Another Crack At Darren Sproles?
May 17th, 2016
Jason Licht might have another big offseason move in his pocket
Legions of Bucs fans soiled themselves when the rival Saints signed stud running back/returner Darren Sproles in 2011.
Sproles signed cheap and the Bucs let Cadillac Williams walk, despite the protests of Raheem Morris. Management felt good about Kregg Lumpkin in their backfield.
Lumpkin proved dreadful, and Sproles was his usual dangerous self.
Sproles moved on to Philadelphia for the past two seasons, where he’s been a Pro Bowl returner following the 2014 and 2015 campaigns. At 32 (33 next month), he still brings a lot of juice. Sproles returned punts for touchdowns in each of the past two seasons.
ProFootballTalk.com has a story today about trade winds swirling around Sproles, who has not attended spring practices for the Eagles’ new regime.
Newsflash: The Bucs do not have an experienced punt returner.
Dirk Koetter has said Adam Humphries, an undrafted free agent last year, is the lead dog in the chase for the job. Humphries has no regular-season returns on his resumé.
Joe will keep this simple. Sproles represents a drastic upgrade for the Bucs at returner, and he’d be one hell of an option as a No. 3 running back.
His 2016 salary is $3.5 million, and it’s the final year of his contract. He won’t command much in a trade (a fifth-round pick?). Joe would make this deal in a heartbeat.
May 17th, 2016 at 12:33 pm
No thanks, Atl will probably cut Hester anyway
May 17th, 2016 at 12:35 pm
Yeah right now sproles>hester, go to bed
May 17th, 2016 at 12:41 pm
No coach can flourish under the pop-star!!! So many bad moves and terrible philosophy that seemed to change year after year. There has never been more of a coach killer as GM!!!!
#worst_gm_in_Buc_history!!!!!!!!!!!!!
May 17th, 2016 at 12:42 pm
We have enough of these 32-33 year old players already, and how can we add another back to our roster?
May 17th, 2016 at 12:42 pm
No thanks……sick of getting excited over 33 year old FAs
May 17th, 2016 at 12:42 pm
Jinx me a beer LakeLand
May 17th, 2016 at 12:51 pm
wish we still had kalin clay…we gave up on him too soon….GO BUCS!!!
May 17th, 2016 at 12:52 pm
I’d take him. No questions asked
May 17th, 2016 at 12:52 pm
@lakeland
But most everyone will say that they want 34 year old ( turns 35 during the season) Old Man Roddy White!!!!!
May 17th, 2016 at 12:53 pm
No thanks. You don’t give up a pick for a 32 year old RB in today’s NFL. Bad business
May 17th, 2016 at 12:57 pm
Joe would be a terrible GM lol.. Puts a 4th round price on a young QB who could be a starter for some teams and then a 5th round grade on a 32 year old RB who is just a change of pace back and KR/PR. This dude is not Devin Hester in his prime or anything. Maybe 2-3 years ago he’s worth a 5th.
Basically sell low and buy high. Trade up high in the draft. All bad philosophies
May 17th, 2016 at 12:57 pm
Only if we can get him cheap enough. At 32, he’d probably still be the fastest person on the whole team (unless we re-sign Robert Herron har har har).
May 17th, 2016 at 1:02 pm
Darren Sproel’s still defines – what true utility back is in the NFL
Yards from Scrimmage: Rushing and Receiving Yards 2015
• Rushing – 317 || TD’s 3
• Receiving – 388 || TD’s 1
Special Teams: Punt Returns
• Punt Returns: 38
• Punt Return Yards: 488
• TD’s: *2 ←
Note: Darren Sproels touched the Ball 160+ times last year.
Yet he only fumbled once. Unlike Bobby Rainey – who fumbled 8* times in 2015
May 17th, 2016 at 1:13 pm
It is a bit off subject but not really because many on these threads wanted to take him but Shaq Lawson needs Shoulder surgery. I may be late on this news to some of you.
Glad we dodged that bullet.
May 17th, 2016 at 1:15 pm
Ah, The Great Lumpkin, isn’t that who Charlie Brown waits for every Halloween??
May 17th, 2016 at 1:16 pm
Kregg Lumpkin now thats a blast from the past!! Joe only you could get me to utter that name again. He should have been a Hall of Famer if he had just been used correctly!!!! Just kidding LOL
May 17th, 2016 at 1:25 pm
Do you morons realize he’s a game-changing returner? Too many Bucs fans are clueless.
