THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

SAN DIEGO -- Chargers running back Darren Sproles on Tuesday signed the US$6,621,000 million contract he was tendered as the team's franchise player.

Sproles had been scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent before the Chargers tagged him as their franchise player. His pay is the average of what the top five running backs in the league are paid.

The speedy little running back and dangerous return specialist made US$1.1 million in base pay last year.

Sproles will make just less than star running back LaDainian Tomlinson, who redid his contract in March in order to remain with the Bolts.

With Tomlinson sidelined by a groin injury, Sproles stepped up and had a huge performance in a 23-17 win against Indianapolis in a wild-card playoff game. He gained 328 all-purpose yards and scored two touchdowns, including the winning 22-yard scamper in overtime.

He was bottled up the next week, however, as the Chargers were exposed by the more physical Pittsburgh Steelers in a 35-24 loss in the divisional round.

Although Sproles had a 63-yard kickoff return and a 62-yard TD catch in the game's final two minutes, he was held to 15 yards on 11 carries.

Also Tuesday, the Chargers added Georgia cornerback Ramarcus Brown to the roster and released cornerback Grant Mason.