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BRIAN ALLEE-WALSH
Special to The Advocate

NEW ORLEANS - New Orleans Saints officials reached an agreement in principle with free agent running back/return specialist Darren Sproles on July 28, but the seed had been planted months earlier by quarterback Drew Brees.

During the 131-day NFL lockout, when teams were prohibited from talking to players and agents, Brees began courting his former Chargers teammate while the two worked out in the San Diego area.

Thanks in part to the Saints’ self-appointed “recruiting coordinator,’’ the seamless transition from Reggie Bush to the diminutive Sproles (5-6, 190) took less than 24 hours.

Sproles, 28, made it official Aug. 4, signing a four-year, $14 million contract that includes $6 million in guarantees. He joins a crowded backfield that features No. 1 draft pick Mark Ingram, veteran Pierre Thomas, Chris Ivory (who remains on the sideline with foot and groin injuries) and Joique Bell, who suffered a sprained knee in Friday night’s 24-3 exhibition win against San Francisco.

Free agent running back Patrick Cobbs was added to the mix Tuesday in anticipation of Saturday night’s exhibition game against the Houston Texans (1-0) at Reliant Stadium.

“It started off as fun, but when free agency started hitting a little bit, and Bush got traded to Miami, that’s when I got that first call from (Brees),’’ Sproles said. “He was just saying that he would love for me to come here. He told me that New Orleans would be a great fit for me, that they had a great locker room and stuff like that.

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Sproles pleased to be wanted in New Orleans | Saints | The Advocate — Baton Rouge, LA