May 17th, 2016 at 1:27 pm
A 5th? Ha, no. We have all the leverage, why would we gift Philly a 5th for a guy that doesn’t even want to play w them… We will give up Mike James for Sporles, and we will take the salary (now that they’re paying the bank to Bradford).
May 17th, 2016 at 1:28 pm
@ Buc Realist…..Actually right now Dominik doesn’t sound that bad. He picked in the top 10 only twice in five seasons, gutted a roster of old players, drafted three 1st team all pros and had the first HC tell everyone how much he wanted Josh Freeman BEFORE the draft. “Married to him” if I remember right. Let’s compare that to the current situation, Licht has wasted a fortune in free agency, yes let the Lovie haters put all the blame on him. He has now drafted in the top 10 all three years, has no first team all pros drafted and when the had the #1 pick you could have picked either QB and been correct. All the bad moves, are you even watching how much worse it has gotten? 2014 draft class and free agency a bust, 2015 free agency a bust, 2015 draft class looked good in going 6-10 playing bad QB’s. The coach wins and loses games, GM’s bring in talent, even so your boy Licht is what 8-24, heck Dominik was 13-19. Buc Realist please tell me the only GM EVER to trade a 1st round pick for a guy to be a 1st team ALL PRO, 3x Pro Bowler and win a ring, wait two guys have done that in the last 30 years Ron Wolf and Mark Dominik…let that burn a little….quit hating on a guy I got to know and someone you probably never met
May 17th, 2016 at 1:39 pm
The Joes gloss over the fact that their rockstar was the GM…
They are just proving more n more how bad Dom was
May 17th, 2016 at 2:02 pm
There’s a reason why Mark Dominick didn’t get offered employment with another team. What a Baphoon!
May 17th, 2016 at 2:02 pm
@I know why
You need to review Dominik 2009!!! it was horrible!!!! You say more money was wasted!!!!
Angelo Corwell, Luke McCown, Nuggent, Leftwich, Ward, Clayton, Dirk Johnson (punter), ILB Niko Koutouvides,
traded a second and 5th for TE winslow that could not practice with a rookie QB and limped off the field short of 2 years, while making him the highest paid TE at the time
The salary cap was a lot smaller then, but the wasted precentage of dollars the Popstar wins!!!!
Oh yea, the 2009 draft STUNK!!!!!!!!
May 17th, 2016 at 2:03 pm
We need to scoop Andre Roberts. He can do KR and PR and he is pretty decent slot.
May 17th, 2016 at 2:03 pm
No way I’d give up a draft pick for him……how about trading Glennon & a ham sandwich?
May 17th, 2016 at 2:12 pm
2014 draft a bust lol? Wtf. Ok guy
May 17th, 2016 at 2:16 pm
Didn’t know Mark Dominik’s wife posted on here. Interesting.
May 17th, 2016 at 2:26 pm
@I know why
Rich McKay gave 1st rounders for Keyshawn Johnson, who made the pro-bowl 3x, made an all-pro team and a superbowl!!!! That is the only one of the top of my head, If I did research there should be others!!!
May 17th, 2016 at 2:27 pm
What a great time of year….we go from getting more touches for Sims in the morning to yearning for Sproles to be added in the afternoon.
I hope the punt returner position becomes one of greater importance for us…..that would mean our defense would make more stops…..
May 17th, 2016 at 2:33 pm
Lumpkin huh, I’d like to lay a lump on some of my kin.
May 17th, 2016 at 2:38 pm
Luv,
Check out RB Russell Hansbrough. Maybe we already got a guy with Darren Sproles play making ability. Too early to tell, but looks good on tape! Has the moves to get to the secondary and once there has the speed to not be caught from behind – that would be a change for a Buc RB! lol.
May 17th, 2016 at 2:41 pm
Joe- why are you trying induce sudden cardiac trauma dropping names like Kregg Lumpkin around?
As far as Sproles, I would be in full support of adding a productive pro like that to this roster. Can only give you more options on offense and special teams. Do it Licht!
May 17th, 2016 at 2:44 pm
I would do it too.
May 17th, 2016 at 2:52 pm
Nope, the only senior citizen I could handle getting as a FA is Roddy White.
May 17th, 2016 at 3:19 pm
@macabee: I like what a see on tape from Hansbrough as well. Think he would be a great 3rd back.
