Game Ball of the Week: Darren Sproles

by Dave Cariello on Oct 5, 2011 9:01 AM CDT

Another week and another game is officially in the books for the 2011 Saints season, which means I'm obligated to give out another game ball.

For his effort in the Saints 23-10 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars this past Sunday, I'm giving this weeks game ball to the littlest of big men, Mr. Darren Sproles. Check out the sweet numbers he put up against the Jags:

vs JAC / 10.2.11	Rushing				Receiving
	Rush	Yards	Avg	TD	Rec	Yards	Avg	TD
Darren Sproles	7	75	10.7	0	5	56	11.2	0

But it's his overall performance through the first four games of this season that have me much more impressed, more specifically his league-leading 716 total combined yards.

That's right people, Sproles leads the entire NFL in straight up ball movin'. And it's more than 80 yards better than the two players nearest him, Wes Welker and Matt Forte. Peep the leaderboard:

Rank	Player	Rush Yds	Recv Yds	KO Rt Yds	Punt Rt Yds	Combined Yds
1.	Sproles, Darren	134	224	251	107	716
2.	Welker, Wes	19	616	0	0	635
3.	Forte, Matt	324	310	0	0	634

Want me to drop some more knowledge on your cranium? The Saints have accumulated a total of 2,181 combined yards through the first quarter of this season, meaning Sproles' output has made up 33% of the Saints total production. He may just be one small man but he is a very huge part of this team.

If you're into the financial aspect, here's more info to think about. The Saints signed Sproles to a 4-year $14 million contract but let's just average that out to $3.5 million a year. Sproles is currently on pace to finish the regular season with 2,864 total combined yards, which would mean the Saints would be paying Sproles $1,222 a yard.

I know what you're thinking: is that number a lot or a little? Let's compare Sproles to another random running back. Somebody like, oh, I don't know...ah, what the hell I'll just throw a name out there...Reggie Bush? Well last year, Reggie combined for a total of 482 yards and had a salary of $8 million, giving him a per-yard average cost of $16,597. In case you're not doing the math at home, that means Sproles could cost the Saints $15,375 less per yard than Reggie did last year.

Just a little something to chew on this fine Wednesday.

Tweet Comment 30 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

First I would like to know

What happens if you don’t give out a game ball?

This comment was written by a reader and member of Canal Street Chronicles. It does not necessarily reflect the views of CSC and its staff or editors.

by cscmember on Oct 5, 2011 9:15 AM CDT reply actions

I'm forced to ban the member with the most generic screen name.

Wanna say something? Sign up! It's free!

by Dave Cariello on Oct 5, 2011 9:58 AM CDT up reply actions

RIP Dan Kelly.

You can toga party, but you can't toga fish.

by coldpizza on Oct 5, 2011 10:01 AM CDT up reply actions

HA!

This comment was written by a reader and member of Canal Street Chronicles. It does not necessarily reflect the views of CSC and its staff or editors.

by cscmember on Oct 5, 2011 10:17 AM CDT up reply actions

I was just catching cc58's slack.

This comment was written by a reader and member of Canal Street Chronicles. It does not necessarily reflect the views of CSC and its staff or editors.

by cscmember on Oct 5, 2011 10:17 AM CDT up reply actions

The only thing slack about me is...

My paycheck.

And I threw this in just because…you know

INGRAMANIA equals LOMBARDI 2012

by cajuncommando58 on Oct 5, 2011 10:35 AM CDT up reply actions

I know

Thanks, buddy.

This comment was written by a reader and member of Canal Street Chronicles. It does not necessarily reflect the views of CSC and its staff or editors.

by cscmember on Oct 5, 2011 10:37 AM CDT up reply actions

The guy is a beast!

Most importantly, he’s consistent and shows up every game. And a North/South runner.

I’ll say it again….Reggie who?

That's interesting. You know what makes me sad? YOU DO!!! Maybe we should chug on over to mambypandyland...or maybe we can find some self confidence for you YA JACKWAGON!!!!!!

(tears) Tissue?.....Crybaby.

by Jricky70 on Oct 5, 2011 9:15 AM CDT reply actions

put him on defense.. see if he can get any int return yards..

what we got on that..? 3 yards..?

by the 9th plague on Oct 5, 2011 9:52 AM CDT reply actions

GREAT IDEA!!!

Or we could use him on defesne to do a corner blitz (like the Jets did to the Ravens on MNF). He may not bring the QB down, but he’ll definitely interfere with the play and beat any O-lineman trying to block him. DARREN FOR DEFENSE! lol.

