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. 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. |
