It made sense. Sproles is from Kansas City and the Chiefs were about to embark on a draft where they would look to add players with speed and play-mnaking ability. They were also in desperate need of a return man.

Not long after the report that the Chiefs were interested in Sproles, the Chargers changed course and tendered the RB, taking him off the free agent market.

(more…)

Chiefs will play against Sproles next season, not with him.

From Signonsandiego.com:

The Chargers have changed their minds.

The team is placing a first-and-third tender on running back Darren Sproles, sources said Thursday morning.

Sproles had been notified last week the Chargers would not tender him as a restricted free agent and would allow him to test the market as an unrestricted free agent.

The move guarantees Sproles a salary of $7.27 million if he stays with the Chargers, unless the club can sign him to a long-term deal. He made $6.62 million last season as the Chargers’ franchise player and is entitled to a 10 percent raise.

Damn it! =(

Chiefs will be announcing the release of WR Devard Darling and RB Dantrell Savage this morning

The Chiefs look to be clearing some roster space before the start of free agency and Darling and Savage are apparently not a part of the plan moving forward.

Savage was signed as an undrafted free agent in 2008. He showed show talent but never really got an extended opportunity to prove himself. I have a feeling we haven’t heard the last of Savage and I wish him the best.

Darling tore his ACL in the preseason, which was unfortunate for him as it looked like he was going to get a legitimate shot to be one of the Chiefs top two receivers.

This move will give both Darling and Savage a chance to find other homes. It also may be a of clue as to positions the Chiefs may look to fill when free agency begins on Friday. I for one, think they are going to take a run at Darren Sproles. The release of Savage, a smaller, quicker back similar to Jamaal Charles, makes me think they might be planning to bring Sproles in to replace him.

For now, the Chiefs have kept Jackie Battle, their biggest back on the roster. If they bring in another HB, I think it might be someone smaller, like Sproles, who can handle 3rd down back duties as well as kick off and punt returns. Stay tuned!

Kansas City: This is an interesting one. The Chiefs have had a difficult time selling tickets recently and the former Kansas State star and Olathe, Kansas product would create excitement. This could be a pairing worth watching. The Chiefs would rather have a bigger complement to Jamaal Charles, but Sproles would help the Chiefs’ offense. He’d also give a much-needed burst to the return game.

Jones is a physical specimen who defies the 30-year/300-carry RB rules.

Yes, he is 31. Yes, he has been running behind a fantastic offensive line. But Thomas Jones — who will be released by the Jets very soon — is a special breed of workhorse. Just look at his stats over the past five seasons (year, team, games played, carries, yards, YPC):

• 2005 CHI 15 314 1335 4.3
• 2006 CHI 16 296 1210 4.1
• 2007 NYJ 16 310 1119 3.6
• 2008 NYJ 16 290 1312 4.5
• 2009 NYJ 16 331 1402 4.2

He’s carried the ball at least 290 times a game for each season the past five years for two different teams, yet has only missed one game and only averaged under four yards per carry once. Unlike Larry Johnson, dude has an unparalleled work ethic. He’s a workout warrior whose weightlifting actually translates to on-field success. Obviously the oversold 300-carry rule doesn’t apply to Thomas Jones.

Jones has good hands and is an excellent pass blocker. He also isn’t a primadonna and has fit in well with other backs when sharing the workload. Personally, I feel he’s a much better compliment to Charles in Charge than Darren Sproles. Hey, I love Sproles — I freakin’ went to K-State. But Charles needs a punishing, physical inside runner who can also excel picking up blitzes to spell him. Sproles would be a pretty redundant addition — he and Charles do all the same things well.

I even like Jones better than LaDainian Tomlinson. He’s a late blooomer who genuinely seems to enjoy contact and the overall brutality of the NFL. I think he’s still got a lot more to prove than L.T. does as well. If he could help an up-and-coming team get to the Super Bowl (like he did the Bears and nearly did with the Jets), he would cement his status as an exceptional running back and not just another pretty good workhorse.

