Vikings Free Agent Rumors: More Than 10 Teams Interested In Darren Sproles

Dec 15, 2013; St. Louis, MO, USA; New Orleans Saints running back Darren Sproles (43) carries the ball as St. Louis Rams strong safety Darian Stewart (20) defends during the first half at the Edward Jones Dome. Mandatory Credit: Scott Kane-USA TODAY Sports

The Saints have not even cut Darren Sproles yet (officially), but already a large and vigorous market appears to be materializing for him.

Ian Rapoport reports that more than ten teams are believed to be interested in speaking to the Saints running back/return specialist once New Orleans lets him go.

A third of the league in on Darren Sproles? Now we see the value of playmaking in the NFL. Teams love guys like Sproles who do damage in the open field.

Sproles’ extra value as a return man makes him even more attractive to some teams.

The Vikings have naturally been mentioned as a fit for Sproles, given his history with OC Norv Turner.

Turner himself has expressed the desire to get more production from running backs as receivers. Adrian Peterson may be a dominant back but he’s only mediocre as a receiver. Sproles would help tremendously in that area.

Sproles would not have value to the Vikes as a return man, as they already have Cordarrelle Patterson and Marcus Sherels. That would have to be factored in when negotiating a contract.

It boils down to this: Are the Vikings willing to bid against a pretty significant and possibly free spending market for the services of a player who would have less value to them than the average team?

Or, put it this way: It all boils down to how much Norv Turner loves Sproles and how much Sproles loves playing in a Norv Turner offense.

If I’m Sproles, I’m going to a team that wants to max me out as a back and a return man. And max me out in potential salary.

A team like, you know, the Bears.

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