Immokalee grad James talks about Super Bowl experience

TAMPA — As the Pittsburgh Steelers continued to rejoice following their victory in the 43rd Super Bowl, Edgerrin James grabbed a personal sized pepperoni pizza on his way out of the Arizona Cardinals locker room and headed for the team bus, parked outside Raymond James Stadium.

On his way to the bus, James expressed his mixed emotions about finally, in his 10th NFL season, playing for the league’s championship — and coming up short, 27-23.

“We didn’t have many opportunities,” James, a 1996 Immokalee High School graduate, said of running the ball. “We were playing from behind, so you don’t get many opportunities.”

James, 30, led the Cardinals with nine carries for 33 yards. He also caught four passes for 28 yards.

“Every player who plays wants to be a part of it,” said James, who walked as he talked, in a hurry to get on the bus and move on to meet with members of his family.

More than 200 friends and family members of James traveled from Immokalee and Orlando and elsewhere to be a part of the atmosphere. Only about 55 of them had tickets to the game. The rest watched the game from the parking lot of nearby Jesuit High School.

“It’s good to have support,” James said. “It’s good to have nice, community support and to have the whole family come out.”

One longtime friend, Pierre Rutledge, cut short his vacation in the Virgin Islands by a day.

“Two months ago, who would have thought?” Rutledge said of the Cardinals reaching the Super Bowl. “I cut the trip short so I could be a part of history. Saturday afternoon, I flew from St. Thomas to Fort Lauderdale, drove to Orlando and got there right about 10:30 p.m.

“This is big. He deserves it, and we want to witness it.”

James has one year remaining on his four-year, $30 million contract with the Cardinals. He said he wanted to think things over during the offseason about his future. He wants to play next season, but it may not be with the Cardinals, who might release James.

In the meantime, James planned on having his normal offseason — which means spending more time with his extended family.

“I’m home already,” James said. “I’m always home.

“It’s one of those things where I’m used to being home. I’m used to being around everybody.”

With that, James boarded the bus, leaving his Super Bowl experience behind him.

(news-press.com)