Boivin: Edge gives Cards an edge

Will the Cardinals lose their edge when they lose their Edge?

Will they re-evaluate their fractured relationship with the running back because of his performance in Saturday's playoff victory over Atlanta?

At the very least, Edgerrin James should give management moment of pause. The offense challenged the Falcons with uncharacteristic balance and the outcome was surreal: Quarterback Kurt Warner . . . taking a knee . . . on a field that says "NFL Playoffs" . . . amid a screaming crowd . . . awash in Cardinals red.

Are you kidding me?

As the final seconds ticked off, several defensive players sidled up to James and gave him a piece of their mind.

What were they saying?

"Uh," James said smiling, looking down at his feet. "They were telling me they're not ready for me to go yet."

He's not going, at least for another week. His 73 yards helped set up some of the team's biggest offensive moments.

He carried three straight times before quarterback Kurt Warner connected with Larry Fitzgerald on a 42-yard first quarter scoring play - on a flea-flicker play that started with a handoff to James.

During a drive that lasted seven minutes and 43 seconds in the third quarter - that's right, 7:43 - James carried four times for 19 yards before Tim Hightower took over and capped the drive with a 4-yard touchdown run.

"In the playoffs, you got to be able to run the football. I really believe that," Falcons coach Mike Smith said. "Edgerrin James is one of the top runners in the league."

It wasn't just James who wanted to see the team keep it on the ground Saturday. At halftime, the offensive linemen were quite animated as they made their case to offensive coordinator Todd Haley to run block a little more in the second half.

They must have made a convincing argument. In the third quarter, the Cardinals had 12 pass attempts versus eight carries. In the fourth, it was nine and nine.

"They finally got the opportunity to run block," James said. "That's why I've never criticized them. Other teams run 30, 35 times. We might run one or two times and then go a long time without running again.

"That's what the playoffs are all about, doing things people think you're not gonna do."

The Cardinals did some things James didn't expect them to do this season. James lost his job to Hightower after seven games and posted just 11 carries during the next eight. His request to be released or traded was refused and then against Seattle last week, he rushed for 100 yards.

In the locker room afterward, he was asked whether the game made him feel differently about his perceived imminent departure. He hemmed and hawed, troubled by the question and worried about the timing.

"I want to enjoy this moment, not be the one to bring a dark cloud to all this," he said. "We'll just see what the situation dictates."

Sounds like James might be leaving the door open just a bit. The situation shouldn't be irreparable if keeping James around next season is in the best interests of the team. How confident can the Cardinals be that they'll find an equal replacement for James in the draft or via free agency?

And really, can it be that bad for James? This team has treated him well, with an extremely generous guaranteed bonus as part of the $30 million deal he signed in 2006.

Yes, things unraveled this season, but both sides proved they could still work together.

"You never want to see a Hall of Fame running back walk out the door," said defensive end Bertrand Berry, who became friends with James when both played for Indianapolis in 1999. "Obviously, he feels he's at a disadvantage in this situation so you can't really blame him, but you don't want to see the guy leave."

Are those seven-minute drives the new look of Cardinals football?

"I don't know what Cardinals football is anymore," James said, laughing.

For another week at least, it surely includes James.

(azcentral.com)