Drew Brees was the main reason Darren Sproles joined the New Orleans Saints. The quarterback recruited him during the lockout after playing with the running back in San Diego. The result was four years of Sproles being a go-to guy for Brees in both running and passing plays. Sproles exceled with the Saints and after the running back was recently traded for salary cap space, Brees is not too thrilled.
The running back group for the Saints is now a two-man job as Mark Ingram and Pierre Thomas take over the ground game. The reality is that New Orleans traded away one of their most versatile players in Sproles and Brees is not happy over the move.
"I think a Darren Sproles only comes around once in your lifetime, in my career and in everybody's career," Brees said, via FOX Sports. "There may be another one 15, 20 years from now. But there's not many guys like Darren Sproles. He's a special player, he's a special person, he's a special teammate. I'm lucky to have had the chance to play with him on two teams -- '05 in San Diego when we drafted him in the (fourth) round and three years in New Orleans. That was one of the tougher ones for me. I feel like that was my guy, that was my pick and I wanted that to last forever. But unfortunately, it didn't last forever."
Brees recognizes that this season will be very different for him. Long-time Saints players that helped the team win a Super Bowl just a few short years ago is no longer in place and a youth movement is taking place. The marquee move New Orleans did make was placing the franchise tag on tight end Jimmy Graham. The move guarantees Brees one more season with his top playmaker. Contract negotiations have not gone well between the two parties, but the quarterback remains hopeful that Graham remains a Saint for a long time.
"Since I've been through it just two short years ago, you just know it's part of the process. You can't take any of that personal," said Brees. "Listen, I know Jimmy will be ready to play, whether that means he's coming in tomorrow, April 21 or Aug. 21, I know Jimmy Graham will be ready to play and he'll be a big part of our offense and a big part of our team for a long time. I'm very confident that will work out."
Brees might not have Sproles back, but Graham will still be his safety blanket in 2014. Brees expects the tight end to sit out part of training camp, but is confident he steps on the field Week 1.