http://www.signonsandiego.com/weblog.../sproles-next/Darren Sproles could well follow LaDainian Tomlinson out the door and will at least be given the chance to do so.
The Chargers remain interested in signing their kick returner and backup running back to a long-term deal, but they won't be retaining his services on a one-year basis as they did in 2009.
As the franchise player last year, Sproles made slightly more than $6.6 million last season. Because he would be entitled to a 10 percent increase in 2010, that means the Chargers will have to pay him almost $7.3 million for one year if they give him a tender as a restricted free agent.
Not gonna happen.
The Chargers and Sproles' agent will talk at the combine, for sure, and that is where a long-term contract will likely first be broached in earnest. But the Chargers will not offer a tender, and that means Sproles will be a free agent.
As such, he can shop himself without restriction. And since the Chargers have made it clear they see him as a kick returner and backup running back, if there is even one other team out there that thinks Sproles can be more of a focal point of their offense and still return kicks and is, thus, willing to offer him significantly more money, who would blame him for taking it?
