Darren Sproles reflects on his split with the Saints, being traded to the Eagles

Darren Sproles said he planned to sign with the Falcons after the Saints made plans to cut him, prompting them to trade him to the Eagles instead:

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You’d be hard-pressed to find a free agent signing who excited New Orleans Saints fans as strongly as Darren Sproles, who immediately made an impact on the Saints’ offense and special teams units when they padded him back in 2011. Sproles spoke about his experience in the NFL and New Orleans on the Truss Levelz podcast with Cameron Jordan and Mark Ingram II.

But things fell apart by 2013, as Sproles’ usage on offense became more predictable and opposing defenses began to key in on their intentions. Sproles said he planned to sign with a division rival after the Saints made plans to cut him, prompting them to trade him instead.

“Sean (Payton) called us and was like, ‘We’re going to release you,'” Sproles said, thinking back on the phone call with his agent. He saw an upside in that split because it would allow him to choose his destination, “Cool, go ahead, then I’ll get to pick where I go. Two days later and they still hadn’t released me, my agent’s on the phone with the Falcons, the Saints had found out that I was going to go to the Falcons so they was like, ‘Oh, no, we’re just going to trade (you).'”

Obviously, that’s not what the outcome he hoped for, and Atlanta wasn’t going to cut a deal with New Orleans to get him. So other trade partners emerged — with Sproles vetoing one of them right away.

“So the two teams was Philly, Minnesota, and the Redskins. I told my agent if they traded me to the Redskins, I’m not going. That was going to be a jacked-up trade, I’m not going,” Sproles said, referring to the chronic organizational disruption that has plagued Washington’s team over the years.

Instead, he went to another NFC East team and found more success. Sproles earned All-Pro and Pro Bowl recognition with the Eagles, as well as a Super Bowl ring. He finished, “Everything happened for a reason. I wanted the Saints mad at that trade, you know what I’m saying? And they was. That (expletive) hurt me though.”

Were the Saints feeling some remorse about parting ways with Sproles? Payton has all but said as much, gushing about everything he brought to the Eagles offense ahead of their matchup in the 2018 playoffs, which was a sentiment shared by Drew Brees. In the end, Sproles experienced continued success and found more opportunities in Philadelphia, where he began working in the Eagles personnel department back in 2020. It’s a shame he didn’t finish his playing career in New Orleans, but Sproles certainly left his mark on the Saints.

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Drew Brees kicks off Season 2 of Mark Ingram and Cameron Jordan’s podcast

Truss Levelz: Drew Brees joins Cameron Jordan, Mark Ingram’s podcast

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The second season of Mark Ingram and Cameron Jordan’s “Truss Levelz” podcast from the Players’ Tribune is starting off with a bang, and their biggest guest yet: Drew Brees, their former New Orleans Saints teammate.

Ingram welcomed “Drew Breezy” to their show, which you can listen to here.

“I’ve always wanted to do that,” Brees laughed. “I appreciate it. Finally, I get my chance.”

Last season’s guests included Alvin Kamara, Demario Davis, and opponents like Mike Evans, and that familiarity helps Ingram and Jordan casually guide surprisingly wide-ranging discussions. Brees spoke at length on his background in Texas high school football culture and his experience as a college recruit, and how that differed for him a generation or two removed from Ingram and Jordan’s own paths to the NFL.

Of course they also got some digs in at Brees’ beloved Jimmy John’s sandwiches, and reflected on locker room tournaments of Super Smash Bros. The Saints have enjoyed very tight bonds of friendship in recent years, and it’s because of the relationships Brees was able to cultivate with teammates like Ingram and Jordan.

It’s also easy to see how Brees could find success in broadcasting; his energy and expertise of the game shines in this interview, and it should serve him well calling Notre Dame football games for NBC Sports later this year. If he’s as comfortable in that role as he was chopping it up with Jordan and Ingram, he’ll do well. There’s a chance he could call the next Super Bowl in the Superdome, but that’s years away.

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