Darren Sproles Comes Up Big In Pro Bowl Debut
By Ray Boyd
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- It was about time. It took ten NFL seasons for Darren Sproles to find his way into the Pro Bowl, but he finally made it and he made sure his impact was felt.
Sproles, 31, was far from the youngest player on the field, but you couldn't tell from his production on Sunday for Team Irvin.
Despite making the team as a kick returner, not as a running back, Sproles was used on offensive downs a number of times. Sproles' coach for the game was Cowboys' head coach Jason Garrett.
Perhaps all the game planning that Garrett did against Sproles this past season made him very confident in deploying him throughout the game.
Sproles rushed the ball three times for 42 yards, leading his team in yards per carry with 14. He also caught the ball six times which was tied for the highest total for the game. He finished the night with 79 receiving yards, good for third on Team Irvin behind Golden Tate and Odell Beckham Jr.
The Eagles running back led the game in all-purpose yards with 129.
He also busted a 30 yard run on the team's game winning drive that helped to setup the game clinching touchdown pass.
Sproles certainly proved among the NFL's best that age is nothing but a number. He also showed the same can be said for height and weight.