arthurracoon
The Cardinal Smiles
http://www.azcentral.com/sports/columns/articles/0801bickley0801.html
Dan Bickley
The Arizona Republic
Aug. 1, 2006 12:00 AM
FLAGSTAFF
Like a wild stallion, Edgerrin James won't always do what you want.
Some guys refuse to be tamed. And in this case, it's best to just go along for the ride.
"Life is too short," he recently told a stressed-out Cardinals' employee. "And ain't none of us getting out alive."
With the dreadlocks, the gold teeth and the fierce sense of independence, James is the NFL's version of Captain Jack Sparrow. Control-hungry coaches usually cringe at renegades like this, at least the ones who aren't cutting a furious path to the Hall of Fame.
Yet it's easy to misinterpret James' character based on a few nonconformist traits. For starters, he's never unprepared.
This was clear minutes after his first workout at 7,000 feet, when a supremely fit James scoffed at the elevation and expressed disappointment in the relative ease of the Cardinals' initial workout.
"A piece of cake practice," he said.
Then again, his attention to homework was evident long before he became a member of the worst team in NFL history.
"He called me before he signed," the Suns' Amaré Stoudemire said. "He asked me about living in Arizona. I gave him the thumbs' up."
We hope Stoudemire realizes he was welcoming some serious competition to the throne. After all, if things go according to plan, James soon will battle the Suns' star for the most popular athlete in the Valley.
He's that engaging, that compelling, and everywhere he goes, James quickly becomes the center of attention.
In the Colts' training camp, wide receiver Reggie Wayne showed up for the first practice wearing James' new Cardinals jersey.
Bet that made Tony Dungy feel real good.
Here with the Cardinals, James already has become a central figure, a magnetic personality, a football player leading by enormous credentials. And for all the fretting over where he would spend his off-season, James already has forged deep relationships with his offensive linemen.
On his way to camp, James went so far as to text message them his personal goals for the upcoming season. In other words: This is where I plan on going. Are you coming with?
"He's one of those guys that hates dull moments," Cardinals' star Anquan Boldin said. "And he loves for the team to be together, loves to do activities on and off the field."
Clearly, James is a people person with great passion and a legitimate love for football. He might not oblige all of management's wishes, but he's the rare player who can bridge the natural gap between offensive and defensive players.
He's that good at building camaraderie, and after Monday's practice, he and linebacker Darryl Blackstock engaged in a good-natured exchange.
James: "Did you guard me today?"
Blackstock: "All day."
James: "Did you catch me?"
Blackstock: "I had you man-to-man the whole time."
James: "Hey, you don't get better by lying."
When Blackstock continued to insist James had not gotten the best of him, the Cardinals' running back had enough.
"You want to go back out there right now? What's wrong with these dudes, man? And can I tell you all a secret? I was just cruising today."
There hasn't been this much fun in camp since Larry Centers put a skunk in Jake Plummer's dorm room.
"I think he brings an excitement," quarterback Kurt Warner said. "He's a different personality, and much different than the whole organization has had in a while. He's loosened things up and broken some barriers, which I think is great. And I don't think he's going to do anything but great things for us."
No doubt, and if Stoudemire isn't careful, James may yet own this town.
Dan Bickley
The Arizona Republic
Aug. 1, 2006 12:00 AM
FLAGSTAFF
Like a wild stallion, Edgerrin James won't always do what you want.
Some guys refuse to be tamed. And in this case, it's best to just go along for the ride.
"Life is too short," he recently told a stressed-out Cardinals' employee. "And ain't none of us getting out alive."
With the dreadlocks, the gold teeth and the fierce sense of independence, James is the NFL's version of Captain Jack Sparrow. Control-hungry coaches usually cringe at renegades like this, at least the ones who aren't cutting a furious path to the Hall of Fame.
Yet it's easy to misinterpret James' character based on a few nonconformist traits. For starters, he's never unprepared.
This was clear minutes after his first workout at 7,000 feet, when a supremely fit James scoffed at the elevation and expressed disappointment in the relative ease of the Cardinals' initial workout.
"A piece of cake practice," he said.
Then again, his attention to homework was evident long before he became a member of the worst team in NFL history.
"He called me before he signed," the Suns' Amaré Stoudemire said. "He asked me about living in Arizona. I gave him the thumbs' up."
We hope Stoudemire realizes he was welcoming some serious competition to the throne. After all, if things go according to plan, James soon will battle the Suns' star for the most popular athlete in the Valley.
He's that engaging, that compelling, and everywhere he goes, James quickly becomes the center of attention.
In the Colts' training camp, wide receiver Reggie Wayne showed up for the first practice wearing James' new Cardinals jersey.
Bet that made Tony Dungy feel real good.
Here with the Cardinals, James already has become a central figure, a magnetic personality, a football player leading by enormous credentials. And for all the fretting over where he would spend his off-season, James already has forged deep relationships with his offensive linemen.
On his way to camp, James went so far as to text message them his personal goals for the upcoming season. In other words: This is where I plan on going. Are you coming with?
"He's one of those guys that hates dull moments," Cardinals' star Anquan Boldin said. "And he loves for the team to be together, loves to do activities on and off the field."
Clearly, James is a people person with great passion and a legitimate love for football. He might not oblige all of management's wishes, but he's the rare player who can bridge the natural gap between offensive and defensive players.
He's that good at building camaraderie, and after Monday's practice, he and linebacker Darryl Blackstock engaged in a good-natured exchange.
James: "Did you guard me today?"
Blackstock: "All day."
James: "Did you catch me?"
Blackstock: "I had you man-to-man the whole time."
James: "Hey, you don't get better by lying."
When Blackstock continued to insist James had not gotten the best of him, the Cardinals' running back had enough.
"You want to go back out there right now? What's wrong with these dudes, man? And can I tell you all a secret? I was just cruising today."
There hasn't been this much fun in camp since Larry Centers put a skunk in Jake Plummer's dorm room.
"I think he brings an excitement," quarterback Kurt Warner said. "He's a different personality, and much different than the whole organization has had in a while. He's loosened things up and broken some barriers, which I think is great. And I don't think he's going to do anything but great things for us."
No doubt, and if Stoudemire isn't careful, James may yet own this town.
