Don’t read too much into the curious late-season re-emergence of veteran RB Edgerrin James. “The situation with him has gone too far to be rectified,” said one team source, who also mentioned James’ firm belief that, at the age of 30, he could still be a dependable starting back elsewhere. What James’ revival does signal is the real possibility that the Cardinals might make the selection of a starting-caliber running back a top priority in the 2009 draft. Such is the case, with James supposedly as good as gone, J.J. Arrington’s stock as an unrestricted free agent improving and rookie Tim Hightower proving to be a solid spot performer but not an every-down type. Ken Whisenhunt’s preference continues to be for a more balanced attack with a strong run game similar to the one he coordinated in Pittsburgh, and word is the Cardinals might have a very hard time resisting a back in the mold of Bears rookie Matt Forté at the end of April.

(profootballweekly.com)

Edgerrin James stood in his locker, Washington Nationals hat on his head underneath his bright orange hoody, answering questions about his 100-yard rushing performance – just like he did (save the outfit) after the Cardinals’ first game of the season.

It served as a metaphor.

A lot happened with James between that first 100-yard game in San Francisco – a lot – and Sunday’s regular-season finish, a 34-21 win over Seattle. But just as James produced more than he had in weeks, so too did the Cardinals as a whole.

With a playoff game less than a week away, it’s what the Cardinals needed.

“This is when it is fun,” James said. “The regular season, it’s all good. It is cool. But this is when football starts. This is when everything is serious. One mistake could be the deciding factor.”

The Cardinals had played poorly for two games, and while coach Ken Whisenhunt said it was more important for his team to play well Sunday, it felt like a victory was necessary.

To get that win and to have it echo some of the Cards’ best successes of 2008 – Kurt Warner’s touchdown passes, the defense forcing turnovers, a semblance of a running game – should provide some of the momentum the team so desperately craved as it they awaits the Falcons.

“We finally got back to what we wanted to do,” guard Reggie Wells said.

Yet it was hard not to notice James suddenly playing a factor.

Benched for rookie Tim Hightower at midseason, James had just 11 carries in five appearances since and didn’t play a snap in three other games. His agent was vocal in the press that James would like to be released, but mostly, James kept to himself and avoided causing distractions.

Whisenhunt said multiple times when asked that, at some point, the Cardinals were going to need James.

Sunday, with the Cards’ running game generating little production of late, the Cards needed James.  

“I just think the direction we took as a team was the difference,” James said of his hiatus from the starting lineup. “I could always play. In the offseason, I don’t train to be no speed back. I try to be the guy who gets the RBI, who gets on base and keep the party going. My thing is, I hate to lose yards. I want to keep moving forward.”

It took just 14 carries for Edge to gain 100 yards. He had a 35-yard run, not only the longest for a Cardinal this season but James’ longest in three Arizona seasons.

James would probably argue the point, but he looked fresher than he ever had as a Cardinal, too. His motivation is double – not only was he desperate to play, but with the likelihood he will be released after the season, he wants to prove to the rest of the NFL he is worthy of another hefty contract.

That meshes perfectly with what the Cardinals need too.

Wide receiver Anquan Boldin sat out a second straight game with a sore shoulder, but he will play in the playoffs. Fellow receiver Larry Fitzgerald three times provided highlight catches Sunday and was spectacular in his postseason tuneup.

If Warner can stay sharp – Whisenhunt said Warner’s lone interception was a miscommunication between Warner and the receiver – the passing game should be fine. James grinding out yards would be the perfect accessory.

Whisenhunt said he wasn’t “down” on Hightower and that he didn’t yet know what the best fit is for the Cardinals going forward. Whether the coach was being coy and unwilling to tip his hand to the Falcons or whether he is truly undecided in his backfield will make for an interesting storyline this week.

“No one wants to go home,” James said. “As much as people complain about practice and the schedule you have, when it comes down to this time right here, nobody will mind staying out a little longer and doing what it takes to win. You are three games away from Tampa, and to make it to Tampa and be in the Super Bowl, that would be one of the greatest things ever.”

James doesn’t want to lose yardage when he carries the ball. He also doesn’t seem to lose sleep over his situation – which, in the end, could help the Cardinals.

“That’s the one thing you love about Edge,” Warner said. “He never goes backwards.”

(azcardinals.com)

The Cardinals have put their own spin on a box-office smash. Call it The Curious Case of Edgerrin James, a triumphant tale about a man who clearly is aging backward.

Ken Whisenhunt's comments Monday that James looked "fast" and "fresh" against Seattle signaled another interesting turn in the Cardinals' running-game saga. Although the coach was non-committal, James is expected to land the role of lead back in Saturday's playoff game against Atlanta, a fascinating twist considering earlier implications that the back's 30-year-old legs couldn't cut it anymore.

Wrong. James is back, and although this awkward reconciliation followed a bizarre series of events, the truth is it will benefit both sides greatly.
James looked strong against Seattle, and if the Cardinals hope to succeed against the Falcons, they need a running game that can eat up the clock and help a pass attack be productive. Let's be honest. This playoff game is like a highly publicized combine for James. He wants to do his best for the Cardinals, but if it also means showcasing his skills for other teams, so be it.

Both sides should embrace the circumstances. The Cardinals are a team that catches few breaks. If this unlikely series of events led to this positive outcome, celebrate it.

Yes, it has been head-scratching.

"It's like we said a long time ago," Whisenhunt said. "If we have Edgerrin, we can count on him later in the year."

What does that mean? That he's good enough now but wasn't good enough four weeks ago?

Whisenhunt also said it's nice to have a player "looking like he's in good shape for the playoffs."

The coach almost sounds like he was saving James for the postseason.

The truth is a lot more complicated, a convergence of events that led to this improbable outcome. Whisenhunt liked what he saw from Tim Hightower at a time when he didn't like what he saw from James, including a missed practice and words that challenged the coach's decision-making.

His running style was also less in demand when the Cardinals shifted to a pass-heavy attack. Throw in some big-play performances by Hightower and the need by Whisenhunt to exert some disciplinary muscle.

In recent weeks, however, Hightower hasn't done enough to hang onto the role of featured back. It doesn't mean he can't be one; it just means James is more deserving right now.

Whisenhunt said the Cardinals opted to give James the bulk of the carries against Seattle "to see where he was."

Clearly, he's in a good place.

"Edge is really underrated, I think, when it comes to how hard he runs and how he continually goes forward," Cardinals guard Reggie Wells said.
He proved that Sunday with 100 yards on 14 carries against Seattle.

He's 11th on the NFL's all-time career rushing list and a pair of 100-yard games from eighth.

He's 30, not a geriatric.

As twisted as the path to this reunion was, it's a great Xs and Os decision for a team everyone is writing off, including most oddsmakers who have the Cardinals as underdogs for this home game.

The opportunity for a playoff victory appears to have infused both player and coach with the ability to live in the moment.

"Edge is one of the best teammates any of us has been around," Wells said. "Obviously, maybe things didn't work out the way he envisioned them this year, but he's never changed, never been a different guy on the field or in the locker room with us."

Wells spoke Monday of how James walked around the locker room after the team clinched the NFC West title and asked teammates to sign his hat.

"He wants to win, and he's still very much into this team and its success," he said.

Good to know, because the Cardinals will need him more than ever Saturday.

(azcentral.com)

As a group of reporters surrounded Edgerrin James in the Cardinals' locker room Sunday, fullback Terrelle Smith walked by with a grin on his face.

"Who is that over there?" he said.

It was a valid question.

Before Sunday's 31-21 victory over the Seattle Seahawks, James had become the invisible man. He had just 11 rushing attempts in the Cardinals' previous eight games, and he didn't carry the ball a single time in three of those games.

It seemed a foregone conclusion that James would be little more than a cheerleader as the Cardinals wrapped up their season.

But that all changed Sunday. Given a chance by coach Ken Whisenhunt, James responded with 100 yards on 14 carries and, in the process, likely reclaimed the starting job he had lost to rookie Tim Hightower.

Whisenhunt wouldn't confirm James' reemergence as the starter, but it seems inevitable. Hightower had just three carries for three yards, while James ran with power and speed, breaking off a 35-yard run in the fourth quarter that was the longest gain by a Cardinal this season and the longest of his Cardinals career.

Whisenhunt said he went with James because he thought his experience in late-season and playoff games would be helpful.

