Second Thoughts
Posted June 6th, 2017 | 62 Comments »
This will be Darren Sproles final season in the NFL. Unless it won’t.
#Eagles Darren Sproles on possibly retiring at end of season: "We'll see. After we make the playoffs, come back and ask me again."
— Ed Kracz (@kracze) June 5, 2017
You can understand where Sproles might have an open mind at this point. It is spring time. His body is healthy and feels good. There is optimism about the upcoming season. He’s got some talented players around him.
The NFL season is a marathon. It is a war of attrition. Players wear down, mentally, physically and emotionally. It doesn’t matter if you are 23 or 33. The NFL is tough. Players are, as the great Lili Von Shtupp would say, “tired”.
Sproles may feel completely different when December and January roll around. He might be ready to head off to the sunset. For now, he’s smart to keep an open mind. See how the season goes. See how he feels. Play football if it is fun, but walk away if the grind is just too much.
I guess there is also the question of how Sproles would fit in next season. We’ll have to wait and see how Wendell Smallwood and Donnel Pumphrey pan out. If they play as the Eagles hope, Sproles would be a luxury. If those young guys struggle, the Eagles may be begging Sproles to stick around for one more season.
Stay tuned.
*****
I didn’t get a chance to touch on this yet.
Roster Move: #Eagles have signed DT Gabe Wright to a one-year contract.
— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) June 5, 2017
Wright replaces LB Steven Daniels, who was cut last week. I hated to see Daniels go, but the first rule of the NFL is you must be healthy enough to play.
The Eagles needed help at DT with Beau Allen injured. And then Tim Jernigan got hurt on Monday. It turned out to be good that the team added Wright to help eat up some practice reps. From PE.com.
A fourth-round pick of the Detroit Lions out of Auburn in 2015, the 6-2, 284-pound Wright has played in 12 games over the past two seasons with the Lions and the Cleveland Browns. He played in seven games as a rookie, but landed with the Browns in 2016 and suited up for five contests while bouncing back and forth between the active roster and practice squad.
At Auburn, Wright played in all 52 games during his four-year career. His best season as a Tiger was in 2013 when he had 8.5 tackles for loss and three sacks.
Wright does fit the scheme. He is a 1-gap DT. To be anything more than a camp body Wright will have to play his butt off and impress the heck out of the coaches.
*****
Practice leftovers
- Dorial Green-Beckham had his best day on Monday. He’s had a tough spring and might be feeling the pressure of a now crowded WR spot. DGB has a rare combination of size, skill and athleticism. He has big potential. The problem is that potential only gets you into the league. It won’t keep you around forever. DGB has to step his game up and force the coaches to want to keep him. If he can’t handle the pressure of a battle for a roster spot, then you sure as heck don’t want him playing for you in a big game. A lot of people have already written him off. That’s understandable. There is enough time left for him to do something about that, but he’s got to build off what he did Monday and continue to get better. Anything less and he’ll unemployed by Labor Day.
- The Eagles played Brandon Graham at RDE and Vinny Curry at LDE on Monday. This isn’t a huge deal, but it is interesting that they are moving the DEs around to find the best combination of players and spots. I think Graham and Curry are both natural LDEs. Derek Barnett was predominantly a RDE in college. It would be great if he could step up and either win that job or play well enough to earn a lot of snaps there.
- Brandon Lee Gowton noted that Steven Means was a DT for a rep and made a play that impressed the coaches. Means is a fringe guy, but he is doing exactly what you want. He lines up wherever the coaches tell him and plays 100 mph on every snap. Too many young/fringe players don’t get this. You have to find any and every way to impress the coaches. Even if they have to cut you, make them not want to.
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Kudos for the Blazing Saddles reference.
A classic movie. “Ah no. Mongo straight. ” Mel Brooks a genius.
I just watched that film again on Netflix last week. The movie has really aged well.
Shit, I’ve seen it, like 15 times over the years. It’s never as fall on the floor funny as the first time, but yes, it holds up quite well…as does Young Frankenstein.
Young Frankenstein is one of the all-time great comedies. Peter Boyle performing Puttin on the Ritz is one of the funniest things that ever happened.
I loved the scene with Gene Hackman and Boyle. Another of the all too few comedies where I, literally, fell on the floor.
I watched it with my 8-year old a month or two ago. She loved it! Her favorite part was when the fake horses were flying into the air. There’s just something so funny about obvious dummies being destroyed–Tropic Thunder, Stiller throwing the kid dummy over the bridge; Austin Powers, Austin slamming the mini-mi dummy on the floor..
Simple Jack all time.
Robert Downing was genius in that movie!
Yes indeed. .. the very moment the credits started i said aloud in the theater, “Robt Downey Jr shud be nominated for an Acadrmy Award for that”
Saw it in the avalon movie theater circa 1975ish
If I am Sproles and I know I am retiring, my season switch has already turned and I’m not admitting it now either. Just me. Don’t make this weird.
