New Orleans Saints running back Darren Sproles chops it up with TheSource.com
If you don’t see him on the NFL field it’s because of his speed not his size. Though only standing at 5’6″ current Saints running back Darren Sproles has been giving defensive coordinators fits throughout his career. While destroying your favorite team’s defense he was also setting franchise records for the two teams he has played for; those teams being the San Diego Chargers and New Orleans Saints.
Recently Darren Sproles caught up with TheSource.com to discuss the hit he took from Dashon Goldosn this past Sunday, being a “Darren Sproles” type player, and his youth organization.
*Last weekend you took a pretty nasty hit to the head from Dashon Goldson, he has since been suspended a game. Do you think it was a dirty play or just an unfortunate play?
From the history of him, I feel that it was a dirty hit because he had hit me when I was going down.
Do you think that he should be suspended longer than one game or is that enough in your eyes?
That’s up to the rule board. I ain’t got nothing to do with that.
Last year the Saints had a down year due to the loss of Sean Payton. What does it mean to have him back at the coaching position?
Good, it feels good. We really missed him last year. We really missed his play calling and stuff like that. We really needed him last year but we got him back this year and it has been a big difference.
Over your career you posted all these amazing stats between your time with the Chargers and Saints. How does it feel to look back and see this successful career you have put together?
It really feels good because it’s why I even came in to the league. People were saying that I wouldn’t make it in the league because of my size and stuff like that. For me to put up the numbers like that it feels good. I proved people wrong.
Now you when see kids come out for the draft and head to the NFL you’ll hear someone say, “he’s a Darren Sproles type player” in regards to his size and speed. Do you find that as a positive thing or a negative thing?
(laughs) See, I feel that is a positive thing now. They really aren’t looking at the size anymore. They’re looking at if a player can play or not and I think that’s good.
You and your wife have an organization called the Sproles Empowered Youth, can you tell me a little bit about that and what the organization does?
I have a boys camp it’s a four-day football camp but its not just football. We teach them about credit cards, credit, and how to balance their checkbook. It teaches them about life stuff too.
My wife puts on the girls camp. She gives them a makeover and teaches them about school and how to stay in shape, stuff like that. We really try and go back to the inner city and target that area.
What made you want to put on a camp that covers those things opposed to a run of the mill football camp?
Because there is so many kids that the only thing they think about is football. They’re going to learn how to play football but I want to teach them more, like how to get to college. They got to learn more than just football.
Back to football and the “Darren Sproles” type player. If you could give advice to all the little guys out there what would you say?
My advice would probably be to continue to chase your dreams. Don’t let nobody tell you that you can’t be anything. Just work hard.
On gameday what is Darren Sproles listening to in his headphones?
Before I go on the field it’s probably Lil Wayne and Young Jeezy.
You got a favorite song by Lil Wayne or Young Jeezy?
Nah, because whenever I have it on I have it on random, so whatever comes on its random. I like all of them really.
* Dashon Goldson appealed the suspension and won. He was served an $100,000 fine for the hit on Darren.
– John McAuliffe (@John_Mac310)
