Edgerrin James-Would a 5 year/30 million/10 million bonus be enough to bring him in?

[Lomax to Green 84]

I saw Edge's interview last night at the Pro Bowl and he sure sounds like a proud guy who wants to prove the the Colts and everyone else that he is a special back and a guy who still has a ton left. I knew Edge was great, but I did not know that he averages per game more than any back in NFL history. Pretty impressive stuff.

Talking contract. Any idea what its going to take to bring Edge in? I've loved the guy ever since he was at Miami and he still is a young guy (27 years old), who has been very healthy for the last 5 seasons (knee injury in 2001).

If Denny wants to survive past next year, he absolutely has to swallow his pride and get an established back in here next year. Not Micheal Bennett, not JJ Arrington, and the more I think, not a 1st round guy. James is as good a back as there has been in the league for the past 7 years. He would instantly bring star power to a position that has been a major sore spot for the last 20 years. We would not be bringing in another Emmitt Smith who is way past his prime.

Get it done Cards. Yes the o-line needs fixing. Sign James and still bring in one or maybe two starting o-linemen. Lets forget about "building for the future". We have been doing that for the last 50 years and it hasn't gotten this organization anywhere. Lets actually put a bonafide playoff talented team on the field next year to kick off this great new stadium. Signing the Edge would send a message to the rest of the league that the Cards are for real.

 

[Diamondback Jay]

I saw Edge's interview last night at the Pro Bowl and he sure sounds like a proud guy who wants to prove the the Colts and everyone else that he is a special back and a guy who still has a ton left. I knew Edge was great, but I did not know that he averages per game more than any back in NFL history. Pretty impressive stuff.

Talking contract. Any idea what its going to take to bring Edge in? I've loved the guy ever since he was at Miami and he still is a young guy (27 years old), who has been very healthy for the last 5 seasons (knee injury in 2001).

If Denny wants to survive past next year, he absolutely has to swallow his pride and get an established back in here next year. Not Micheal Bennett, not JJ Arrington, and the more I think, not a 1st round guy. James is as good a back as there has been in the league for the past 7 years. He would instantly bring star power to a position that has been a major sore spot for the last 20 years. We would not be bringing in another Emmitt Smith who is way past his prime.

Get it done Cards. Yes the o-line needs fixing. Sign James and still bring in one or maybe two starting o-linemen. Lets forget about "building for the future". We have been doing that for the last 50 years and it hasn't gotten this organization anywhere. Lets actually put a bonafide playoff talented team on the field next year to kick off this great new stadium. Signing the Edge would send a message to the rest of the league that the Cards are for real.

The more I think about it, the more in favor of bringing Edge to Arizona I become. After being short changed by the Colts, he's going to have a massive chip on his shoulder and something to prove.

Signing James would do a multitude of things.

A) It'd add that missing dimension to the offense that they've sorely lacked.

B) As we've mentioned multiple times on here, the QB position has been a revolving door, the HB position has been equally revolving. James, who's still young yet (27) by HB terms still has at least 6 or 7 good years left in the tank. He's also a certainty. You know what you'll get from Edge.

C) It would allow Arizona to fill other voids elsewhere at 10 (QB of the Future, another young safety to team with Wilson-- Michael Huff perhaps?--, an offensive lineman or perhaps a run stuffer at the DT position)

I'll say it again.. I think James winds up in Jacksonville.. However, if Arizona has the chance to sign him, I'm not against it by any means.

 

[spanky1]

I saw Edge's interview last night at the Pro Bowl and he sure sounds like a proud guy who wants to prove the the Colts and everyone else that he is a special back and a guy who still has a ton left. I knew Edge was great, but I did not know that he averages per game more than any back in NFL history. Pretty impressive stuff.

Talking contract. Any idea what its going to take to bring Edge in? I've loved the guy ever since he was at Miami and he still is a young guy (27 years old), who has been very healthy for the last 5 seasons (knee injury in 2001).

If Denny wants to survive past next year, he absolutely has to swallow his pride and get an established back in here next year. Not Micheal Bennett, not JJ Arrington, and the more I think, not a 1st round guy. James is as good a back as there has been in the league for the past 7 years. He would instantly bring star power to a position that has been a major sore spot for the last 20 years. We would not be bringing in another Emmitt Smith who is way past his prime.

Get it done Cards. Yes the o-line needs fixing. Sign James and still bring in one or maybe two starting o-linemen. Lets forget about "building for the future". We have been doing that for the last 50 years and it hasn't gotten this organization anywhere. Lets actually put a bonafide playoff talented team on the field next year to kick off this great new stadium. Signing the Edge would send a message to the rest of the league that the Cards are for real.

The money parameters seem to be about right. This package will be worth about $8 mm on averge but would be backloaded so that would mean the cap figure is less during the first years. Anything more and he'll be pricing himself out of the market.

 

[conraddobler]

I think FA would be a huge success if we land someone like Edge.

