By Mark Eckel, Player Engagement Insider
Darren Sproles thinks all the way back to 2005, his rookie year, his first NFL game, smiles that million-dollar smile and gets that look in his eye when that thought it a good one.
Sproles has used his actions more than his words throughout what will be his 12th NFL season. The memories of that first year, that first game, shine as bright as his smile does.
“I was nervous that whole week,’’ Sproles said of his 2005 debut with the San Diego Chargers. “Through the preparation (of the game) and all of it, it was exciting, too. But I was nervous. Then, when I got my first real hit, I was fine.’’
The Chargers hosted the Dallas Cowboys opening day, 2005, and Sproles, the rookie fourth-round draft pick out of Kansas State, was a fixture on special teams.
“I knew my role,’’ he said. “I was a rookie. I was the return man. We had our running backs.’’
LaDainian Tomlinson was the Chargers’ featured back and second-year man Michael “The Burner’’ Turner was also a part of the backfield. The rookie Sproles was there to spark the return game. And he did just that in the opener.
His first kickoff return was for just 20 yards to the 32-yard line, and he got that first hit from the Cowboys’ Lousaka Polite. It did lead to a tying touchdown, however. His first punt return was 14 yards at the very end of the half.
Then his game took off.
Sproles returned the second-half kickoff 49 yards and the Chargers scored to take a 21-14 lead.
“I still remember it,’’ Sproles said of the return. “It was exciting. It was my second return; it was right after the half. It was a good return, and now when I think about it, or whenever I think about it, I remember I cut back. If I stayed straight I might have scored.’’
After Dallas came back to tie the game at 21-21, Sproles returned his next kickoff 46 yards into Cowboys territory and set up a Chargers field goal that gave them a 24-21 lead.
“I got those returns and it kind of got my head right, you know what I mean?’’ Sproles said. “Because you never know as a rookie what’s going to happen. I mean anything can happen. You just have to find your niche, something that you’re good at, I started with returns.’’
After Dallas took the lead back, 28-24, on a Drew Bledsoe touchdown pass to Keyshawn Johnson, Sproles had one more return. This one went for 30 yards and the Chargers moved to a 1st-and-goal from the seven-yard line. But they didn’t score.
“We lost that game,’’ Sproles said. “That was the rough part, we lost.’’
Sproles moved on from San Diego to the New Orleans Saints and is now with the Philadelphia Eagles. He’s become both a dangerous running back and return man in all three spots.
This season with the Eagles will be his 12th in the league. That’s something he wasn’t counting on when it all started back in 2005.
“I’ve been blessed,’’ he said “My goal when I came in was to make it to 10 (years). I made it to 10 and now it’s all a bonus. But I’m not finished. I feel good. I don’t feel my age (he turned 33 in June). I keep myself in shape. That’s the main thing for me, keep your body in shape, do the right things.’’
“How much longer?’’ he asks back. “I don’t know. We’ll see.’’