"We said early in the season we were going to need him at some point," Whisenhunt said. "Give him credit, he worked and he did a good job today."

One Cardinal who was happy to see James was quarterback Kurt Warner.

"He's seeing things, getting us an energy in the running game that we haven't had in a while," Warner said. "I think he is going to pay some big dividends for us down the road."

James, who was told early in the week by running backs coach Maurice Carthon that he would start, said he wasn't out to show anyone inside or outside the organization that he still had it. He just wanted to do what he's done throughout his 10-year career.

"I train to be somebody who hits the RBI and keeps people on base," he said. " ... I hate to lose yards. I just want to keep moving forward. At the end of the day, you're going to have big days."

Other than requesting a trade, James had made little noise since Hightower replaced him in the starting lineup against St. Louis on Nov. 2.

"My family has gotten in trouble because they've always reacted," he said. " ... I think it would have been embarrassing to my mama to if I acted up and behaved badly. That is what I didn't want to do - become a distraction."

James not only re-established himself as Arizona's primary back, he moved past Thurman Thomas and Franco Harris into 11th place among all-time rushers.

"That's big for me," said James, who also had his 57th career 100-yard game. "The first day I stepped onto the football field, I wanted to be one of the best backs to play this game."

(eastvalleytribune.com)

Edgerrin James replaced the ineffective Tim Hightower to start the second quarter.

Hightower ran seven times for 12 yards in the first quarter. In addition, on the final play of the quarter, he caught a short pass from Kurt Warner and fumbled.

Stephen Spach recovered for the Cardinals to prevent a likely Patriots' touchdown.

James had 19 yards on four carries.

Hightower returned to see more action late in the game, finishing with 10 carries for 17 yards.

He also dropped a pair of passes.

(eastvalleytribune.com)

Running back Edgerrin James' frustration over his playing time isn't likely to subside until he finds a new employer. And that will come after the season.

James, benched after the seventh game, has played sparingly since, although he could play a larger role Sunday in New England. Backup J.J. Arrington might not play because of a knee injury, and that could mean more time for James.

"We said all along that we're going to need Edgerrin," coach Ken Whisenhunt said. "He's an experienced back. He's played in New England before."

James, however, wants a larger role. This is the first time in his career that he has not started. Since losing the job to Tim Hightower, James hasn't played in three games and has seven carries for 15 yards.

James declined comment, but his agent, Drew Rosenhaus, said his client is frustrated.

"He feels like he can help so much," Rosenhaus said. "It's befuddling for him. Since the change has been made, there hasn't been an improvement. He's certainly not going to create a distraction but the level of frustration, it's rough."

As a starter, James carried 108 times for 380 yards, a 3.51-yard average. In his starts, Hightower has gained 246 yards on 81 carries. A 3.03-yard average.

James has played well against the Patriots. In nine games, he's averaged 105.6 yards rushing.

The Cardinals are sticking with Hightower as the starter because coaches view him as more of a big-play threat. James has had just four runs of more than 20 yards in three seasons with the Cardinals.

(azcentral.com)

Running back Edgerrin James isn't happy with his diminished role, but he enjoyed the division clinching victory and celebration. "It's the reason why I can here," he said. "I know it had the potential to accomplish this. It's unfortunate for the situation with myself. But at the end of the day, you're happy for the city of Phoenix. I'm for all of my teammates at the end of the day. It's not about me."

(mia.scout.com)

Edgerrin James showed up in the Cardinals second series of the game Sunday, his earliest appearance in weeks. He finished with three carries for 11 yards.
He's still behind Tim Hightower and J.J. Arrington on the hierarchy of carries and isn't likely to be a part of the team next season. However, he's softened his "release me" rhetoric of earlier in the season and appears content to be a team player from here on out.

(rotoworld.com)

If this was Terrelle Smith's football team, he knows exactly what he'd do next. He'd reinstate his roommate.

He'd bring back Edgerrin James as a featured running back.

"I wish they would," said Smith, the Cardinals' fullback. "Because the guy I live with is a terrific running back, and he's a true professional."
Let's hope Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt is open for suggestions.

Go to Edge. Talk to him. Enlist his help. Clear the air. Give him the ball. Lean on his experience. With the clock ticking toward the playoffs, it seems to be the only move the Cardinals have left.

It's worth a shot for many reasons, and if you haven't noticed, the crowd has thinned out around the punch bowl. After these past two games against the Giants and Eagles, it's clear the Cardinals' high-flying passing game can't impose its will against top-flight defenses. Their signature dish doesn't smell so special. At the moment, they are easy fodder for teams that can play rough and nasty come January.

Hence, the new data, the new elephant in the room: If the Cardinals' running game continues to be an embarrassment, they will just be taking up room when the playoffs begin. Even Kurt Warner knows that a change is needed, even though his MVP candidacy is built largely on an avalanche of 300-yard passing games.

"We've got to figure something out," Warner said. "When you're playing against good teams with good schemes, it's tough to throw all the time. It's tough to be a one-dimensional team and continue to be successful week in and week out.

"Do I think we do it as well as anybody in the league? Yeah. Can we be successful doing it? Yes. But it's tough to do it every single week. And so, we just have to get better, and we have to figure out a way to balance our passing attack."

The Cardinals can attack this problem from many fronts. They can throw shorter passes that look like running plays. They can block better. They could even integrate Anquan Boldin as a primary ball carrier. But gimmicks go only so far in football, a game where brute force usually prevails. Look it up. Historically, teams built to succeed are teams that can run the ball, stop the run and pressure the opposing quarterback.

Sadly, the Cardinals don't do any of that particularly well. But they can get hot, they can be a terrific team at home, and they can be a real threat if they regain some respect up front. The easiest fix seems to be stoking the pride of James, who does not make big plays but gets the tough yards.

While he lacks burst, James brings an earthy feel to the Cardinals offense. He makes a bigger impact against the better teams. That's the way he's built. That's why it's worth another shot, especially if James has something to prove.

Consider this another bizarre twist in a topsy-turvy season. On his first day of sideline exile, James watched the Cardinals punish the Rams, rushing for 176 yards. While James has made cameo appearances since, the refitted rushing attack has all but collapsed.

Collectively, the Cardinals' running backs have rushed for 27 yards or fewer in three of the past four games. Rookie Tim Hightower is no longer considered a draft-day steal, a guy worthy of national attention. He has just 85 yards on his past 42 carries. He is starting to dance a little too much, showing his inexperience and getting caught in the backfield a little too often.

"I guess I'm just focusing on doing whatever I can to help the team win," Hightower said when asked about the decline of the running game. "Regardless of what play is called and who is in the game, we've got to make it work. I don't think it's what other teams are doing to us. I don't think we're making plays in critical situations like we did earlier in the season."

Problem is, football constantly evolves. It changes with the weather and it changes with the calendar. When the games get later and the games get tougher, the holes (and the hurt) are inside. That's James' neighborhood.

So go to him, coach. He has pedigree. He won't pull a Stephon Marbury and turn the other cheek. He may even react like Donovan McNabb in Philadelphia, proof that you can bench a superstar and go home again.

(azcentral.com)

NAPLES — Edgerrin James could just watch Friday night, much like the night before.

The All-Pro running back stood along the fence near the Dunbar sideline, watching the Tigers’ tilt against the Naples High Golden Eagles at Staver Field.

The night before, Thanksgiving night, he stood on the sideline with an imaginary fence, that felt more like bars, surrounding him as the Arizona Cardinals were drummed by the Philadelphia Eagles, 48-20. The man who has seven 1,000-yard rushing seasons didn’t make it on the field. He didn’t get a single carry.

The lack of playing time is becoming a trend, which has James wanting out of Arizona.

The former Immokalee High and Miami Hurricanes standout may have lost his starting job but he still has a sense of humor. James joked that his situation in Arizona is like prison.

“I’m just waiting for my release ... like an inmate,” said James, pausing to give the punch line.

James, who was at the high school game to watch two of his relatives play for the Tigers, isn’t frustrated. The 30-year-old actually understands the situation. He said he doesn’t fit into Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt’s one-dimensional passing offense. The Cardinals only had 25 yards rushing on Thursday night.

“I don’t fit into their system,” said James, who stood out Friday night wearing a multi-colored striped shirt and a Yankees cap. “That’s all it is. So now I am just waiting for my release. I know I can still play. I’m not any different than last season when I had over a 1,000 yards, so I know it’s not me.”

