The Saints are being incredibly aggressive in free agency, and it only took them a day to get a replacement for Reggie Bush. Believe it or not, they actually got what I believe to be a better player than Reggie. Sproles may be 5’6″, but I’ve seen him play many times and that guy is all heart. He’s a tough inside runner, an incredibly explosive kick returner, a very good pass catcher out of the backfield, and a player that makes less mental lapses than Bush. Overall, that situation could not have played out better for the Saints. Sproles’ contract is for 4 years and $14 million. I’m guessing that’s about what the Saints were prepared to offer Bush (the Dolphins gave him $5 million per year over 2 years). Sproles has actually been very durable despite his size and the Chargers used him in a similar way to how the Saints used Bush. I would expect he’ll have many games, like Bush, with maybe 5 carries and 3 catches. Basically anywhere from 5 to 10 touches a game excluding special teams. He needs to be accounted for too, because like Bush every time he touches the ball he’s a threat to score.
Sproles doesn’t have much…
of a fumbling problem and most of all he’s the Saints’ kick returner of the future. He’s incredibly explosive as a kick returner, one of the better ones in the league, and he’s a very capable punt returner as well.
Make no mistake, the Saints got a very good one in Darren Sproles. I think this speaks volumes about how they wanted to keep Bush at the right price because they were clearly willing to pay for a 4th back. The minute Bush left the Saints rushed to find a suitable replacement. I love the move. Thank the new rookie wages for giving them the ability to sign Sproles, too, because less money was tied into the position with Mark Ingram. What’s amazing about how this all played out is the Saints somehow got draft picks out of Bush, an ace special teamer and the cap relief when everyone (myself included) said he was untradeable. Then, they turn around and they sign an upgrade at the position. Unreal.
Mickey Loomis is an outstanding GM. I firmly believe the moves the Saints are making points them clearly towards another Super Bowl run.
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