Sproles confident he still has 'tread on the tires'

TODD DURKIN, Darren Sproles' longtime trainer out in San Diego, called it earlier this month.

"He believes he's got another two years in him, if he wants to keep going. He has not lost a step, and I've seen guys lose steps," Durkin said after hosting Eagles quarterbacks and receivers at his facility.

"He does what no one else does," Durkin said of Sproles, who came to Durkin through then-Chargers star LaDainian Tomlinson, a two-time NFL rushing leader. "He does all the little things extremely well, he doesn't take days off. He takes really, really good care of his body. His nutrition is impeccable, his mindset is strong."

On Friday, Eagles management agreed with this assessment by extending Sproles' contract through 2017. Details weren't released, but the NFL Network said the extension is worth $4.5 million, some of it tacked onto the $3.6 million Sproles was due to make this season. He would have been a free agent in 2017.

"I'm 33 years old. For them to give me an extra year, it actually says a lot," said Sproles, who vowed that "when I'm done playing, I'm going to be an Eagle," though he spent six seasons in San Diego and three in New Orleans.

Sproles, a running back and returner whose 16,207 all-purpose yards since 2007 lead the NFL since 2007, is the Eagles' most proven weapon. Ryan Mathews is slated to be the lead back when he's healthy, but Mathews has played all 16 games only once in his six-year career, and he is starting training camp on the non-football-related injury list after suffering an ankle sprain last week preparing for camp.

The Eagles want to keep Sproles happy; he is an example to younger players, on and off the field. And making sure such leaders feel valued is a core value tenet of the Howie Roseman regime — evident in 2011 and 2012, interrupted by the Chip Kelly era and now back in full swing, with vets such as Sproles, Malcolm Jenkins, Brent Celek and Vinny Curry signing lucrative extensions this offseason, in addition, of course, to the landmark Fletcher Cox deal, which Spotrac.com currently values at $102.6 million over six years.

"I think it's the message that you're sending to the team and the players," Roseman said, when asked why this was the time to add a year to Sproles' deal. "You do the right thing here, and you're productive, you've got a chance to stay here. We want people to feel that way. We're trying to build that culture."

Roseman said it was "a great relief" to get the deal done."When you talk about leadership, work ethic, character and then production — he's made the last two Pro Bowls — he exemplifies everything that we want to be. He's so important to this team, on and off the field, it was a no-brainer from our perspective. You ask any of our players, they know when they go to Darren, what he signifies."

Spotrac ranks Sproles' projected $4.6 million salary this season 12th-highest among running backs. The 11 guys in front of him are all younger. The only back older than Sproles in remotely the same range is the Colts' Frank Gore, 37 days Sproles' senior, and almost his Eagles teammate, back in 2015 free agency. Gore is scheduled to make $4 million this season.

"I got some tread on the tires," Sproles said when asked what the deal says to him about how he is viewed.

At 5-6 and a tightly muscled 190, Sproles is an NFL anomaly in more than just the length of his tenure. He won his first conference special-teams player of the week award in 2007 with the Chargers, and his fourth eight years later, last season with the Eagles. He is the only player in NFL history with at least 20 receiving touchdowns (28), at least 20 rushing touchdowns (20) and five or more punt return touchdowns (7).

"It's crazy," said wide receiver Jordan Matthews (6-3, 212). "We look up to a guy that comes up to our knees."

"Darren Sproles is a pro's pro," Eagles coach Doug Pederson said. "He knows how to take care of his body in the offseason. He's a very intelligent running back. He's been around this game a long time. It's guys like that that you don't worry about. He does everything right. He does what you coach him to do. The way he prepares and the way he attacks every day gives you the confidence that he's going to be around a few more years."

Pederson was asked about running back depth, which seems destined to be a recurring topic, given Sproles' age and Mathews' extensive injury history.

"We've got a lot of talent right there. We've got some young talent. Kenjon Barner is a kid that has shown some good strides this offseason in picking up the offense," Pederson said. "You get Ryan out there. You got Darren. And then you've got the young kids — Wendell (Smallwood, drafted in the fifth round), who we picked up, Byron Marshall, Cedric O'Neal (both undrafted free agents) — we've got some guys who have some talent. I love playing with two tight ends, I love playing with a couple of halfbacks in the game. I think it's a chance to get all these guys some reps now (with Mathews out)."