Couldn’t we get a couple more years out of Jones doing some tough running and blocking behind Jammal Charles while we groom a physical inside runner to be his successor? He’d only be taking on roughly half of his normal workload. I think he’s got it in him after watching him run this year.

From National Football Post:

Where else might Sproles land?

A league source told National Football Post that the Kansas City Chiefs are rumored to be interested in Sproles’ versatile ability and return skills. Sproles, who played collegiately at Kansas State, could work in tandem there with Jamaal Charles.

Sproles’ potential departure could open the door in San Diego for a player like Minnesota Vikings running back Chester Taylor, Philadelphia Eagles running back Brian Westbrook or Pittsburgh Steelers runner Willie Parker

What do you think, Addicts? If the Chiefs are interested, is this the right move?

Adam_Schefter

Official: San Diego will not tender RB Darren Sproles and will allow him to test free-agent market. No LT, probably no Sproles. Changes.

All I can say is WOW. They are out of their ever loving minds. Why, in God’s name, would you let a back like Sproles walk?

Scott Pioli, are you listening to me? Sign. This. Man. Do. It. Now. Or, well, on March 5th.

Can you imagine Sproles and Charles in a two back set? Defensive coordinators would have strokes just thinking about it. Both have incredible speed and agility. Both are extremely viable receiving options coming out of the back field.

I think there is plenty of room on the Chiefs roster for Sproles and Charles. It would extend both of their careers and would make the Chiefs an absolutely sick offensive force on the ground.

That being said, I doubt the Chiefs will do it and I doubt Sproles will come to KC. He is likely to get a big payday and will probably want to start somewhere. Though you could consider  Charles and Sproles to be co-starters, I bet Sproles will want his own spotlight, especially after dealing with all this Complainian Tomlinson stuff.

What do you think, Addicts? Should Pioli go after Sproles?

Chase Daniel takes Missouri back to the Big 12 Championship game, but this time he delivers a performance for the ages and absolutely crushes Oklahoma. The following April, Daniel is drafted by the Oakland Raiders on the second day of the draft. During the next couple of seasons, JaMarcus Russell struggles with injuries and Daniel becomes one of the better back-ups in the league. His play even helps the Silver and Black win a few games.

Is that a nightmare or what? (It also requires a huge suspension of disbelief, but that’s not the point here.)

Well, for us K-State fans that is exactly what we are going through.

Fresh off carrying K-State to its first Big 12 title, Heisman finalist Darren Sproles was drafted by the Chargers. I wanted him to play for the Chiefs so bad, but it didn’t happen. We could certainly use his return ability these days. Anyway, whenever I see him break one I can’t help but jump up and yell in glee. Then, when the whistle blows, I remember what team he plays for and hunker back down into my seat. It’s tough, because I absolutely love the kid. I was at that game when he single-handedly demolished OU, who I absolutely loathe. I’ll never forget that night. I mean, how can I not still be smitten over a player who’s both the “little engine who could” (at 5-foot-6 he’s the shortest RB in the NFL) and the greatest KSU player ever?

Sproles was just named the AFC Special Teamer of the month, causing me to swell with pride. Then I remembered that he no longer wears Purple and Silver, but rather Navy and Gold (and sometimes Powder Blue). What a dilema, right? Really, it’s the exact opposite of what a lot of us had to deal with when the Chiefs selected Neil Smith, who at the time was a star for the hated Huskers (well, hated by about 90% of us, if not more).

What do you do when your guy becomes the enemy? You root him on when he’s not playing against your team, and hope that his success doesn’t directly correlate into success for his team. That is, unless he plays for the Broncos. Then you boo and throw stuff at your TV every time you see him. What do you do when the enemy becomes your guy. You have no choice but to embrace him, at least until he becomes the enemy again (I just threw up in my mouth).

Addicts, sound off on “sleeping with the enemy.”