My girl has been asking me for a Sproles jersey since after his first year in Philly. I talked her out of it since he was going into the last year of his deal and was going to turn 32. Then they extended him and she hasn’t let me live that down yet. Talked her into a Barwin jersey instead who she loved, but now he’s gone. Sproles is still here, but I told her this offseason that it was definitely his last season and that while Sproles would be an awesome jersey maybe shed want to consider a younger player that will be around for awhile. If they extend him again she might murder me. So if I stop posting suddenly you all know why!
on second thought I think I’m gonna just go ahead and buy the jersey, just to be safe, haha
Anyone have a good place to buy jerseys? A female Sproles jersey is nearly impossible to find. Even /NFLshop says they’re sold out
I bought my son a signed Sproles photo last year.
I wonder if your lady would fit into a mens or boys jersey? They should be available.
probably would have to do kids…shes tiny…105 pounds
Hate to admit it, but I did the same thing for my wife- she fits into kids gear, so we found some jerseys at TJ Maxx or Marshalls- don’t remember which it was.
My wife wears kids x-large jerseys. She small too. ~110lbs.
That’s a definite possibility. Thanks for the info.
dude… did you really ask him if she could fit into a mens jersey? Shit, Sproles barely fits into a men’s jersey?
The Eagles equipment guy has some easy calls — he’s not mixing up Sproles’ and Jason Peter’s gear.
haha
“Anyone have a good place to buy jerseys?” Yep – China!
Anyone ever use this site: http://www.footballeaglesfanaticstore.com/
there’s a sports store in center city that carries a lot of Eagles gear. got a jersey there when i visited Philly, but i on’t recall the name. Anybody know?
Mitchell and Ness ill guess .. but they closed. .. its a Starbucks now..thsnk god because they sell $4 coffee snd nonripe bananas for a buck each .. and you huy it all online,thers 80 ppl working there anf it takes f in forever and using the molk and sugar desk is a majir design fail
Sorry you asked yet ?
This says they’re in stock?
http://www.nflshop.com/Darren_Sproles_Philadelphia_Eagles_Women/Womens_Philadelphia_Eagles_Darren_Sproles_NFL_Pro_Line_by_Fanatics_Branded_Midnight_Green_Authentic_Stack_Name_And_Number_V-Neck_T-Shirt
Thanks…she’s already got the Sproles T-shirt, she wants the real sewn on jersey now.
My girl loves Sprolsey too. I just caved and got her a cheap China one because of his age. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/38403074fcd91367331544b57ad5c442cdb35fe6827874c78aaff6ada6d51493.jpg
Where’d you get that one? I tried the cheap china one too and after about 3 weeks they sent me an email saying it was out of stock (in hilariously bad translated English) and refunded my money
I got it two years ago, time to scour the emails. Ill let you know if I can find it.
Thanks, man…really appreciate it! Don’t waste a bunch of time on it though if its difficult to find.
It was Aliexpress.com– Doesn’t look like they sell jerseys anymore though. Shame, because that was 19.99 with free shipping lol.
oh well…I’ll keep looking…thanks for looking into it though!
Sproles 43 will a cool jersey for a long time after he’s gone.
I totally agree. For clarity…I wasn’t against getting a Sproles jersey, just happened to mention that he probably wasn’t going to be on the team for much longer which caused her not to get it. So, I’m sure you’ve been in a relationship before, and realize how this is completely my fault =)
“A lot of people have already written him off.” — Whoever hasn’t written him off…explain how he makes the roster….yes, a lot of time now til Sept so anything can happen(IR/Trade etc.)…but as of today — he’s the odd man out: 2 rookies/2 starting wr’s acquired/and 2 leftovers(JM and Aggie) who aren’t going to be cut…I’d image Eagles have to protect rookies and not put them on practice squad…
Keep the fluff coming out of the NovaCare center, and maybe some desperate team trades us 2 rolls of bubble wrap and some old buttons for him.
Something is better than nothing
Pet peeve: substituting “potential” for “physical attributes.” DBG has incredible physical attributes, but we don’t really know if he has good potential. He may be trying just as hard as he can but not have whatever it is that enables an athlete to perform at the highest levels. On the other hand, a slower and shorter WR may not be as impressive physically, but actually be able, with work and opportunity, to do so. So who actually had the potential?
This argument depends on the variables.
Are we talking Megatron vs Wes Welker? DGB vs Paul Turner? I believe most front offices, fans, and whoever would take the physically impressive guys a lot higher than guys like Welker/Turner without hindsight.
Yes, they do, because they have no ability to actually gauge potential, only physical attributes. As far as I know, very few people (maybe none), actually can reliably evaluate potential. If they did, there wouldn’t be so many busts and outrageous personnel mistakes.
