re: First year without a bush/sproles RB

I think losing Sproles will continue to affect Graham's ability to exploit mismatches and get off the line, past the linebackers. Having a threat like Sproles in the backfield creates some pretty major advantages for tight-ends, and it is probably one contributing factor to Graham's past exploits. I still think Graham will continue to thrive in our offense, but I think he has a slump this year (not related to injury) because he will have to contest for the ball moreso in the past, similar to what he faced @ Seattle / @ New England last year.

I was disappointed that Sproles wouldn't take a pay cut and was sent packing, but honestly if I were him I would have been pretty insulted myself. He has a very rare skill-set for the NFL and easily transitions to just about any offensive-minded football team out there; so asking him to take a pay cut was basically an indicator that the FO's interest to acquire new assets was higher than retaining their current ones. Possibly the only better place for him, other than Philly, would have been Green Bay. Reggie doesn't even come close to comparing to him, TBH. We saw exactly why Reggie was given the boot last week, his sideline to sideline antics dissolved any delusions I may have had that he had improved since he wore B&G. Reggie is gon' Reggie.