May 17th, 2016 at 3:19 pm
@I know why….good facts…but 2014 draft was pretty good…my only issue with dom is that he would sell the farm for a big name player…it is what it is tho….GO BUCS!!!
May 17th, 2016 at 3:35 pm
Darren Sproles 2015-2016 Highlights || HD
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VlEb6A0y1hw
Note: Darren Sproles has made the Pro Bowl – over the past two seasons
• 2014 Special Teams
• 2015 Special Teams
Player of the Week
• 2015 – Week 3 NFC Special Teams
• 2014 – Week 10 NFC Special Teams
• 2014 – Week 4 NFC Special Teams
• 2014 – Week 2 NFC Offensive
Punt Return Yds
2015 NFL 446 (Rank #1)
2015 NFL 11.7 (Rank #3)
Ole’ Man Still got it
May 17th, 2016 at 3:43 pm
macabre
LUV the kid – But I wonder if his production – is based off the play of the interior offensive line. Considered as one of the best in the nation-over the past couple of seasons.
May 17th, 2016 at 3:56 pm
How about a 2fer1 trade. Major Wright and Garret Gilkey straight up for Sproles
May 17th, 2016 at 4:15 pm
We’ve got the money and he’s got relatively low mileage for a 32 year old. We would have the undisputed best backfield in football. Three guys with unique skill sets that will keep tacklers thinking throughout the game. We’d FINALLY have a return specialist. This move would be great IMO.
May 17th, 2016 at 4:16 pm
Always like Sproles, fun to watch when he wasn’t playing against us. But i agree with Mac, we may already have a returner in Hanbrough on the roster and he would be a hell of a lot cheaper than Darren.
May 17th, 2016 at 4:19 pm
Sproles and Sims onot the field at the same time? Crazy!
May 17th, 2016 at 4:21 pm
No Thanks.. Just because we have players who haven’t done it, doesn’t mean they can’t. Tired of the “Hey sign a vet” and waste a pick or $$. All teams have “inexperience” at the bottom of the roster. Its the Cap era. C’mon..
May 17th, 2016 at 4:53 pm
Sproles at 3 mil..at his age? Nahhh. He was a game changer once upon a time. But I doubt if he is now. If the Saints cut him, I’d pick him up though. Not at 3 mil a year.
May 17th, 2016 at 5:03 pm
I bet Vitale doesn’t fumble punts. jus sayin
May 17th, 2016 at 5:26 pm
Sproles or not, return game needs to be addressed. Maybe it already has I don’t know. In any case if our returner is going to continually muff kicks I expect Koetter to relieve him……not have him in there on the last week to ruin another opportunity. That was unforgivable.
May 17th, 2016 at 5:45 pm
Hell yes Joe….100 % agree. I would LOVE Sproles for a 5th round pick. We need a proven return man if we want to have a winning season THIS YEAR. Yes he’s old and toward the end of the career, but anyone who watched him in Philly can see the guy is still a beast. If he plays for just two seasons its more than worth it until we find someone to fill the shoes.
Unless there is someone we KNOW can handle breaking gains on returns and helping get wins…I would like to see him come here. That would make us the most feared backfield in the league on offense for sure.
May 17th, 2016 at 5:48 pm
Sims and sproles could be dangerous matchup for any team out of the split back formation
May 17th, 2016 at 6:09 pm
I like sproles, i think he is a great piece for any team. Awesome on offense and on STs. Can’t ask for a mote versatile player… But we need to find/draft the next Sproles. i have no lroblem signing sproles to a contract, but trading away picks… Idk if i like that idea. Maybe for a 7th.
For this bucs roster we have a good rb duo, getting sproles involved would complicate things. Charles sims is a heck of third down back. No need to cut back on his work load. He wouldn’t provide much of veteran leadership that isnt already filled by Doug Martin in the Rb room. As a returner he is electric. And that would be he only reason we would get him. But at 33 and the direction of this team, we need to find the next sproles who can be our returnman for the next decade, not the next year or 2. Even with how optimistic i am for this season, we arent contenders, no need to add a 33 yr old returnmen and take away a shot at developing one of our own.
May 17th, 2016 at 7:17 pm
If we are going to throw out a fifth round pick I would offer it to the Dixie Chicks for Devon Hester. He is 33 but can still play. Maybe Peyton Barber can return punts. I would rather see Sproles returning punts than Humphries.