James has one year remaining on a four-year contract signed in 2006. He is scheduled to make $5 million. He’d prefer to go to another team and try to show that he is worthy of the Hall of Fame.

James is only 9 yards shy of 12,000 career yards. But this season, he’s only run for 384 yards with 112 carries. Not exactly numbers associated with Canton.

“You don’t get this far and lay down,” James said. “I know I still belong in the league and I still believe I will be in the Hall of Fame.”

Across the sidelines at Staver Field, former Naples High standout and former NFL running back Fred McCrary could feel James’ pain. This is McCrary’s first season out of the NFL. And while he doesn’t miss it, enjoying time with his three boys, McCrary understands why James is disappointed.

“It’s frustrating when you can still play and want to play and you can’t get on the field,” said McCrary, who won a Super Bowl ring in his one season in New England, “especially when you know you are better than the other guy who took your spot.”

McCrary has no doubts that James’ 10-year career is far from over.

“He’ll definitely be playing next season,” McCrary said. “I’m not worried about him.”

To make it to Naples for Friday night’s high school tilt, James boarded a 6 a.m. flight to Miami and drove across Alligator Alley. Watching his nephew E.J. German, a defense end, and his cousin Davouris Mean, a wide receiver, play for the Tigers, James didn’t seem to have a care in the world.

“It’s a good time to be around family,” James said. “I try to get home as much as possible. It helps me keep my mind of other things.”

During halftime, a young boy approached James to remind him that he’s still a star. The boy told James that he is his favorite player.

“Last night, I used you as my running back when I was playing Xbox,” the boy explained. “And I won.”

James’ smile grew bigger and he rubbed the kids’ head as a form of gratitude. For James, at least someone’s giving him some love. At least, he’s getting playing time somewhere.

(naplesnews.com)

The news of running back Edgerrin James' request didn't appear to produce any added anxiety at the Cardinals' training facility on Thursday, perhaps because team officials dealt with it more than two weeks ago.

That's when James made the request through his agent, Drew Rosenhaus. The rest of the world found out about it Wednesday when the news became public.

"That was something that was brought up a couple of weeks ago and it was the same answer we've said all along," coach Ken Whisenhunt said. "We're interested in doing what's best for this team and what puts us in the best position to win."

For the rest of this season, that means James serving as a backup. James declined comment on Thursday beyond saying "I'm just in here working and doing what I'm supposed to do."

That's what Whisenhunt expects.

"Edgerrin, I'm sure, is unhappy," he said. "I understand that. But that happens a lot in the NFL. That happens a lot in life. The mark of being a professional is continuing to work and we expect Edgerrin to be a professional. That's what he's been."

(azcentral.com)

For a guy that can't get on the field, Edgerrin James just dropped the ball. He interrupted the feel-good story of the NFL, distracting the Cardinals and their fans before the biggest game of the year.

It will be a costly fumble in a Hall of Fame career.

Through his agent, James recently requested his release from the Cardinals, and on some level, his unhappiness is understandable. James effectively ranks fourth on the Cardinals' depth chart of running backs. His three carries over the past two games are fewer than wide receiver Anquan Boldin (four). In Sunday's win at Seattle, he watched as J.J. Arrington got the call and the ball in the fourth quarter of a close game. A proud man has been embarrassed by Ken Whisenhunt, who is using James to make a powerful statement.

The head coach will not tolerate players who gripe during the good times, who miss the only scheduled practice during a bye week, who strike some members of the organization as a guy not running that hard, particularly in that loss to the Panthers.

In his last 49 carries, James has gained 137 yards. Those numbers scream of a running back in decline, which James most certainly is not. They also don't reflect how much James has selflessly helped rookie Tim Hightower.

But it will be hard to defend James now, and here's the problem: By the end of the season, James will have collected $25 million of his $30 million contract with the Cardinals. And before the season is over, James will surely be needed by a team entering uncharted territory.

He should have kept his mouth shut, worked like Arrington to get back into good graces, and played out the season without any further complaints. In a worst-case scenario, he would've remained in the doghouse, released without any further attrition to his body, and able to resume his career next year with rested legs.

Instead, James just confirmed the public's worst perception of him - that he's driven only by money and statistics. It is in stark contrast to what James said earlier in the season when asked about his diminished role:

"Me? I want to win. I want to make my trip out here worthwhile. I want to do whatever it takes to help turn this program around."

Whatever it takes? Sometimes that means holding a clipboard, like Matt Leinart. Sometimes that means giving up carries because the team has two of the best wide receivers on the planet. It means being a team guy, and understanding the civic impact of the big picture. The worst franchise in sports history is 7-3 and could clinch its division title before Thanksgiving. The once-beleaguered Cardinals are in the hunt for a first-round playoff bye, and have a puncher's chance at the Super Bowl. This is no time to spike the Kool-Aid.

It's popular to bash the agent in stories like this, particularly a public nuisance like Drew Rosenhaus. When reached on Wednesday, Rosenhaus said James didn't want to be a distraction, which is almost laughable.

The story first appeared on a highly credible, football-specific website (profootballtalk.com). It appeared without any sources or attribution. That means the story was likely leaked by the agent, who was then conveniently forced to comment when his office was flooded with phone calls. But, hey, sorry for the distraction.

Bad move, guys. James was guaranteed his $5 million salary in 2008 when he made the opening day roster. It's one of many reasons why the Cardinals do not and will not release James, who might be needed if Hightower gets injured.

James is highly intelligent, and should have known as much. He should have known that such a tactic was not only futile and fruitless, but likely to land him in the fan's doghouse at the worst possible time.

After all, it's been a historic season for the Cardinals. Too bad not everyone is enjoying the view.

(azcentral.com)

Edgerrin James asked the Cardinals to release him after he was benched in favor of Tim Hightower in Week 9, according to Profootballtalk.com.
Arizona refused, opting to keep Edge as a third stringer for insurance behind Hightower and J.J. Arrington. James' $5M salary for 2008 is guaranteed, so there was no reason for Arizona to give him to another team. At the time Joseph Addai was struggling in Indianapolis and the Colts could have given their old friend a long look. Denver also could've put in a waiver claim.

(rotoworld.com)

A day after rookie Tim Hightower ran for 109 yards in his first NFL start and former Pro Bowl running back Edgerrin James was relegated to the bench without playing a down, Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt emphasized James “is a valuable part of this team.”

Left unsaid was what that means on a tangible level.

Not surprisingly, most of the questions to start off Whisenhunt’s Monday press conference were about the status of the veteran James after his benching in a 34-13 win in St. Louis.

Whisenhunt said James will get chances to carry the ball and “we are going to need Edge.”

It was clear, however, that James’ most important role at this point will be insurance in case of any injury to Hightower. James does not play special teams, so when he doesn’t play running back – as in Sunday’s game – he takes up a valuable roster spot.

But even with J.J. Arrington making plays as a runner himself (62 yards on six carries against the Rams), the Cards will need James should Hightower go down. For that reason, Whisenhunt said he doesn’t see a reason James would be made inactive on game days.

Bigger picture, Whisenhunt said it’s up to the player to handle such a demotion and not let it affect the team. He pointed to the way veteran Jerome Bettis dealt with his lesser role in Pittsburgh while Whisenhunt coached there, at the point where Willie Parker became the featured back.

“A lot of that is the responsibility of the player and how he deals with it,” Whisenhunt said. “Edge has tremendous credentials, he’s been an important part of this team and he still is.

“For us to win … the thing that has to be the most important in our players’ minds is the team. I’ve seen tremendous signs of that. They understand we will need everybody.”

Of course, by the time Parker burst on the scene, Bettis was already thinking retirement and dearly wanted a Super Bowl ring first. Bettis had also been losing carries to Duce Staley or Amos Zeroue the previous few seasons.

James wants a ring, but he clearly does not see himself as at the end of his career and has been the workhorse back every year since arriving in the NFL. At the same time, James – who, like all players was off Monday and unavailable – did not sound like he was looking to undermine the team even after watching healthy from the sideline for the first time in his career.

“They can sit me down for the rest of the year,” James said after the Rams’ game. “I’ll (still) come out and go to work.”

