Sproles Gets the Tag

The San Diego Chargers have used their non-exclusive franchise tag on RB Darren Sproles.

Sproles had been scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent. The Chargers tendered him a one-year contract offer of approximately $6.6 million, the average of the top five salaried running backs from 2008. If Sproles signs the tender he will earn 6 times what he earned in base salary in 2008.

Sproles said toward the end of last season that he'd like to remain in San Diego but that he'd also like to explore the market. GM A.J. Smith said that forced the Chargers to make a decision, since Thursday is the deadline for designating franchise and transition players.

"We met and discussed the possibilities, which were many," Smith said. "We'd like for him to be here long term. The deadline has come, and we either let him go to the market or we franchise him. We felt a little uncomfortable with, 'Let's just be one of 32 and submit years and money and hope for the best,' or we franchise him, and he'll be here, and he'll be here at a set price."

The tagging of Sproles will only fuel the speculation that the end of LaDainian Tomlinson tenure in San Diego, an issue that Smith also addressed.

"This has nothing to do with L.T.," Smith said. "Our intention is to pursue L.T. We assume that at the combine it will pick up speed and there will be some substance to it when we return."