He's exactly what we need along with one or two FA O linemen.

We can shore the rest up with the draft if we have too but we must get proven guys to start right now on the line and as a RB.

We could take a flyer on a RB in the draft as well but do not stake your whole season on that!

Lendale would be great if he didn't have to carry the load, Edge, Lendale and Arrington sound a whole lot better than, Arrington, Shipp and "insert camp fodder here".

 

[seesred]

I'm on it with the Edge! Think of what he could teach JJ.

GBR
40

 

[Chopper0080]

I will be the devil's advocate and say, why would spend that much money on a beat up running back. 8 million a year for a player that lacks great speed and is two years from knee surgery? The one thing that I will say for Shaun Alexander is that he has never had the injuries that Edge has had. I just can't justify 8 mill for a guy who can't bust the home run.

Ok, that is about all I can argue about. Personally I am not a huge Edge fan, but I can see how he would fit in our passing offense as he would be coming from one. He does have long term question marks regarding durability which is a concern and lacks great speed, so he will need a ton of touches.

 

[imaCafan]

He played:

6 games in '01
14 games in '02
13 games in '03
16 games in '04
15 games in '05

i'm sure that doesn't include play-offs. So over the past 4 years he's missed 6 games. Not too bad for a player of his caliber and considering how many touches he gets.....

 

[stretchthefield]

Marshall Faulk did pretty well after he left Indy.

 

[AntSports Steve]

A 5 year 30 million dollar deal is $6M per year. The bonus money no matter how much it is, is usually included in the total. $6M per year with a 15M bonus would probably do it for sure, but I don't know if the Cards would want to spend that amount of bonus money.

 

[RugbyMuffin]

Marshall Faulk did pretty well after he left Indy.

BINGO! Reading my mind again? j/k

I was about to say that this "banged up back" talk is ridiculous.

Look at what Faulk did in St. Louis after he was traded.

Bring in Edge he would CRUSH the small defensive lines in this division.

Look at the defensive lines in his division and he still succeeds. Bring him in !

 

[sundevil04]

Go

in all reality he isnt going to take up THAT much more cap space than our other options. we have to address the rb situation one way or another. edge should come cheaper than alexnder but more expensive than lewis etc. by a mil or 2 per year. if we go for white in rd1 we will have to fill other needs (fs/dt ect) in fa thereby using cap space. drafting white and signing a fs like hope will save us about 2 or 3 mill over the edge/huff? option. notreally all that much more expensive to go after aproven rb and have a stud prospect at fs to grow with rolle and green.
________
Prilosec pregnancy

 

[spanky1]

BINGO! Reading my mind again? j/k

I was about to say that this "banged up back" talk is ridiculous.

Look at what Faulk did in St. Louis after he was traded.

Bring in Edge he would CRUSH the small defensive lines in this division.

Look at the defensive lines in his division and he still succeeds. Bring him in !

I love posts like this........posts that clearly and accurately debunk myths.

 

[Russ Smith]

BINGO! Reading my mind again? j/k

I was about to say that this "banged up back" talk is ridiculous.

Look at what Faulk did in St. Louis after he was traded.

Bring in Edge he would CRUSH the small defensive lines in this division.

Look at the defensive lines in his division and he still succeeds. Bring him in !

Faulk had 500 less carries when he was traded, nearly 2 full seasons less.

I think Edge will be a top RB for another 2 years for sure, beyond that hard to say he's just had so many carries. He's a great player for sure.

But given his desire to play in Florida I'm not sure if we'd even be a player for him.

 

[spanky1]

Faulk had 500 less carries when he was traded, nearly 2 full seasons less.

I think Edge will be a top RB for another 2 years for sure, beyond that hard to say he's just had so many carries. He's a great player for sure.

But given his desire to play in Florida I'm not sure if we'd even be a player for him.

Location never supercedes money to a FA........look at Emmitt Smith for example. He really wanted to play for Tampa Bay, but when push came to shove, he went for the dollars with Arizona.....Ed Hartwell also wanted to play in AZ but went to Atlanta for bigger dough.

Edge will come here if we belly up to the bar. And no, the Cardinals will not be fiscally irresponsible just to make it happen.

 

[Russ Smith]

Location never supercedes money to a FA........look at Emmitt Smith for example. He really wanted to play for Tampa Bay, but when push came to shove, he went for the dollars with Arizona.....Ed Hartwell also wanted to play in AZ but went to Atlanta for bigger dough.

Edge will come here if we belly up to the bar. And no, the Cardinals will not be fiscally irresponsible just to make it happen.

he certainly likes money, he's been griping his whole career in indy, but he's also said he wants to play for a contender.

He says he wants to play where he's appreciated, certainly that would be the case here.

There's also a rumor that the Broncos are interested, no idea how they'd afford him.

 

[spanky1]

Faulk had 500 less carries when he was traded, nearly 2 full seasons less.