Our fat punk kicker, Garrett Hartley, missed a game-winner and we lost for the second week in a row - Scott Fujita in 2009

by Ragin Who Dat on Oct 5, 2011 10:04 AM CDT up reply actions

Sprollin' Sprollin' Sprollin'

Keep that offense rollin’!
Ram it up their colon!
DARREN!

by Valmo on Oct 5, 2011 9:52 AM CDT reply actions 2 recs

Is colon acceptable lingo here at CSC? *checks registered user handbook

You can toga party, but you can't toga fish.

by coldpizza on Oct 5, 2011 10:03 AM CDT up reply actions

I think colon is acceptable….it’s the “Ram it up” part I’m not so sure about.

~Now I'm confused. So it's San Antonio then?~

by BewareofDog on Oct 5, 2011 10:35 AM CDT up reply actions

I assumed he was referencing the NFL team in St. Louis.

You can toga party, but you can't toga fish.

by coldpizza on Oct 5, 2011 11:31 AM CDT up reply actions

i thought colon was a yankees pitcher

by roh on Oct 5, 2011 2:21 PM CDT up reply actions

Nope. He's a semi-colon.

Alimony is like buying hay for a dead horse.

by Just 'Nother Day on Oct 5, 2011 3:48 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs

Have you seen that guy?

He’s not a semi-anything, unless you’re talking trucks.

by Ship on Oct 5, 2011 6:20 PM CDT up reply actions

I dunno

A lot of people have called me an a$$hole, but nobody’s ever called me a colon, so I think they’re two different things.

by Ship on Oct 5, 2011 1:04 PM CDT up reply actions

Good one

Our fat punk kicker, Garrett Hartley, missed a game-winner and we lost for the second week in a row - Scott Fujita in 2009

by Ragin Who Dat on Oct 5, 2011 10:04 AM CDT up reply actions

It gets a “rec” from me! I’m gonna be singing that all day.

"It's better to burn out than fade away."

by SaintsFan-KS on Oct 5, 2011 2:34 PM CDT up reply actions

Sproles reminds me of Danny Woodhead

tiny and fast…only better!
(mental note: buy Sproles jersey)

by snowboard_kat on Oct 5, 2011 2:03 PM CDT reply actions

You’re lucky. Ladies can buy any jersey they like. If I were to buy a Sproles jersey…they would ask why I ate Darren Sproles. I’m stuck with D/O Linemen.

-Neon lights, a Nobel prize
-Than the mirror speaks, the reflection lies

by jeff.l.b on Oct 5, 2011 2:10 PM CDT up reply actions

Hey, he's not a Chihuahua humping someone's leg

He’s the second-best farm-hand we have.

by Ship on Oct 5, 2011 6:23 PM CDT up reply actions

Great…thanks…that’s a wonderful image for every time I see him get tackled in a big pile on the football field.

-Neon lights, a Nobel prize
-Than the mirror speaks, the reflection lies

by jeff.l.b on Oct 5, 2011 9:13 PM CDT up reply actions

stats for sproles vs. bush

i’m sure your dollars per yard calculations are meaningful… however, money aside, darren sproles seems to be a ‘more accomplished’ and infinitely more durable reggie bush. it seemed every time bush took the field he got nicked or indeed injured. it got to the point where i expected him to limp off after each touch. with that in mind, i kinda shudder each time sproles gets a touch hoping he doesn’t get injured. the man is super valuable. the way coach payton is distributing the workload among 3, soon to be 4, rb’s may be the key to not having a disastrous injury count on the rushers such as we experienced last year. darren sproles deserves a dozen game balls as far as i am concerned. now if we can figure some way to reinforce our offensive line. wonder when the center will return? in my humble opinion, a mistake was made when stinchcomb was released. that man played all season hurt last year..

by roh on Oct 5, 2011 2:10 PM CDT reply actions

He was pretty durable for the Dolts ..... er, our farm team.

by Ship on Oct 5, 2011 6:25 PM CDT up reply actions

Stinch

He also retired instead of making any real attempt to catch on with another team. It’s entirely possible his body was just done in.

by Jimbo03 on Oct 6, 2011 7:02 AM CDT up reply actions

Tis a shame

He isn’t that old, is he? To be washed up already? I guess so, because as you said he doesn’t seem to be looking. Once your knees get shot, it’s pretty much a done deal.

by Valmo on Oct 6, 2011 7:15 AM CDT up reply actions

My hubby keeps reminding me that I used to say “I wish we could get Sproles somehow.” Only in my wildest dreams did I really believe it would happen. When they signed him, I was thrilled! And he has exceeded my expectations. He was a huge addition to this team. I love watching what he does on that field.

"It's better to burn out than fade away."

by SaintsFan-KS on Oct 5, 2011 2:42 PM CDT reply actions