Nine years after taking LaDainian Tomlinson(notes) with the fifth pick overall in the NFL draft, the San Diego Chargers are once again in the market for a marquee running back. Tomlinson was released on Feb. 22 after nine mostly brilliant seasons in which he became one of the best running backs in NFL history and third-stringer Michael Bennett was released a few weeks later. For a time, it seemed like Darren Sproles, the speedy little running back-returner, was going to hit the free agent market, but the Chargers placed the maximum first- and third-round tender on Sproles, who signed the one-year deal for more than $7 million. "I would say it's absolutely a key need, no question," said general manager A.J. Smith, who prefers to build through the draft but didn't rule out the possibility of trading for a running back. "We don't have a one, we don't have a third back, and we have a one-year tender with Sproles, it's screaming at us, absolutely," Smith said.
Source: AP
Source: AP
Original Story:
