February 3, 200620 yr Colts running back Edgerrin James told the Indianapolis Star he believes his playing days in Indianapolis are over. "I don't see nothing happening,'' James told the newspaper Thursday night. "You can read between the lines and from the things I'm hearing, nothing's going to happen. "And that's crazy, man. I'm part of the solution, I'm not part of the problem. Crazy, man." James is one of four Colts starters that could become unrestricted free agents this year, along with receiver Reggie Wayne, linebacker David Thornton and defensive lineman Raheem Brock. Colts general manager Bill Polian has said the team's offseason signing priorities are retaining Wayne and working out a contract extension for defensive end Dwight Freeney. If the Colts do lose James, they will have a difficult time replacing him with a player of equal all-around skills, and might have to invest a high-round draft choice in a tailback or perhaps sign a veteran free agent. The former of those two is more likely. The most accomplished reserve tailback on the roster is Dominic Rhodes, but he is hardly in the same class as James, and his talents aren't nearly as diverse. A five-year veteran, Rhodes, 27, became the first undrafted free agent in modern NFL history to rush for 1,000 yards as a rookie, posting 1,104 yards in 2001, when he replaced James after the Colts' starter required knee surgery to repair a tear of the anterior cruciate ligament. But in the four seasons since, Rhodes has totaled only 529 yards, and he missed the entire 2002 season with an ACL tear. Rhodes is under contract for 2006, at a base salary of $550,000, but he is due a $1.5 million roster bonus next month, and there has been some speculation the Colts will not pay it. James has taken exception to his name rarely, if ever, being mentioned among those priorities and told the paper he'll see who wants his services when the free agent signing period opens March 3. "Maybe I'll get to a situation where somebody appreciates me," James told the Star. "I'm going to always be a ballplayer. You know I've got game. You can't knock what I do. "I'm a running back like Walter Payton, somebody who played a long time. I'm in that mold ... guys who played 12, 13 years and always were consistent." James, in his seventh NFL season, rushed for 1,506 yards and 13 touchdowns on 360 carries this past season and is headed to the Pro Bowl after his fourth 1,500-yard season. The Colts were 3-13 the season before drafting James with the fourth overall pick in 1999. Indianapolis then posted a 13-3 record in James' rookie season, in which he won the first of two straight rushing titles. "At the end of the day I can say I did my part," James told the paper. "I did what they asked me to do. At the end of the day the truth will be seen and everybody will see what kind of player I am and how important of a player I am. "For somebody else to come in and do what I did, it would be tough. Look at the difference when I'm there and when I'm not there. That's all you got to do." Since 1999, the Colts are 77-35 -- 70-26 when he plays, 7-9 when he doesn't, according to the Star. The Colts had no comment on James' statements, the Star reported. http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2317349 I think 5-6 years from now we are going to look back at the Colts and Peyton Manning and see what a perfect opportunity they had to get it done, yet they didn't seal the deal on getting to or winning a Super Bowl when they had their best chance.
February 3, 200620 yr but they need a viable threat in the back to keep everyone second guessing. If they get some scrub in the backfield, play action wont work so everyone will know peyton will be passing... w/e!
February 3, 200620 yr Author Knew they would do this free up more money for Wayne. Top 3 Back In The NFL > A Team's 2nd WR
February 3, 200620 yr he could be a good fit within Jacksonville. Would that be a stick it to the colts too. Plus the Jags are well under the cap I believe. Talk about interesting? Plus he comes back to florida which he wants to do.
February 3, 200620 yr i would think its more important to keep Edge and dump Wayne. plenty of receivers on that team that Peyton makes look good. edge def keeps that backfield threat in tact and keeps defenses guessing. i think that has made peyton how good he is the past few years. sign a cheaper WR option or draft one and give edge the money he deserves.
February 3, 200620 yr but they need a viable threat in the back to keep everyone second guessing. If they get some scrub in the backfield, play action wont work so everyone will know peyton will be passing... w/e! They'll be fine if they draft an RB in the first round or sign a mid level free agent and team him with Rhodes. It's not like whoever is running the ball for Indy is going to be facing 8 man fronts all the time. If Denver can somehow land Edge and T.O..... :o (even with Jake at QB)
February 3, 200620 yr Knew they would do this free up more money for Wayne. Top 3 Back In The NFL > A Team's 2nd WR And the Colts are a mostly a running game team? Why do you think they have Manning?
February 3, 200620 yr Author Knew they would do this free up more money for Wayne. Top 3 Back In The NFL > A Team's 2nd WR And the Colts are a mostly a running game team? Why do you think they have Manning? Edge had 1500+ yards this year. Having a top 3 running back in the NFL keeps defenses more honest and opens up the passing attack. Not having him next year is a huge hole. There are plenty of guys you could put opposite Marvin Harrison and that has Peyton throwing him the ball, and he is going to put up numbers for not nearly as much money as Wayne is going to command. Anyone that contends that the Colts will be better off without Edge and keeping Reggie Wayne is a tool.
February 3, 200620 yr And the Colts are a mostly a running game team? Why do you think they have Manning? Take away their running game, and defenses know a pass is coming every play and stats show if Manning is pressured out of the pocket he's human.
February 3, 200620 yr That just shows how much it sucks for the Colts that they didn't win it all this year.