Whisenhunt repeated a couple of times there are situations for which James would be the best player – the coach was not specific what those would be – and cautioned Hightower had not yet “arrived.”

Offensive coordinator Todd Haley pointed out that Hightower had too many negative runs. Hightower had four such runs against the Rams for a total of 14 yards in losses.

But Hightower also had four runs of at least 15 yards (and one wiped out because of a penalty). In his 2½ seasons in Arizona, James had just 14 runs of at least 15 yards (in 769 rushing attempts). Ultimately, that bigger-play ability put Hightower into the lineup – and got James removed.

“I believe guys are given opportunities when they earn it and you’re judging it on how they do on the field,” Whisenhunt said. “If you hold true to those decisions, by and large you will make the right decisions. That is what has guided me, guided us, since we have been here.”

(azcardinals.com)

It would be a mistake to believe the benching of Cardinals running back Edgerrin James last week was a direct result of James' recent expressions of frustration over his diminishing role.

Although his comments didn't endear James to anyone in the organization, they weren't inflammatory enough by themselves to keep him standing on the sideline, healthy, for the first time in his career. It was, instead, a confluence of many factors that brought James and the Cardinals to this point.

The reasons for the benching can be traced to 2007, when Ken Whisenhunt was named head coach of the Cardinals, a season after the team signed James to four-year, $30 million deal.

Part of the reason for signing James was to sell tickets in the opening season of University of Phoenix Stadium. But no one is saying that James didn't play hard and produce with the Cardinals. He rushed for more than 1,000 yards in consecutive seasons, the first Cardinals back to do that since Ottis Anderson in 1983-84.

But it was telling that as soon as the season ended, the Cardinals talked about the need to add a running back with big-play ability. In 2½ years with the team, James' longest run is 27 yards and he's had only four runs that have gained more than 20 yards.

So the Cardinals drafted Tim Hightower out of Richmond in the fifth round, and it was obvious from his first practice that his skills were much different from those of James. Vision and agility are James' strengths. He has an instinct for finding creases in the defense and he rarely loses yards.

Hightower is a powerful runner who makes quick, decisive cuts and explodes through a hole. Those attributes are a nice fit for this offense, so it seemed only a matter of time before Hightower began to take carries away from James.

James' personality played a part in losing the job, too. Not that he's a bad influence in the locker room. He's liked by his teammates and he has been selfless in mentoring Hightower in the nuances of the NFL, from how to take care of his body to how to watch video of opponents.

But James hasn't been a team leader, either. As he said Sunday, he is not a "yes man," and he's often gone his own way. He never wanted to be a team captain, and he valued his independence when it came to decisions on working out at the team facility in the off-season or attending voluntary workouts.

The fact that James missed the only practice during the recent off week didn't go unnoticed, either.

So it wasn't a few comments in a few interviews that sent James to the bench. It was a culmination of factors, with one being the most important: This Hightower kid could be pretty good.

(azcentral.com)

Week Nine was one of those changing-of-the-guard weeks that occur every so often, with a bunch of relatively anonymous players having breakthrough performances and several established veterans finding themselves unofficially marginalized. Here’s a look at five established vets who reached the end of the road this past weekend.

1. Edgerrin James — It seemed inevitable that Tim Hightower would take over as the Cardinals’ lead back at some point this season. The rookie had been making the most of the half-dozen or so touches he’d been getting each game, and James was getting fewer and fewer carries as the season progressed. But the passing of the torch came abruptly in Week Nine, when James stood idling on the sideline while Hightower carried 22 times for 109 yards and a TD. James never quite met expectations with the Cardinals after his amazing seven-year run with the Colts. The Edge is gaining 3.5 yards per carry this season and has never gained 4.0 yards per carry during any of his seasons in Arizona after averaging at least 4.0 in six of his seven years with Indianapolis. Hightower had a 30-yard TD run against the Rams on Sunday; in 2½ seasons with the Cardinals, James has a long run of 27 yards. Now it appears that his long run as a valuable fantasy contributor is over.

2. Willis McGahee — A bad ankle sidelined McGahee during the Ravens’ Week Nine win over the Browns, but the play of rookie Ray Rice could keep McGahee sidelined in the weeks to come. McGahee has been hindered by injuries all year, which might be part of the reason why he’s gaining only 3.5 yards per carry. He ran for 105 yards in Week Seven and finished the month of October by running for TDs in consecutive games, but there have been warning signs lately, including an eight-carry, 18-yard performance against a bad Indianapolis run defense in Week Six and a per-carry average of 2.5 yards against the hapless Raiders in Week Eight. Rice and Le’Ron McClain both have run well for the Ravens this season, and Rice’s 154-yard performance against the Browns was an eye-opener. McGahee simply hasn’t been that effective this season, and with the 5-3 Ravens in the thick of the playoff chase, it’s a good bet that head coach John Harbaugh will use his best runner(s) rather than stubbornly sticking with the high-salary guy.

(profootballweekly.com)

The Arizona Republic reports though he fully supports RB Tim Hightower, Cardinals RB Edgerrin James privately is peeved about his new role - as a potential Hall of Fame player being phased out of the equation and likely being released after this season. Cardinals HC Ken Whisenhunt, when pressed Monday about the running-back controversy on his 5-3 team, said it is his hope that James responds like RB Jerome Bettis did in Pittsburgh when the Steelers were getting ready to unleash RB Willie Parker. James wasn't available for comment Monday, as Whisenhunt gave the team the day off. But after Sunday's game, James said the decision to not play him "was personal." And therein lies the difference between him and Bettis. Three years ago, when the Steelers won Super Bowl XL, Bettis already had decided he was going to retire and make way for Parker. But James, who is under contract with the Cardinals for another year, says he is nowhere near done playing. Whisenhunt said for the Cardinals to reach the playoffs, "the thing that has to be the most important in our players' mind is the team, and I see tremendous signs of that with our football team." Yes, but does he see that from Edgerrin James? "I have no indication otherwise," Whisenhunt responded.

(ffmastermind.com)

Edgerrin James still has a role with the Cardinals. But while coach Ken Whisenhunt made this point clear on Monday, he didn’t exactly define what that role will be, other than he will back up Tim Hightower, the team’s new starting running back.

James, the No. 13 rusher in NFL history, sat out Sunday’s win at St. Louis entirely while Hightower made a smashing debut with 109 yards.

“Edge” speculated afterward he was benched because he wasn’t a “yes man.” He had previously lobbied publicly for a bigger role in the offense.

James is still “a valuable part of this team,” Whisenhunt said.

Whisenhunt didn’t spell out if James would play in all future games. But he said, “He’s a good running back. When the opportunity presents itself, he’ll get chances to carry the ball. We’re going to need Edge.”

The coach indicated James will be on the active roster for games, saying, “I would hate to think if, God forbid, something would happen to Tim in a game, it would be nice to have Edge available to carry the ball.”

“Just like we’ve done all year, Tim has gotten carries, J.J. (Arrington) has gotten carries, as well as Edge. We’ve used backs in situations that give us the best chance to win.”

Whisenhunt said he’s “excited” to see Hightower’s progress. But he reminded everyone not to get carried away by one big game.

“We have to see over time in order to say Tim has arrived, as a lot of people want to say based on one game. ...

“Let’s be very clear about this: The reason he played is because he worked hard and earned the opportunity to play and has shown in games he can pick up blitzes, that he could do a good job running with the football, that he’s a receiver coming out of the backfield.

“We wouldn’t have put him in there if we didn’t feel like he was going to have a chance to be successful and give us the best chance to win.”

Hightower seems to be in the mold of his coach, a guy who supposedly has limited physical tools (he was ignored by the NFL draft combine) but is a hard-working overachiever.

Whisenhunt pointed to several other young Cardinals who seem to have the same approach, including Steve Breaston, Calais Campbell and Ali Highsmith.

“That’s the type of attitude we’ve tried to instill, that’s the kind of environment we’ve tried to foster.

“Is Tim part of that? Absolutely. He does have that attitude.

“I don’t know if you can relate that to me, but ... yes, Tim has those qualities.”

(eastvalleytribune.com)

ST. LOUIS - The torch has been passed at the Cardinals’ running back spot. Tim Hightower replaced Edgerrin James in the starting lineup Sunday; James had started 135 straight games in his career.

What’s more, the Cardinals went with Hightower, who ran for 109 yards, and J.J. Arrington (62 yards) in the backfield, not “Edge.”

