• The San Diego Union Tribune reports that San Diego will not put the franchise tag on running back Darren Sproles. He was given the franchise tag last year.

The team and Sproles will try to come to terms on a contract extension by the time free agency begins March 5. The Chargers view him as a complementary player, and if another team thinks the 5-foot-6 Sproles can be a primary back, then he will likely leave via free agency.

I think Sproles is a terrific change-of-pace back and a fine return man. San Diego needs to try to keep him. But the Chargers have other free agency needs to address and they cannot overspend on Sproles.

• Meanwhile, in an interview with Sirius NFL Radio San Diego cornerback Antonio Cromartie sounded like he’d welcome a trade from San Diego. The Chargers are shopping Cromartie.

“It may be time to move on. I have complained to the coaches about certain stuff, about the way we play,” Cromartie said. “But if it’s time to part ways and that’s in the Lord’s will, then that’s what’s got to happen. But I would love to continue to finish out either my contract or my career in San Diego.”

Cromartie also questioned the team’s scheme.

“To me, I felt like we played too much zone,” Cromartie said. “As we would say, we felt like we had two of the best corners in the NFL, me and [Quentin] Jammer, and we played too much zone coverage, rather than man.”

These words will likely accomplish nothing, aside from making San Diego realize it is doing the right thing in shopping Cromartie. He has created issues on and off the field, and his play has been shaky at times.