I think Edge will be a top RB for another 2 years for sure, beyond that hard to say he's just had so many carries. He's a great player for sure.

But given his desire to play in Florida I'm not sure if we'd even be a player for him.

Russ,

Not to rain on your parade re: stats, but in Marshall Faulk's first seven years as a pro, he rushed for a total of 1910 carries. In comparison, James has carried the ball 2196 times in his seven years as a pro.

The difference as you can see is marginal.

 

[Redsz]

It's odd that Denver keeps getting mentioned in regards to running backs. Anderson and Bell rushed for 2,000 yds this year. And the running game was not the reason they lost in the playoffs.

Re: Florida. Unless JAX realeases Fred Taylor. There are no teams in that area looking for a back.

 

[JasonKGME]

Location never supercedes money to a FA........look at Emmitt Smith for example. He really wanted to play for Tampa Bay, but when push came to shove, he went for the dollars with Arizona.....Ed Hartwell also wanted to play in AZ but went to Atlanta for bigger dough.

Edge will come here if we belly up to the bar. And no, the Cardinals will not be fiscally irresponsible just to make it happen.

Actually one of the main reasons Smith signed in AZ was that he was gaurenteed the starting job for all intents and purposes, and he wanted to extend his rushing record some more if he could. In Tampa he was going to be put in the position of fighting for the starting role, and at that he was probably in an uphill battle.

 

[Russ Smith]

Russ,

Not to rain on your parade re: stats, but in Marshall Faulk's first seven years as a pro, he rushed for a total of 1910 carries. In comparison, James has carried the ball 2196 times in his seven years as a pro.

The difference as you can see is marginal.

Sure it's marginal, because you changed the parameters. I said Faulk had 500 less carries when he was TRADED. I'm not comparing them at number of years, but number of carries.

When Faulk had a similar number of carries in his career, he slowed down. not that they're similar runners they're not, but in general very few RB's last as long as James has already, he's already exceeded the norm.

 

[spanky1]

he certainly likes money, he's been griping his whole career in indy, but he's also said he wants to play for a contender.

He says he wants to play where he's appreciated, certainly that would be the case here.

There's also a rumor that the Broncos are interested, no idea how they'd afford him.

Russ,

And they are rumored to be interested in TO as well. My point......rumors are just that.

If you were Edge, would you rather play in AZ and be "front and center" or on a team where you were a "system" back.

It is really academic....the Bronco's are $26 MM over the cap. Their worries are how to get under this enormous weight.....not trying to sign a guy like Edge when they don't need him .

 

[john h]

I'm on it with the Edge! Think of what he could teach JJ.

GBR
40

I really do not think you can teach a running back anything. He either can run or he cannot. Everything that is really important is instinctive or god given. You might teach one to block a little better but vision,speed,the ability to juke,etc come with the runner.

 

[john h]

I will be the devil's advocate and say, why would spend that much money on a beat up running back. 8 million a year for a player that lacks great speed and is two years from knee surgery? The one thing that I will say for Shaun Alexander is that he has never had the injuries that Edge has had. I just can't justify 8 mill for a guy who can't bust the home run

Ok, that is about all I can argue about. Personally I am not a huge Edge fan, but I can see how he would fit in our passing offense as he would be coming from one. He does have long term question marks regarding durability which is a concern and lacks great speed, so he will need a ton of touches.

I would like to have the guy but I would also like to know just what we give up by spending that much money/risk. There will be a price and it is not just $$$. It will be players we cannot sign or keep. Not just this year but for the length of his contract. I still think a young Lyndale White is a good investment for years to come.

 

[john h]

he certainly likes money, he's been griping his whole career in indy, but he's also said he wants to play for a contender.

He says he wants to play where he's appreciated, certainly that would be the case here.

There's also a rumor that the Broncos are interested, no idea how they'd afford him.

I just do not see us as a player for these big name running backs who have been playing for contenders/winners coming to Airizona. We still have a terrible reputation to live down and I do think a good team will trump the big $$ he is going to get anyway.

 

[Redsz]

I disagree, John.

Since Green was hired as head coach we have had no problem signing players in FA. The only one 'who got away' was Ed Hartwell. And that was over money, not the reputation of the team.

Chike Okeafor was being offered similar money from Seatte, but he signed here. Oliver Ross was signed away from a 15-1 team in the Steelers.

Green get's criticized alot around here. But he has no problem with selling the Cardinals to players. And that is a very valuable asset to have in Free Agency.

 

[Diamondback Jay]

There's also a rumor that the Broncos are interested, no idea how they'd afford him.

I'm one of many who can not understand Denver's fascination with getting another HB. In my opinion, JJ Arrington needs to get Tatum Bell's telephone number and ask for pointers. Bell's also young and has a lot of gas left in the tank, so their flirtation with Ricky Williams and Edge is puzzling.

As for the free agency questions, give me a post-season where James, LeCharles Bently and Michael Huff become new Cardinals and I'm dancing a jig in the streets of Tempe.