Whisenhunt said he hadn’t planned on sitting James, the NFL’s No. 13 running back of all time, for the whole game. But with the Cardinals rolling, he stuck with what was working.

“That is just the way the game developed,” Whisenhunt said.

James, though, said, “It’s been brewing for a while. I’m not surprised. I’m happy for Tim.

“I’m supportive of him and happy for him.”

James, though he wasn’t specific, seemed to suggest his suggestion two weeks ago that he be more involved in the offense worked against him.
“I don’t fit the yes-man mode. It’s always going to come down on me.”

James, asked if his earlier comments played a role in his benching, replied, “I don’t know what it was.

“I’m not going to be a yes man. They can sit me down for the rest of the year.

“It don’t matter. I’ll come out and go to work.

After his comments, James had a subpar game at Carolina, including a lost fumble.

James said he expected High­tower to play, and, “I expected him to have a big day. We knew we should have a big day running the ball regardless of who was in there.”

James and Hightower have become friends, a relationship James said he intends to keep.

“I’m not gong to let somebody come between me and Tim. That’s just how I am.

“When this is all over, I’ll still be friends with Tim. That’s more important.”

James and Hightower stood near each other during the game, with the veteran giving the rookie advice.

“I’m going to help him as much as I can. Tim is going to be all right.”

Hightower praised James:

“Edge prepared me all week. He helped me to know what to look for and kind of calmed me down. He stayed with me all game and helped me out.”

(eastvalleytribune.com)

Update:
Though there was no announced starting lineup change before the game, James was benched in favor of Tim Hightower on Sunday, the Arizona Republic reports. James did not receive a single touch all game, while Hightower surpassed 100 yards off 22 carries. J.J. Arrington was used as the Cardinals' second back, gaining 62 yards off six carries and adding five receptions for 57 yards.

Recommendation:
At this point, there have been no reports that James was banged up. There is also nothing that has surfaced that would lead to the conclusion that James' lack of action was the result of any disciplinary action from the team, so the fact that he went without a single touch on Sunday is a bit baffling. More light on this situation is sure to be shed over the next few days but, for the time being, James' value has taken an enormous hit. He's no longer startable in leagues of any size or format.

(rotowire.com)

Edgerrin James has had to navigate some treacherous terrain in his career, but never in territory that felt this unfamiliar.

Call it the land of aging running backs who feel they're being phased out for younger, shinier models. In the Cardinals' case, that model is Tim Hightower.

"It's cool with me," James said Monday when told Hightower could get more snaps. "That's the way it was heading, anyway."

It's not cool with him.

He's a proud man who believes he still has a lot to offer. He's knocking at the Hall of Fame's door but could barrel through it by adding a pair of 1,000-yard seasons. Today, he's already 13th overall on the NFL's all-time rushing list with 11,987 yards. Two more 1,000-plus efforts would leapfrog him to seventh.

James, 30, caused a stir last week when he told The Republic's Kent Somers that he was frustrated by his role in the Cardinals offense. On Monday he added that he feels like the team has "put me in a position to fail."

Though it's tempting to lump James into the category of disgruntled, disruptive athlete, it wouldn't be right. He was asked fair questions and responded with honest answers. He didn't call the organization cheap or clueless or any other pejorative some past Cardinals have flung the team's way. He believes he could be used better and, although he might not be right, he's entitled to his opinion. This is not divisive, split-the-team stuff. He is well liked in that locker room, and as Anquan Boldin has shown, if you have the respect of your teammates, what you say doesn't matter if they still believe you'll give your heart, your right arm, your sinus membrane or anything else for the team.

"(What James said) isn't even talked about in here," Boldin said Monday. "I would expect him to say that. He's a playmaker, a competitor, and that's just him being competitive. He wants the ball in his hands. What's wrong with that?"

I get that. I also get James feeling uncomfortable Monday when questions were asked about his playing time.

"Perception never works in my favor," he said.

Labels are a tricky thing. Dreadlocks and a since-removed grill are about appearance, not judgment. They make him an individualist, not a separatist. There's a difference.

Before we get too far ahead of ourselves, Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt never said Hightower was supplanting James. He simply said Monday, when asked, that he is open to the possibility.

"I think we've shown we're going to play with the players that we feel give us the best chance to win," he said. "We've done that with the quarterbacks, we've done that with linebacker, with the offensive line.

"At a point we feel Tim gives us the best chance to win, then absolutely. Just don't think we'll judge it based on just yesterday's game. It's a process."

After averaging 20 carries in the Cardinals' first three games, James has carried nine and seven times, respectively, in the past two.
Hightower carried seven and six in those games but has six touchdowns overall to James' three.

The scenario is complicated by a recent offensive shift to a pass-heavy attack. Against Carolina, the Cardinals had 14 carries to 51 pass attempts in part because the Panthers frequently had seven or eight players in the box, creating situations such as one of the touchdown passes to Boldin, when he was covered by only a linebacker.

James is no dummy. The Cardinals aren't announcing a shift, but it sure feels like the beginning of a transition, and although Hightower has looked impressive, he's a rookie. Things change.

James needs to stay on top of his game and not let the concern about his future dictate the present. I believe he's bigger than that.
The Cardinals need him to be.

(azcentral.com)

The University of Miami has announced its 2009 class of inductees to the UM Sports Hall of Fame.

The six former student-athletes range from a track-and-fielder to a golfer to baseball and football players. All were stars in their respective sports, though some are more well known than others.

UM football fans will immediately recognize running back Edgerrin James, who also will soon be introduced as a new member of UM's Ring of Honor. James played from 1996-98 and holds the school record of 299 yards in 39 carries against UCLA in 1998. He is second all-time in rushing yards (2,960) and rushing touchdowns (32).

James, whose cousin Javarris James currently plays for UM, was drafted fourth overall by the Indianapolis Colts in 1999 and now plays for the Arizona Cardinals.

The other soon-to-be inducted UM Sports Hall of Fame members:
• Warren Bogle, baseball, 1966-1967.
• Davian Clarke, track, 1995-1998.
• Aubrey Huff, baseball, 1997-1998.
• Cathy Morse, golf, 1974-1977.
• Mike Sullivan, football, 1987-1990.

The induction ceremony will be April 23 at Jungle Island in Miami.

(miamiherald.com)

Edgerrin James' numbers are in decline, but James insists that his talents are not. That is part of what has the veteran running back so frustrated about his role in the Cardinals offense, and irritated by the criticism generated by his decreased production.

James insisted he didn't want to cause controversy by answering questions about how he's being used this season. But he admitted several times on Wednesday that he's frustrated.

With 363 yards on 101 attempts, James is on pace to rush for 968 yards and 269 carries this season. Both numbers would be his lowest totals since 2001, when he missed 10 games with a knee injury.

"I don't know what's going on," he said. "I'm just here, just going to ride it out and get to the playoffs and, hey, that may be it right there."
That's a reference to his future with the team, not his career. James' contract runs through the 2009 season, but there are no assurances the Cardinals will keep him after this year.

He is due to make $5 million in salary next season, and the club has a promising young player in rookie Tim Hightower.

Asked if he wanted to return next year, James said he just wants to play.

"I don't want to just be on a team; I like to play," he said. "If I'm not playing, it's not serving a purpose. What purpose is it serving? I don't want to feel like I'm selfish but you want to play.

"Hey, I still got years in me, I know that. I can still play some ball. I ain't worried."

Eye for the records
James came to Arizona in 2006, signing a four-year $30 million deal, and he became only the second back in team history to gain more than 1,000 yards in consecutive seasons.

Statistics have always been important to James. When he came to the Cardinals from Indianapolis, he jokingly warned his offensive line not to mess up his Hall of Fame chances. He is just 30 yards shy of 12,000 career rushing yards and needs 105 more to pass Thurman Thomas to become 12th on the NFL's all-time list.

Those 105 yards won't be easy to come by this year. Hightower has emerged as the team's short-yardage and goal-line back. Ten times the team has called upon him when it's needed a yard on third and fourth downs, and he's converted each time.

Backup J.J. Arrington has played an integral role on offense in the past two games, while Hightower is likely to get more carries as the season progresses.

Coach Ken Whisenhunt views the depth at running back as something that will serve the team well, just as it did at receiver and on the defensive line.

