March 12, 2006

(New) Home, James: Running back Edgerrin James has signed a four-year deal with the Arizona Cardinals. Who will look cross-eyed at Peyton when he calls those goofy audibles now?

posted by wfrazerjr to football at 02:26 PM - 33 comments

I think Edge just ruined his career. He won't have a decent line here and his stats will decline. He also lost a shot at winning the big one. This is a very bad decision, but if the moneys right I guess you will out your career on the line.

posted by Clevelander32 at 02:37 PM on March 12, 2006

i agree. the cards simply can't block anyone. edge will now see how good he had it up in Indy. he will never see the superbowl or even the probowl as a cardinal.

posted by grizzay at 02:41 PM on March 12, 2006

NO O-line=no yards and the same old cardinals, until they get a real owner they are going to be perenially bad

posted by nflfreak at 02:51 PM on March 12, 2006

not to mention warner has seen his best days, of course if they drat vernon davis i can see a run at the playoffs

posted by nflfreak at 02:54 PM on March 12, 2006

Just goes to show he is playing for the money.

posted by dbt302 at 02:57 PM on March 12, 2006

i dont understand why great players decide to leave a contending team just for a few million more .his stats will fall ,no line and no peyton. im a seahawks fan and i thought alexander would leave for the big bucks. his line is one of the best. like james if he bolted to a bad team for the money,i think he would be an above average back .good move alexander ,bad move edge

posted by loumal at 02:57 PM on March 12, 2006

i think this is not a team for james. other teams that are rebuilding are way better than the cards...he would be better off on the vikings or jets even

posted by benschlegel at 03:05 PM on March 12, 2006

...agent Drew Rosenhaus... "Next question!" I think James is on the downside of his career, anyway. He'll really see how much of an "Edge" he has now with no O-line to help him out. Hey, at least Warner will have a "blocking back" and he won't get sacked as much, right? Right?........................................................RIGHT?!?

posted by wingnut4life at 03:10 PM on March 12, 2006

HUtchinson signed big deal with vikings think Alexander wishing he would have gone elsewhere too

posted by nflfreak at 03:10 PM on March 12, 2006

Quetionable move on James' part. Some improvement on the O-line, though, the Cards have one of the most potent passing games in football. With Boldin and Fitzgerald, and now Edge coming out of the backfield, they'll definitely rack up some yards. I doubt it's enough to keep them in games, though. The Colts are really wasting some years (and talent) not making it to the Big One.

posted by dyams at 03:12 PM on March 12, 2006

Sports Illustrated quoted Edgerrin James saying this on Thursday: "It's like playing poker: I'm going to take it all the way to the river. Some people fold before the flop, and if I was in panic mode, I might do that. But I'm going to take it to the river card, because one thing I know is I'm sitting on a good hand." How does this translate into signing with the Cardinals a couple days later? This is bizarre.

posted by rcade at 03:18 PM on March 12, 2006

cardinals just became a playoff team with edge. potent passing, now a running threat too. defenses gotta respect the run as well as worry about boldin and fitzgerald. with decent D, theyre a playoff team.

posted by aaa76 at 03:22 PM on March 12, 2006

with the exception of aaa76, I agree with all of the above. My reaction was audible enough that even my Fiance wondered what was going on.

posted by everett at 03:34 PM on March 12, 2006

Well what the above seems to imply is that James is not that great of a running back and will be horrible in Arizona. My thoughts are that it will make the Arizona offense much more deadly with a Pro Bowl runner and amazing recievers. Just to remind everybody, the Colts used to be a horrible team and now they are one of the best teams in the league. I think this is a great signing for the Cardinals, and will improve their team a lot.

posted by Ying Yang Mafia at 03:44 PM on March 12, 2006

could very well be, but I have trouble seeing it right now, I just don't think that they are a strong enough team in the areas that make a rb great (QB, or O-Line).

posted by everett at 04:08 PM on March 12, 2006

i think his carrer will be like emmit smiths although they will have a chance to make the wildcard, because of such a good passing game

posted by Barry-from-H-town at 04:13 PM on March 12, 2006

Question when was the last time James changed the momentum of a game or even took control? He may be great or he may be a product of the system, after all Rhodes rushed for over 1200 yards when James was down

posted by nflfreak at 04:15 PM on March 12, 2006

First off you can't deny the edge's talent. He's a very talented runner, and reciever, that got put on the back burner for the past couple of years with that QB of his....what was his name again. And secondly I'd like to remind you of a man named Marshall Faulk, who not too long ago found him self in the same situation that james is in now. Before Faulk got traded to the Rams they were one of the worst lines in the league, in both passing and in rushing. I think the first year with the rams Faulk put up over 2000 yr of total offense, 1200 in rushing. And he did all of this with the same line as the year before. Now im not saying that the edge will pull a Marshall, but he's got the talent to be able to do it. All in all, I think this was a smart move for james. The cardinals will help to renew his love for the game as well as hs leadership qualities. With solid depth at WR, a good arm at QB, and a great runner in james, I think the Cards are begining to remind me of the Rams of old. Watch out

