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Free agency is in full in full force and with
the new Collective Bargaining Agreement in place,
the action is fast and furious. Several marquee
names have already been inked including arguably
the best running back in the mix, Edgerrin James.
The ex-Colt took less then 24 hours to sign
a four-year, $30 million deal with the Arizona
Cardinals, $11.5 million in guaranteed bonus
money.
Never having had millions of
dollars thrown at me at once, I can only imagine
what goes through a premium free agent's mind
in testing the market. Does community, chance
to win, team fit, or any other factor REALLY
mean anything at all or is it just window dressing
to camoflage and deflect attention from the
obscene amounts of money that professional athletes
are paid? With Edgerrin James, it was clearly
about the money!
A seven-year man out of Miami,
James is clearly one of the NFL elite and deserves
to be paid like one. Taken with the fourth overall
pick in the 1999 draft, James owns the Colt
franchise records for attempts (2188), yards
(9226) and touchdowns (64). The generally sure-handed
"Edge" also has 356 receptions for
2,839 yards and 11 touchdowns along with 157
carries for 616 yards and five touchdowns along
with 28 receptions for 222 yards in nine playoff
games.
The four-time Pro Bowler won
back-to-back rushing titles in his first two
year years in the league and was named 1999
Offensive Rookie of the Year after gaining 1,553
yards on 369 carries. James own 49 100+ yard
games (8th All-Time), the Colts going 43-6 in
those efforts. James has also registered 100
yards from scrimmage in 75 of his 96 career
games.
One could even say James has
been durable in missing only 16 games in seven
years, 14 directly attributable to a torn ACL
sufferered in the eighth game of the 2001 season.
James has never been a favorite of the Colt
front office as disregard for obligatory off-season
workouts was legendary and this year had originally
refused to accompany the team to their exhibition
game in Japan because "he didn't want to
to be in plane that long". James eventually
relented making the trip but not playing.
James was saddled with the team's
Franchise Tag last year and was paid $8.2 million,
the mandatory compensation and the average of
the five highest paid players at that position.
The Colts rolled the dice in removing the "Tag"
from James this year where he would have made
in excess of $10 million dollars.
You'll be shocked to know that
James agent is Drew Rosenhaus, late of Terrell
Owens fame. Free agency opened on Sturday and
the deal signed by noon Sunday. Quipped Rosenhaus,
"It was the first stop and the last stop
cause it was the best stop!" Ok, Drew.
In signing with the Cardinals, James heads to
a team that led the NFL in passing but was dead
last in rushing the football with 1,132 total
yards at just 3.2 yards per carry. The Cardinals
have had one 100-yard rusher over the last two
seasons (Emitt Smith torching Seattle for 104
yards in 2004). Arizona has no offensive line
to speak of.
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In James defense, he's 28 years
old and this is likely his final BIG payday.
He cites climate (which I understand is Las
Vegas with humidity) and the Cardinals new stadium
which will sport a retractible roof and natural
grass possibly extending his shelf-life somewhat.
There's also the pair of young All-Pro wideouts
in Boldon and Fitzgerald that could open things
up for Edgerrin. The reality is that Cardinals
will need much more than a year to address the
deficiencies of their offensive line and 2006
will be a BYOB year (Bring Your Own Blockers)
for the Edge.
The Cardinals have had one winning
season and one post-season appearance since
1988. Their offensive line is an abomination
and greatly improved defense which finished
eigth overall in 2005 is still somewhat suspect
The climate of Tempe, a new Stadium,
a perfect fit in a solid organization that's
only personnel need was a type fight running
back? Please! When it's all said and done, don't
tell me or Edgerrin James that it is anything
but ABOUT THE BENJAMINS.
Dennis Macklin is a documented member of The
Professional Handicappers League.
Read more of his articles and get his premium
plays here.
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