"I'm glad that (James) wants more carries," Whisenhunt said. "I think that's a good sign for all competitive players; they want the ball. That's why Edge is where he is and why he's been so successful, but I think the trend, not just with us but throughout the league, is sharing the carries."

The main criticism of James is that he lacks big-play ability. In three seasons here, he has 762 rushing attempts but has only four carries of 20 or more yards.

Unreasonable expectations?
In the off-season, the Cardinals expressed a desire to acquire a speedier back. They settled on Hightower, a fifth-round choice out of Richmond not known for his speed. But he's made some explosive plays already this season, including a 17-yard touchdown run in a victory over the Bills.

James knows he's not much of a threat to go 70 yards. The Cardinals should have known it, too, when they signed him.

"When I came here, I came a certain way," he said. "I wasn't going to hit no 70, 80 (yards). I was going to non-stop grind, make my plays and keep wearing a team out.

"That's what I've always done and now it's like I'm supposed to be Superman. You want to have success, you want to do things and that's the most frustrating thing, I know I can play, I know I'm a good player."

The Cardinals are ranked 28th in the NFL in rushing, averaging 86.8 yards a game, but they are third in passing and sixth overall.

They have also won two consecutive games and at 4-2, have a two-game lead in the NFC West division.

"I don't want to seem like I'm bad-mouthing the system," James said. "I've never been somebody to just go off on somebody. I don't want this to appear negative because that's not my style."

But this offensive system, he said, is "totally different" from the one he expected the Cardinals would use when he signed in 2006. "And I have to take all the criticism," he said.

With the Cardinals winning, James doesn't want his frustration to become a focal point. It would be an accomplishment, he said, to make the playoffs at least once while with the Cardinals.

But James believes he still an elite player. The 30-something running back who has lost a step is "not me," he said, "but my career won't end like that. I know that."

(azcentral.com)

It's too early in the season to tell for sure if running back Edgerrin James' role in the offense will diminish, but that might be the case. In his first two years in Arizona, James was the Cardinals workhorse, averaging about 330 carries a year. But those numbers have dropped this year.

Through six games, James has carried 101 times; an average of about 17 carries a game. At that pace, he'll finish with 272 carries, his lowest total since 2002 when he was with Indianapolis.

It's hard to say if the fewer number of carries is a trend or just a result of offensive schemes in a small sample of games. James carried nine times in the victory over Dallas, for instance, but had 21 the week before the victory over the Bills. He carried just nine times against Miami in Week 2, mostly because the team relied on the pass in the victory.

But there are indications too, that James' backups are assuming larger roles in the offense. Rookie Tim Hightower appears ready to become more than just the team's short-yardage and first-down back. He's more of a one-cut running back and is more explosive than James, whose strength is his vision and agility.

While Hightower doesn't have blazing speed, he appears faster than James. And it's important to note that in three seasons in Arizona, James has just four runs of 20 yards or more. And he's carried the ball 762 times.

J.J. Arrington, the team's No. 3 back, is playing a larger role on offense too. Inactive for the first four games, Arrington is an excellent situational back, and his speed makes him dangerous if the team can get him in some open space, usually through screens and draws.

(ind.scout.com)

Edgerrin James ran for 57 yards and a touchdown and caught two passes for 21 yards in the Cardinals' Week 5 win.
James has now scored in consecutive weeks after going touchdown-less in Weeks 1-3. Still, he is an grinding runner without big-play ability and continues to lose goal line chances to Tim Hightower. Sell high if you can.

(rotoworld.com)

Edgerrin James totaled 29 yards and two touchdowns on nine carries and caught five passes for 37 yards in Week 4 against the Jets.
Nine carries tied James' lowest total since Week 12 of the 2006 season, but he scored twice from short yardage after the Cardinals fell behind huge in the second half, producing multiple touchdowns for the first time since 2005. Tim Hightower figures to keep getting goal-line work in non-blowouts, so don't make too much of James' afternoon.

(rotoworld.com)

He came to the desert, flashed that bright smile of his, and we were hooked.

The Cardinals signed Edgerrin James? Are you kidding?

But it wasn't a joke. The Bidwills were about to move into their new stadium and they were putting their money where their luxury suites were, signing James to a four-year, $30 million contract.

It was heralded as the most significant free-agent signing in franchise history, and who could argue?

James was a four-time Pro Bowl selection, the yin to Peyton Manning's yang in Indianapolis.

He was a symbol of hope and a promise of better days ahead.

"We're serious about winning," vice president Michael Bidwill said.

Thirty months have passed. The Cardinals are still serious, but James no longer is the front man, the face of the franchise. Instead, he has become an afterthought, the commercial pause while Kurt Warner, Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin catch their breath.

James' skills haven't completely eroded. He had 93 yards Sunday - averaging 5.2 yards per carry - and he's on pace to rush for 1,321 yards, which would be his most since 2005, his final season in Indianapolis.

But James isn't having the kind of impact - either on a Sunday afternoon or over the course of the season - you'd expect from a $30 million player.

Last year, James' longest run from scrimmage was 27 yards. His longest gain this year is 16 yards, making him the only back in the top 10 in rushing who doesn't have a carry of at least 20 yards.

To be fair, James never was a home run threat. His longest run over his last six seasons in Indianapolis was 43 yards.

But he seems to have reached the point of his career where defenses no longer fear him.

Some of that is beyond James' control. One of the reasons he was so effective with the Colts is that he was playing with Manning, Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne and behind a good offensive line. Defenses were preoccupied with Indianapolis' passing attack, which gave James room to run.

In addition, the Cardinals haven't made James a focal point of their offense. He no longer carries the ball in goal-line situations - rookie Tim Hightower has both of Arizona's rushing touchdowns - and he rarely has the ball thrown to him.

James, 30, caught a combined 207 passes in his final four years in Indianapolis. But he had just 27 receptions last season, and he's caught only three balls this year.

Here's the thing, though: If James were still one of the NFL's best backs, wouldn't the Cardinals make it a point of emphasis to get the ball in his hands?

No, the truth is, James has lost just enough bounce in his step that he's become an average back.

The Cardinals know it. The team considered waiving James after last season, but only if it could acquire a younger, every-down back.

There's already talk, after three games, that Arizona needs to give Hightower more carries because he has the explosiveness James lacks.

James isn't going to disappear. Barring injury, he'll carry the ball 300 times or so and rush for more than 1,000 yards.

But the running back who once represented everything the Cardinals were going to be has become a supporting actor.

And when James' days do end here - his contract runs through 2009 - he likely won't be remembered for the yards he gained, the passes he caught or the touchdowns he scored.

He'll be defined, instead, by what the Cardinals did in the first round of the 2007 draft.

Content with James, they took Penn State tackle Levi Brown with the fifth overall pick.

And passed on Adrian Peterson.

(eastvalleytribune.com)

ASHBURN, Va. (AP) _ Edgerrin James and Clinton Portis aren't comparing notes this week.

The University of Miami pals usually call each other all the time, offering ad hoc scouting reports on opponents past and future. One can only imagine what the conversations are like when two elite backs are talking shop.

"Everybody else that we play, it's 'What do you see?' 'What you think?' 'What works?'" Portis said. "This week, I'm sure neither one of us is going to give each other advice on how to help defeat the other team."

Of course not. James' Arizona Cardinals and Portis' Washington Redskins are going head-to-head Sunday, offering a treat for running back aficionados. James and Portis are two of only six players in league history to average at least 110 total years from scrimmage per game.

"It's enjoyable because I know he's playing against a great defense," Portis said, "and he knows I'm playing against a great defense, so it's always a competition."

James ranks fourth on the list with an average of 115.6, while Portis is sixth at 111.5 among backs who have played a minimum of 85 games. Nos. 1, 3 and 5 — Jim Brown, Barry Sanders and Walter Payton — are in the Hall of Fame. LaDainian Tomlinson is No. 2.

James has been easy to overlook this season because Kurt Warner is back to his old self at quarterback, leading the Cardinals to 23-13 and 31-10 victories with downfield passes to Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald. James has 44 carries for 155 yards, a modest 3.5 average, although last week he became 14th player in league history last week to reach 15,000 scrimmage yards.

Portis, like the rest of the Redskins offense, picked up his game in Week 2 after a difficult opener. He ran for 96 yards in last week's victory against the New Orleans Saints, giving him 180 yards on 44 carries for a 4.1 average.

