Sproles follows his heart, signs with Birds
The Eagles agreed to a one-year contract with 36-year-old running back Darren Sproles.
Sproles, entering his 14th season, is the oldest Eagles running back ever and the second-oldest player on the roster. Only offensive tackle Jason Peters, 37, has been around longer.
It was no secret Sproles wanted to play another season. He’d been working out in San Diego with Donnel Pumphrey, the San Diego State standout and fourthround pick bidding to win a job with the Birds.
But the educated speculation had Sproles earmarked for the Chargers, where Melvin Gordon has threatened to hold out of training camp.
“My heart is in Philly,” Sproles shared through the Eagles on Twitter. “That’s where I want to end my career. That team, the city is like a family.”
Sproles is going to have to scramble to find a seat in a crowded Eagles running back room. Sproles, Jordan Howard, rookie secondround pick Miles Sanders, Corey Clement and Wendell Smallwood look like the first five on the depth chart. Josh Adams, Pumphrey and Boston Scott also are vying for jobs.
Sproles needs just 163 all-purpose yards to break into the top five on the all-time NFL list. Hall of Fame receiver Tim Brown (19,682 yards) is fifth, Emmitt Smith (21,564) a distant fourth.
Brian Mitchell, who played for the Eagles in 2002, is second on the list with 23,330 yards. He’s the third-oldest running back to play for the Eagles, just a few months younger than Dorsey Levens, also 34, who performed with the Eagles in 2004.
Sproles brings the same type of work ethic and professionalism to the job that Mitchell and Levens did. If Pumphrey wins a job, the first guy he’ll thank is Sproles.
“I’ve learned a lot watching him work,” Pumphrey said. “He’s still training as if he’s coming back. That’s motivation right there seeing him, at year 14, still training like that. I trained with him and I stretched differently, continued to stay in shape and stay as loose as possible. I take care of my body a lot more than I have in the past.”
Sproles, at the same time, has to fight off the injuries that have plagued him the last two seasons. He’s played in just nine games and scored but one touchdown in that time.
“We are excited to bring Darren back,” a statement furnished by the team read. “It isn’t very often that you have the opportunity to add a player who has the sixthmost total yards in NFL history. He is the ultimate professional and a leader on and off the field. He will add another proven talent to our running back room.”
The Eagles begin training camp Thursday at the NovaCare Complex.
The preseason begins Aug. 8 at Lincoln Financial Field against the Tennessee Titans.