebirth. Not since his record-setting turn at Kansas State has he had such a major role in an offense, where the coaching staff sees him as a runner and a receiver, and is just so focused on finding ways to let him make plays. Life was good in New Orleans, but this is better. And his role is only expected to only grow from here.
"I knew he was a really good player and we were excited to get him," Kelly said. "[But] until you really get a chance to see him in practice…"
Sproles smiles at all the praise. He doesn't care how people view him. "I'm all purpose," he said. "That's what I do … all purpose."
He's just basking in playing for a coach who has this much confidence in him, who went out and got him.
"When I was coming in, they told me that I was going to get some [plays called for him]," Sproles said. "But the way he uses me, it's perfect. I love it. …He knows when to bring me in. He knows the times to bring me in and bring me out. He just knows."
Sproles isn't a big talker. He still deals with a speech impediment. Even then, he comes across as humble, appreciative of the chance, a team guy. He always just played his role, did what was asked. It's no different.
It's been a long time since he was such a difference maker, but here he was on "Monday Night Football," breaking the Colts over and over and over, darting around linebackers and bouncing through cornerbacks, looking a decade younger.
"I've been blessed, man," Sproles said of his longevity. "I've been blessed."
Only once, back in 2011, did he gain more than 1,000 yards from scrimmage. He's currently on pace for more than 2,100.
The Saints sent him packing and he found out through social media, but none of that matters. Not then. Not now.
Kelly believed in Sproles and Sproles believed in Kelly, and that was all that mattered. Although neither might have believed it could become this good, this soon.