"Watching Clinton Portis strain for the extra yard can fire you right up," Redskins coach Jim Zorn said. "That is what a running back is made for in this game."

Portis' has been in the news for other reasons in recent days. Last week, he made remarks to The Washington Post that could have been interpreted as an insult to his offensive line or his team's offensive scheme. Then, on Tuesday, he and former Redskins kick returner Brian Mitchell had a testy exchange on a radio show, with Portis upset over the way he had been criticized by Mitchell.

"He said what he had to say," Portis said. "I said what I had to say, and that's pretty much it."

Portis added that he has no problem with his linemen or the Redskins organization.

"If they had a problem with me, they wouldn't have gone out and blocked," Portis said. "If I was calling my linemen out, why didn't they quit on me? ... Portis wants to be here. If Portis wanted to be somewhere else, I'd be somewhere else."

Both squabbles were readily dismissed in light of the team's performance in the 29-24 win over the Saints, a game Portis said was just a taste of things to come.

"Just knowing this offense can get better is exciting," he said. "It's just a matter of doing it, week-in and week-out."

(rockymountainnews.com)

Cardinals running back Edgerrin James became the 14th player in NFL history to surpass 15,000 career yards from scrimmage with a third quarter run Sunday against the Dolphins.

James' game jersey and the ball he carried to reach the milestone are being sent to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio for display.

James is the 12th running back on the list and the only current player.

(azcentral.com)

With his 55 rushing yards on the day, Cardinals running back Edgerrin James now has 15,004 yards from scrimmage in his career, and is just the 14th player in NFL history to have that many yards, according to the Arizona Republic.



(nooffseason.com)

Edgerrin James' vision has always given him an edge.

Taken by the Indianapolis Colts as the fourth pick in the 1999 draft -- a slight surprise one spot ahead of Ricky Williams -- James has rushed for 11,607 yards in nine seasons. After games, he'd flash back to plays as if he had a photographic memory. He could tell you the defensive coverages or the angle a linebacker was taking. James runs with his mind as well as with his legs.

James offers an interesting insight in regard to the state of running backs in the league. "This is no more smash-mouth football,'' James said.

Come to think of it, he's right. Brandon Jacobs (264 pounds) of the Giants, LenDale White (235 pounds) of the Titans and Jamal Lewis (245 pounds) of the Browns may cause big headaches for defenses because of their size and impact, but it's not the size of the dog that works in backfields nowadays, it's the speed of the dog.

"It's a speed game,'' James said. "Everybody is passing. The NFL has turned into a passing game. You have the stretch play and zone blocking.''
James isn't complaining. At 215 pounds, James is rarely going to overpower a defender. Early in his career he didn't have to, he could just outrun them, but a knee reconstruction forced him to make a few changes. Once he came back from his knee injury, the yards kept coming. He's had seven 1,000-yard seasons, including five in a row.

James believes the leaguewide shift to short, safe passes has created more of a level playing field for running backs.

"Look at the guys on the defensive side of the ball,'' James said. "They aren't as big. You don't have all of those 250-pound linebackers that you used to have back in the day. Now, you have only a few. Now, there may only be three or four big guys on the field on defense at any given time. A lot of the linebackers are 220 or 230 pounds. ''

James gets a break playing in the NFC, where there are only three teams that use the 3-4 defense -- an alignment designed a little more for size. The three-man front requires a big nose tackle and bigger linebackers, because they engage guards and centers more often. The NFC is more of a Cover 2, 4-3 defense conference, featuring smaller linemen and linebackers than the AFC.

At 215 pounds, James feels at home in the NFC, and he definitely feels comfortable with the way the game is changing. Coaches around the league are copying the Giants' four-defensive end pass-rush scheme that caught fire late last season and helped them upset the Patriots in the Super Bowl. James feels the more defensive ends, the better.

"Defensive ends, they just want sacks,'' James said. "You don't worry about them. There are some defenses where you see only two big guys on the field. When everybody is trying to get sacks, that works in a running back's favor.''

James turned 30 this summer, a scary age for running backs. Teams target backs for replacement when they get to 28 or 29 and have wear and tear on their bodies from more than 1,600 carries. Though his rushing average has slipped under 4 yards an attempt in the past two seasons, James believes backs can last longer now thanks to the greater emphasis on passing.

He looks at the success stories of Fred Taylor, Tiki Barber and Curtis Martin having career years in their 30s. Williams beat out Ronnie Brown for the starting job in Miami. He's 31. The league isn't geared toward rewarding backs once they turn 30, but the opportunity is there if an older back is smart enough to take advantage of it.

"I think the 30th birthday thing is more of a cliché,'' James said. "I've talked to Curtis Martin, Tiki Barber and Fred Taylor. The main thing is every year you have to make sure you don't get bigger. The offseasons are more important as you get older. Look what Fred Taylor did last year. You don't worry about 30.''

James didn't turn back the clock this offseason, but he did fight the scale. In 2007, the Cardinals, under new coach Ken Whisenhunt, tried to find their identity. Whisenhunt wanted to bring the Pittsburgh Steelers' power running game to the Cardinals, a team that has been based on the three-receiver philosophy. Assistant head coach Russ Grimm tried to build a bigger, more physical offensive line.

The running game struggled. Matt Leinart was injured and Kurt Warner took over at quarterback. The situation wasn't easy for a running back. The Cardinals trailed in a lot of games and had to pass to stay competitive. Warner played with an elbow injury, making it hard to hand off to his right.

James finished with 1,222 yards and a 3.8-yard average, which he considered a good start in a new offense. After the season, he immediately started training for 2008.

First, he made sure he would be lighter. For the power game of 2007, he bulked up to 220 pounds. Now he's 215, give or take a pound or two. He did more squats to build up his leg strength and explosiveness.

"Stronger and lighter equals being faster,'' James said.

Even though Whisenhunt still wants to establish the Cardinals' physical presence with a power running game, James believes the trends of the league suggest the Cardinals will stay with a three-receiver set and a balanced attack. After all, the trend toward more passing makes the NFL a finesse league, which James likes.

"It's still a simple game,'' James said. "As a running back, you go where they aren't, you have a forward lean and you keep playing. As the game goes on, the yards are going to come.''

James does it the smart way. He'll keep running until the NFL takes the ball away from him.

(espn.com)

Beat writer Kent Somers said on ESPNews Friday that he'd guess Edgerrin James will get two-thirds of the Cardinals' carries this season.

We project Arizona to run 383 times in 2008. 2/3 of that would give Edge 257 carries, way down from the 325 he saw last year. If he maintains his YPC average (3.8), it leaves James at 977 yards. He could lose short-yardage carries to Tim Hightower and third-down work to J.J. Arrington.

(rotoworld.com)

The Arizona Cardinals have had more bad years than good ones over the past decades, perhaps in part because when they do have decent players they don’t use them right?

I’m guessing on that for the most part. But it’s definitely true in the case of Edgerrin James, whom they acquired during free agency from Indianapolis in 2006. In his two seasons in Phoenix James has caught 38 and 24 passes, the latter tying for his lowest production out of the backfield in his career.

The previous seven with the Colts he never had fewer than 44 catches in a season during which he played more than six games - and the year he hurt his knee, 2001, he was on pace to have another 64 catches for more than 500 yards.

Cardinals offensive coordinator Todd Haley hopes to better utilize that part of James’ game, according to an ESPN blog. He’d be well served to do so. While the Cards have a great wide receiver duo in Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald, neither are speed burners, so utilizing an underneath option can only help open the field for bigger plays.

Getting James the ball in the flats and beyond the line of scrimmage is also a way to put it in his hands without subjecting him to monstrous hits in the trenches, never a bad thing for a running back in his 10th season and approaching the big 30.

James probably isn’t going to start producing 2,000 combined yardage seasons again as he did three times with the Colts. But a similar season to 2007 rushing the ball coupled with a doubling of his receptions and receiving yardage would put him in the mix as a solid fantasy contributor during the season ahead.

(zoneblitz.com)

Running back Edgerrin James turns 30 Friday, but don't tell him or the Cardinals that's cause for concern. Whisenhunt says there are high expectations for James, who has shown more quickness than a year ago. There was a lot of speculation that the Cardinals would use a high draft choice on a running back, but that didn't happen. Instead they waited until the fifth round to take Hightower.