May 17th, 2016 at 7:19 pm
@@@@BUC REALIST. Keyshawn Johnson went to one pro bowl after the trade. Never after the trade was he 1st team all pro and Buc realist those name you posted in 2009 for the Dom where mostly simple one year deals. What I ask you Buc realist are you a licht fan, do you fully support Winston and how do you feel about trading up and taking a kicker in the 2nd round. Go on the record for once instead of just hating on everything after the fact. Just answer the questions.
May 17th, 2016 at 7:25 pm
@buc realist again just do a little work before you bash. Seriously dirk Johnson punter? Niko played here a couple seasons and kept playing afterwards. Winslow didn’t play only two years, seriously the reason I think you are a fraud and whimp is that you tear everyone down and never make your own stand. I hope licht and company pull it around. You sir live for the kill that someone else does and tell everyone how tough you are and that you did it.
May 17th, 2016 at 7:32 pm
bucfann22 they did, his name is Russell Hansbrough. Looks like the second coming of Darren Sproles.
May 17th, 2016 at 7:41 pm
@I don’t know why
Just because NFL GM Licht drafted a kicker high, does not make the popstar any less of a buffon!!! If he had only sealed the deal on Haynesworth the first time around like he wanted, he would have been the undisputed worst GM in NFL history!!!!!
May 17th, 2016 at 8:03 pm
Whats up Nole my brother!
May 17th, 2016 at 8:40 pm
@I don’t know why-Dominick did hit on some draft picks but it never amounted to anything. What was his plan here? Seemed to me like he tryed to get good players and wins would just come but that didn’t work.
Despite the bad moves Licht has made I believe he has a better plan. I could be wrong but I think you can actually see his plan in motion. I don’t think merely drafting all-pro players is what wins in this league.
With Licht it feels like this team has a direction which I never saw with Dominick. Of course Licht has failed to produce a winner just like Dominick. Big difference s that the book is still being written for the Licht era while Dominicks book is finished.
May 17th, 2016 at 8:53 pm
I’m against trading for him. If he hits the FA market…maybe. I still believe Kenny Bell is the solution until he proves me wrong. Adding another RB means cutting one.
May 17th, 2016 at 9:04 pm
4yrs at Mizzou – UDFA RB – Russell Hansbrough only had one kickoff return.
Kick & Punt Returns
2012 – 1 || 56 || 56.0
2013 – /
2014 – /
2015 – /
Not sure if he’s the next Brad Smith. But for one kickoff return not a bad average
May 17th, 2016 at 9:13 pm
The Bucs signed a big NT in AJ Frances 330 Lbs 6′ 6″ for those 3-4 chance is coming conspiracest.
May 17th, 2016 at 9:55 pm
“I know why Says:
May 17th, 2016 at 7:19 pm
do you fully support Winston ”
Are you implying that he has been anything but supportable since he was taken first overall?
May 17th, 2016 at 10:38 pm
I agree with Joe.
May 18th, 2016 at 8:30 am
Sproles! Oh My!
Yeah, I bashed Licht for the potential Roddy White signing, pining for 10$ tickets an 3$ beers like the big sombrero days, BUT….
Sproles is one of those eternal youth guys like Grimes.
Dude still got game.Sure we could get him on the cheap
May 18th, 2016 at 9:34 am
Sproles is a name, so it doesn’t surprise me that there are some people who want him. Whenever a “name” player is mentioned as available, fans always seem to want him…whether it is a right thing or a wrong thing.
In this case, in a trade, it is a wrong thing.
We all know Jason Licht is plugging holes with free agents until he can fully rebuild through the draft. Getting Sproles in a trade doesn’t fit the mold, unless maybe an even trade player for Sproles.
Some might say Sproles would only be a 1-2 year investment. He would be more than that. He would cost us 1-2 draft picks, and even late round picks have value. That means 1-2 fewer young guys brought in through the draft, which is Licht’s strength.
Thankfully, I don’t believe Licht will make that mistake.
May 18th, 2016 at 1:17 pm
Explain why we didn’t sign Travis Benjamin !!!!! KR and WR who would open the field with world class speed and hands to go with it. Could have taken care of 2 needs with one guy
May 18th, 2016 at 8:09 pm
JOE says —— Legions of Bucs fans soiled themselves when the rival Saints signed stud running back/returner Darren Sproles in 2011.
Leonard says —– Probably the only ones who soiled themselves was (were???!!!???) JOE. [remainder of comment deleted for silly Joe bashing.–Joe]