I get where you’re coming from. I think it’s just a matter of how to project potential, given that it’s influenced by directly observable and unobservable factors. Even though the observables (physical attributes) don’t tell the whole story, it’s the information we can feel most sure about. Interviews, etc. get at the unobservables, but there are still critical leaps that one has to make, and the confidence level will never be the same.
That said, a certain degree of athleticism is certainly necessary to succeed in the NFL (though obviously not sufficient as DGB illustrates).
please keep your crapful posting to yourself
Most people assume potential when it comes to his physical attributes- they certainly aren’t referring to his mental makeup and capabilities.
Agreed. Tools give me the potential to complete a job, not the ability to do so. Physical attributes are just tools. He just has to learn to use them, or more likely put in the effort to use them.
Means getting a DT snap? Curry is getting traded!!!!!!
Jokes aside, I believe Schwartz is trying to see if Means could play some of the same roles as Curry if he gets injured.
This is the time to experiment with new positions, skills and group settings. Training camp helps to cement those roles and abilities, and we get to see everything on display during the regular season.
With Marcus DARRRRRLLLLIIINNNNNGGGG being absent, we need a 5th DE with special teams ability. Means has every chance to be that guy.
Ags is a popular highlight topic to the national media. Local guys don’t seem as high. Is this just a case of the national guys being lazy and bad at recognizing talent? Are the local guys (and us) just sour pusses?
He’s been objectively bad for two years.
If he stops being one of the worst WR in the league that would be a great story.
It has been excuses galore with Curry since OTAs. First it was the MCL injury on why he struggled all year.
Now Schwartz is staying that the MCL injury effected Curry’s technique all year and they are working on his flexibility and after his first step.
I’m sure that effected Curry to a degree but if the injury was so severe he either wouldn’t have dressed and/or had surgery this offseason. I’m sure it effected Curry to a degree but all season long?
I think not and that Curry just isn’t even good enough to be a 3-down DE. He is a situational pass rusher who Roseman made a massive and costly mistake on resigning him.
Thats one excuse, not multiple or galore. And yes, it’s possible to have an injury effect a player all year.
I don’t get what you don’t get…
Almost like playing with one knee will change how you have to play. And MCLs heal without surgery. And working on flexibility after the first step is just a natural tweak to his kinesiology to improve his play.
Stop! He’s already dead!
If the MCL was that severe, I figured he would have at least missed a game or two. If not, it would have improved a bit and healed over the course of the season.
The Eagles or Curry refused to disclose when the injury took place too. Ditto Curry never being listed on the injury report with a knee issue.
I am not saying Curry made up this injury or that it didn’t effect his play possibly for a portion of the year. I find it really hard to believe though that it occurred in the preseason or the first week or two which caused his poor play all season long.
Much more likely the Eagles’ front office really screwed up in their talent evaluation of Curry, his fit in this scheme, and his ability to start and play 3 downs.
The premises that you seem to be working off of is:
Injuries and how to handle them in pro sports are cut and dry, simple, black and white subject matter. They’re concrete, cut and dry, and there’s no guess work, estimation, cost benefit analyses, and subjective approaches to.
and
This particular injury has a finite recovery period – which you are very knowledgeable about.
Sorry bro, I’m not buying either premise.
Now, it’s 100% possible that Curry got paid, got complacent, and had a bit of a MCL injury but really was mostly lazy and is making excuses. We don’t know. That is totally probable.
But you seem to have quite a strong opinion here without any strong standing to back up your view…
It’s easier to get angry and point fingers.
Look, if Curry doesn’t work out, fine, that’s a shame. But I do get tired of this constant “assume the worst” attitude from some posters, here and elsewhere. Maybe everything isn’t always terrible, and hasn’t always been terrible. Maybe everything isn’t a conspiracy to hide information or deceive the fans for some undefined ill purpose. Maybe guys do have bad years. Maybe there are actual legitimate “excuses” (reasons) for things that happen.
So, laeagle is a disinformation plant. I always suspected.
I’ve got pee tapes, too.
The major concern is that he had a bad year in a new system. A system he was an afterthought in under Jim Washburn no less. That is my concern. He has no credit in the wide 9. In fact he has shown me nothing in the wide 9. Color me concerned.
off season = honest evaluations and mid season = denial. Injured players, afraid of losing their place lie to themselves and their coaches and coaches want to be lied to and know they are lied to, but keep their fingers crossed and hope the “problem” disappears. Team doctors may get their heads handed to them when they bring up inconvenient truths, and may then bite their tongues if an injury isn’t critical.
I like this. Sproles sees the potential of this team. I think a playoff run would make him want to go for it again next year and maybe be part of something special. If he hangs it up after this year and the Eagles go deep in the playoffs in 2018, I think he’ll really wished he played one more year. His body will let him know, but this shows me he’s still hungry and wants to win.