posted by solrac at 05:02 PM on March 12, 2006

The biggest improvement that the Cards will see is that their passing game just got a lot better. He's an outstanding blocker. It sucks as a Colts fan to see him go but it's also sort of exciting, because now they might draft Maroney, who I think will be a good fit, and because Edge simply isn't going to get any better. He'll be fine in Arizona, the team will be mediocre, and he'll make a lot of money in a nice weather town. If that's what he wants, good for him. It'll be interesting to see what other moves the Cards make. He is a bit less dependent on a great line because he isn't really the type to break big runs through big holes anyway... all his gains come the hard fought, wheels churning way, with a few yards coming after the first contact because he stays so low and keeps his legs moving. Of course a bad line will hurt him, but not as much as some may think. He'll go for 1000 without much difficulty. Solrac, Edge doesn't really have much in the way of leadership qualities. I don't mean that as an insult... he's just a quiet guy who keeps to himself. Same as Marvin. Which is fine, but that's not really something he'll be bringing to the table in Arizona.

posted by Bernreuther at 05:10 PM on March 12, 2006

I think the cards will be better this year. But I think the still won't make the playoffs. The O-line is among the worst. Still we (indy) have Dominic Rhodes so you can see us in the sb.

posted by kyjac1 at 05:33 PM on March 12, 2006

LOL that's a good one, window closing fast for indy, couldn't do it with edge won't without, need dominant D and breakout run game to win a superbowl

posted by nflfreak at 05:36 PM on March 12, 2006

They haven't cut Rhodes yet? (They will.) Funny you should say that, nflfreak, since the last thing you could call Edge is a breakout runner. When's the last time you ever saw him go for more than 20? He's not fast enough to be a breakout runner, he relies more on his head, changes of direction, and working hard to be as consistent as they come. And maybe you didn't notice but their D was pretty damn good last year. Their offense is what cost them their shot this year.

posted by Bernreuther at 05:56 PM on March 12, 2006

I think James left because he realized if they didn't get the trophy this season it was unlikely to ever happen and he might as well get the payday while he still can. Plus, by signing him the Cards can use their #1 pick on a lineman; their slot should be high enough to get one who can come in and start in Week 1. At the least, this means my local Niners can probably rest easy about retaining the bottom of the NFC West in 2006. Phew, eh?

posted by billsaysthis at 06:07 PM on March 12, 2006

James is a great back in the prime of his career. My only knock on the guy is that Arizona's a place where talent goes to die.

posted by rcade at 06:08 PM on March 12, 2006

Before you guys totally condem Edge for this you should wait and see what else the Cards do. They have already picked up two o-line free agents and have a ton of cap space. The draft is just six weeks away.

posted by tdheiland at 06:23 PM on March 12, 2006

Yeah, if they can follow through and really commit to putting together a great team to open their new building there could be a new era in AZ. Maybe they'll live up to all those predictions people made for them this past season. I still think that they're a year off from being a serious wild card contender, regardless of how they draft, unless they really dominate the FA market, but they'll be close. They also had injuries last season that held them back, which a lot of people forget, because we're all so used to seeing them lose anyway.

posted by Bernreuther at 06:42 PM on March 12, 2006

Edge was my favorite player and i hate to see him go but the Colts will be fine in my opinion. We'll draft maroney whose pretty solid. Anyone can be productive behind our line and QB as evidenced by Rhodes going for 1200... still i would've done anything to keep edge... you watch cards will make playoffs with edge

posted by CoLtS4LiFe at 07:51 PM on March 12, 2006

Pretty interesting move on Edge's part...as for Steve Hutchinson, the Hawks have seven days to match the offer. It's not likely they will, but as of now Hutch is still a Hawk...

posted by vito90 at 09:07 PM on March 12, 2006

I have been an Indy fan for years now. I was hoping they would give Rhodes a chance last year. Bad move on James part but good move for Indy.

posted by bryce7622 at 10:27 PM on March 12, 2006

Bullshit, people! Whataya mean, the Cards don't have an offensive line? They taped the Super Bowl featuring Pissburg's offensive line. By the time the season rolls around, every Cardinal lineman will know how to hold. And, with our own nflfreak willing to purchase ... you are planning to purchase the team, aren't you?

posted by Bud Lang at 11:37 PM on March 12, 2006

Like it or not, Arizona is one of about three-five teams that HAS to produce this season, or at least feels the pressure to do so. James is a good addition in that he's a steady back who can run between the tackles, he stays in to block for your QB on passing situations AND he's an underrated pass catcher. Who cares that he's not a burner. That's what Arrington is. He's the slash to James's thunder. Plus with Bolden and Fitzgerald on the outside, who needs a speed demon at RB? Still, I see a 7-9 or 8-8 campaign. Warner may be this team's downfall...

posted by chemwizBsquared at 11:43 PM on March 13, 2006

They did have James on the radio yesterday. He was saying that Arizona promised him that they would concentrate on beefing up their O-line for him.

posted by wingnut4life at 11:55 AM on March 14, 2006

Edgerrin James on going to the Cardinals: "OK it's a risk. But hey, I'm a poker player. You can take it to the river. I'm not scared to make a change. I'm not scared to go out on a limb and try something different."

posted by wingnut4life at 12:22 PM on March 14, 2006

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