Cardinals may keep unhappy Edge

Most of us have assumed that Edgerrin James would become an ex-Cardinal this off-season. And while that's still likely, don't rule out the possibility of James returning to the team for the final year of his contract. I talked to coach Ken Whisenhunt for a few minutes this morning between meetings at the NFL owners confab at Dana Point, Calif. I asked him about a few subjects (I'll have more later), but regarding Edge, Whisenhunt said he would like to shore up the running back position before deciding to release James. The Cardinals signed Jason Wright in free agency, and he could be the team's third-down back. The Cardinals are expected to draft a back to share time with Tim Hightower. But even with those three players, the position is thin. Whisenhunt said he could foresee James returning, depending upon personnel moves over the next month to six weeks or so. And it seems certain that James won't be released before the draft in late April. That's not going to make James happy. He wanted to be released right after the season in order to have a better shot at landing a featured role somewhere else. The Cardinals, however, have paid James $25 million of the $30 million contract he signed three years ago. They figure that kind of money gives them the right to cover themselves until the need at running back has been addressed. Despite his unhappiness, James has been a diligent worker and he proved late last season that he can still be effective. It will be hard for the Cardinals to release him and place the workload on Hightower, in his second year, and a draft choice.

(cnnsi.com)