James' numbers were up across the board last season in his second year with the Cardinals, and the team -- and James -- expects that trend to continue this season. So far he looks spry in camp.

(cnnsi.com)

You can’t tell for sure yet, but so far Edgerrin James doesn’t look like he’s lost anything.
“Edge looks good,” said Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt, who called James’ 1,222-yard season last year “solid.”

He hopes the running game will be better this season because “We’ll all be a little better.

“Our line will be a little bit better. We know what Edge does well. We know what our line does well.

“If we blend those things, we hope we’ll be a little better running team than we were last year.”

The Cardinals ranked only 29th in rushing last season, with 90 yards per game.

Whether James has slowed down a bit, he cautioned, can’t be seen definitively in practice where breaking tackles and running in the open field aren’t the issues they are in games.

The scrutiny will be ramped up because James turns 30 on Friday.

That’s the time running backs are considered eligible for their AARP card.

“That’s like a cliché,” James responded. “After all I’ve done and the way I take care of my body, I’m not even concerned with that.”

“I see guys who haven’t played as long as I have, they’re missing practice and not able to play every game … the past couple years, I’ve been there every day for practice, I’ve been out there every week for the games.”

James ranks No. 13 all time with 11,607 rushing yards. If he runs for 1,200 this season, he’ll rank No. 7 all time.

(eastvalleytribune.com)

Edgerrin James turns 30 Aug. 1, normally a dangerous age for veteran running backs – especially ones with 2,849 career carries. But James will be the centerpiece for the Cardinals’ running game in 2008, thanks to three key factors: he keeps himself in phenomenal shape; his game isn’t based on speed, so it hasn’t diminished much; and the Cards really didn’t bring in anyone to challenge James. Holdovers Marcel Shipp and J.J. Arrington will battle fifth-round pick Tim Hightower for roster spots while Edge sits atop the depth chart. James is a proud man who believes he is as good as he always has been, and improvement from the offensive line will help.

(azcardinals.com)

6. Willis McGahee, Baltimore Ravens. On an offense that can only run the ball, McGahee was the runner. He is a versatile rusher who can attack the edges as well as take on defenders between the tackles.

7. Frank Gore, San Francisco 49ers. Gore has carried his team in recent seasons and established himself as one of the league's premier backs with little help. With Mike Martz in the fold as the Niners' offensive coordinator, look for Gore to become a force once again as a dual threat runner and receiver.

12. Clinton Portis, Washington Redskins. Another back who is a tremendous fit for the zone-blocking scheme. Portis is a power runner with the vision and cutback ability to find daylight and get to and through linebackers.

14. Edgerrin James, Arizona Cardinals. Although James is on the downside of his career, he is still a productive runner who will benefit from the run-first mentality in Arizona.

Click here to see the rest of the rankings.

Our sources in the desert tell us that starting RB Edgerrin James couldn’t have looked in better shape for what figures to be another 20- to 25-carries-per-game workload this coming season.




(pfw.com)

Running back Edgerrin James has been in a light-hearted mood minicamp weekend, and there could be several reasons for that.

For one, the Cardinals didn’t draft a running back high – Tim Hightower was a fifth-round choice and won’t unseat James anytime soon – so James remains the unquestioned starter. Second is the stability of the offense, which James said is so much better defined than it was during times in 2007.

“Last year, we really didn’t even know who we were,” James said. “Now, I think from a coaching staff standpoint, they know exactly what they want and what they have.”

But the biggest reason is because James has stayed away from Arizona since the end of the season, a process he always regards as important.

“If you stay around this is becomes mundane and kind of boring,” James said. “For me, that’s always something that makes me miss the game, getting totally away and rest and recovery. I (do) train. When I get bored, I train. I hang with my cousins, and the University of Miami, so I am always around them and I am always training.

“As far as being with the guys and playing football, you look forward to that because you have been away. If I had been here every week, I’d be like, ‘Same old (stuff)’ ”

James is expected to take part in at least some of the voluntary OTAs that begin later this month.

(azcardinals.com)

The biggest winner in the Cardinals' draft may not be a draftee. Edgerrin James, you would think, would be ecstatic. While all the pundits predicted the team almost certainly would grab a running back with one of their first two picks, the Cardinals didn't take one until Round 5.
And even then, the little-known Tim Highsmith doesn't figure to take a whole lot of time away from "Edge."

Yet James says he had no celebration:

"I never worry about somebody coming in and playing my position. If they come, I'm going to help them as much as I can.

"Because I know it's not me."

By this, he means that in analyzing the Cardinals' offense, "Running back is not the problem here. That's the least of my concerns.
"If they want to get something, it's their organization. If you look at the film, you look at everything, it's not me. So I'm not worried about it.

"I know where I stand in this game and at this position."

More is riding on James' starting status than for the average player.

He now ranks No. 13 on the all-time rushing list. With a solid, injury-free 2008, he will rise well into the top 10.

Two more such years and he could elbow his way into the top five, and that would generate a strong Hall of Fame bid.

To do this, though, James - who doesn't turn 30 until Aug.1 - needs to keep grinding in the offseason.

"There's no slippage," James reports. "I made sure I got stronger. The main thing is to go out and work. You'll see for yourself."
By not taking a running back early, the Cardinals seemed to agree that James can be counted on.

"I know I'm getting older. People say you're getting to be 30. But I take good care of myself. And I prepared for all of this in the early years. You won't see any slippage from me."

(eastvalleytribune.com)

Since the end of last season, there has been speculation the Cardinals were eager to replace running back Edgerrin James with a younger, faster model.

Not so, team officials say. They would like to add a running back in this weekend's draft, but they would be content to again go with James and develop a potential replacement.

This draft is deep in running backs, but there might be only two or three worthy of being taken at No. 16 by the Cardinals.

"I think there are going to be maybe two or three positions where there is going to be a quick run on those players," General Manager Rod Graves said. "I think the concern will be about the depth later. And the running back position could be that way."

The Cardinals are careful not to disparage James when they evaluate their running back position. James still has great vision and agility and is adept at turning what should be a 3-yard gain into 6. But James turns 30 on Aug. 1 and doesn't possess as much big-play ability as coaches want.

James had four runs of more than 20 yards last season, and the Cardinals would like more from a starting back. Backups J.J. Arrington and Marcel Shipp aren't the answers.

The best backs in the league often have 10 or more rushes that gain at least 20 yards. For instance, Pittsburgh's Willie Parker had 12 last year. The Eagles' Brian Westbrook and the Vikings' Adrian Peterson each had 11.

The Cardinals passed on Peterson last year when they took offensive tackle Levi Brown at No. 5, but it will be difficult for them to skip taking an elite runner for a second straight year.

At the scouting combine in February, Whisenhunt said the Cardinals were "obviously always looking to get a young player at the position to hopefully develop. And it would be nice to have a guy who would give us the home run ability at that position, like we've seen a lot of young backs do recently."

That type of back is available in this draft, said several NFL personnel officials. One team's running backs coach called it "the best class in my 10 years in the league. There are probably three legitimate superstars and possibly two to three more.

"There probably will be 25 to 30 running backs drafted by the time this is over with."

The Cardinals have provided few hints at their plans, but it's worth noting that Oregon's Jonathan Stewart and East Carolina's Chris Johnson visited the team's Tempe facility in recent weeks.

Stewart is coming off recent toe surgery and is questionable for the start of training camp. But it's not a condition that's expected to hamper him significantly. He has good size (5 feet 10 inches, 235 pounds) and speed, and is regarded as a tough runner.

Johnson appears to have climbed on some draft boards over the past month. He's one of the faster backs (4.3 seconds in the 40-yard dash) in this draft and is a capable receiver and returner.

The Cardinals insist that they would be fine entering the season with James as the starter. Whisenhunt has pointed out that James deserves considerable credit for his performance last year. He played behind a rebuilt offensive line, and the team relied predominantly on the pass.
"He had 1,200 yards (rushing)," Whisenhunt said, "and any time you can do that in the NFL, you are a good back."

(azcentral.com)

The Arizona Republic reports since the end of last season, there has been speculation the Cardinals were eager to replace RB Edgerrin James with a younger, faster model. Not so, team officials say. They would like to add a running back in this weekend's draft, but they would be content to again go with James and develop a potential replacement.

(ffmastermind.com)