Darren Sproles grateful for new start with Saints

When the New Orleans Saints' defense stayed on top of Darren Sproles a bit too long during a practice drill on Thursday, most of the offense jumped in to rescue the new running back, setting off a brief scuffle on an otherwise peaceful California day. The Saints are counting on their undersized speedster to carry them past the departure of Reggie Bush and on to bigger achievements. Sproles doesn't sound terribly sad about leaving San Diego, where he spent the past six seasons with the Chargers before leaving for a four-year free-agent deal in New Orleans. Sproles says the only thing he misses about Southern California is the weather. He also says the Saints ''work a little bit harder'' than he remembers in San Diego.