SAN DIEGO – 
Once the kickoff settled into his hands, like an elastic band, Mighty Mouse jolted forward. Weaving through traffic, his feet churned as if the grass were hot coals.
The sight of Sproles gliding downfield has been a fan favorite at training camp, inducing strong applause at the open practices. But look close and you’ll see his cheeks bobbing with each step.
“When you get tight, that’s when you pull a muscle. You want to stay relaxed,” Sproles said.
His smooth, streamlined running form would make track coaches across the country smile. Sproles credits the sport, which he started at eight years old, for his acceleration and turnover. A portion of that also comes from his ratio of fast-twitch muscles.
Because he doesn’t overstride, Sproles always is ready to change direction, which, along with his short stature and powerful body, makes him one of the more elusive players in the league.
One of the better kick returners, he became just the ninth player in NFL history to return a punt and kickoff for touchdowns in the same game (vs. Indianapolis, Nov. 11, 2007). Sproles also has leveraged his speed to average more than 10 yards per reception for his career out of the backfield. He’s been named a Pro Bowl alternate in each of the last three seasons.
“You know if someone’s right in front of you and they just take off like a Speedy Gonzales?” linebacker
Sproles makes a concerted effort to extend his runs into long sprints during practice, giving fans a further look at his running style.
“You always want to finish your runs with a touchdown or a positive gain. That’s what I’ve been doing since Pop Warner,” he said to explain the tradition. “It would make a difference (if I didn’t run extra). When I get in the game, I might get tired faster. I might not be able to finish, so that’s why I try to work on it in practice.”