February 3, 200620 yr Knew they would do this free up more money for Wayne. Top 3 Back In The NFL > A Team's 2nd WR And the Colts are a mostly a running game team? Why do you think they have Manning? Edge had 1500+ yards this year. Having a top 3 running back in the NFL keeps defenses more honest and opens up the passing attack. Not having him next year is a huge hole. There are plenty of guys you could put opposite Marvin Harrison and that has Peyton throwing him the ball, and he is going to put up numbers for not nearly as much money as Wayne is going to command. Anyone that contends that the Colts will be better off without Edge and keeping Reggie Wayne is a tool. No i just think that the Colts would rather have Wayne as a #2 WR(not me)
February 3, 200620 yr Author Knew they would do this free up more money for Wayne. Top 3 Back In The NFL > A Team's 2nd WR And the Colts are a mostly a running game team? Why do you think they have Manning? Edge had 1500+ yards this year. Having a top 3 running back in the NFL keeps defenses more honest and opens up the passing attack. Not having him next year is a huge hole. There are plenty of guys you could put opposite Marvin Harrison and that has Peyton throwing him the ball, and he is going to put up numbers for not nearly as much money as Wayne is going to command. Anyone that contends that the Colts will be better off without Edge and keeping Reggie Wayne is a tool. No i just think that the Colts would rather have Wayne as a #2 WR(not me) You'd keep him, to play the no. 2 wide reciever position for no. 1 money and it keeps you from keeping James? Makes no sense.
February 3, 200620 yr Knew they would do this free up more money for Wayne. Top 3 Back In The NFL > A Team's 2nd WR And the Colts are a mostly a running game team? Why do you think they have Manning? Edge had 1500+ yards this year. Having a top 3 running back in the NFL keeps defenses more honest and opens up the passing attack. Not having him next year is a huge hole. There are plenty of guys you could put opposite Marvin Harrison and that has Peyton throwing him the ball, and he is going to put up numbers for not nearly as much money as Wayne is going to command. Anyone that contends that the Colts will be better off without Edge and keeping Reggie Wayne is a tool. No i just think that the Colts would rather have Wayne as a #2 WR(not me) You'd keep him, to play the no. 2 wide reciever position for no. 1 money and it keeps you from keeping James? Makes no sense. Hell yea i'd keep him.
February 3, 200620 yr Knew they would do this free up more money for Wayne. Top 3 Back In The NFL > A Team's 2nd WR And the Colts are a mostly a running game team? Why do you think they have Manning? Edge had 1500+ yards this year. Having a top 3 running back in the NFL keeps defenses more honest and opens up the passing attack. Not having him next year is a huge hole. There are plenty of guys you could put opposite Marvin Harrison and that has Peyton throwing him the ball, and he is going to put up numbers for not nearly as much money as Wayne is going to command. Anyone that contends that the Colts will be better off without Edge and keeping Reggie Wayne is a tool. No i just think that the Colts would rather have Wayne as a #2 WR(not me) You'd keep him, to play the no. 2 wide reciever position for no. 1 money and it keeps you from keeping James? Makes no sense. Hell yea i'd keep him. You realize you just contradicted yourself, right?
February 4, 200620 yr Knew they would do this free up more money for Wayne. Top 3 Back In The NFL > A Team's 2nd WR And the Colts are a mostly a running game team? Why do you think they have Manning? Edge had 1500+ yards this year. Having a top 3 running back in the NFL keeps defenses more honest and opens up the passing attack. Not having him next year is a huge hole. There are plenty of guys you could put opposite Marvin Harrison and that has Peyton throwing him the ball, and he is going to put up numbers for not nearly as much money as Wayne is going to command. Anyone that contends that the Colts will be better off without Edge and keeping Reggie Wayne is a tool. No i just think that the Colts would rather have Wayne as a #2 WR(not me) You'd keep him, to play the no. 2 wide reciever position for no. 1 money and it keeps you from keeping James? Makes no sense. Hell yea i'd keep him. You realize you just contradicted yourself, right? You noticed what he said in parentheses, right? You realize you just made a tool out of yoursefl, right?
February 4, 200620 yr Knew they would do this free up more money for Wayne. Top 3 Back In The NFL > A Team's 2nd WR And the Colts are a mostly a running game team? Why do you think they have Manning? Edge had 1500+ yards this year. Having a top 3 running back in the NFL keeps defenses more honest and opens up the passing attack. Not having him next year is a huge hole. There are plenty of guys you could put opposite Marvin Harrison and that has Peyton throwing him the ball, and he is going to put up numbers for not nearly as much money as Wayne is going to command. Anyone that contends that the Colts will be better off without Edge and keeping Reggie Wayne is a tool. No i just think that the Colts would rather have Wayne as a #2 WR(not me) You'd keep him, to play the no. 2 wide reciever position for no. 1 money and it keeps you from keeping James? Makes no sense. Hell yea i'd keep him. You realize you just contradicted yourself, right? You noticed what he said in parentheses, right? You realize you just made a tool out of yoursefl, right? yea a complete TOOL
February 4, 200620 yr You realize you just contradicted yourself, right? You noticed what he said in parentheses, right? You realize you just made a tool out of yoursefl, right? Thanks Dodge, you rule :thumbup
February 4, 200620 yr If im Polian I'd do whatever it takes to keep Edge. However, remember who Edge replaced? Marshall Faulk, not a bad RB at all. Lightning can strike again, especially when it comes down to the RB position. Dont think that the Colts passing game, doesnt open up their running game either. What I want to know is why they would break up something so successful? Edge works, has worked and will probably still work. If Denver's interested in trading for Ricky, why not just sign Edge? Denver is in cap hell. Ricky's contract is very cap friendly. Denver cant sign Edge out right as a FA, they dont have the cap space.
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