EDGERRIN JAMES ALREADY GONE IN ARIZONA

In an interview on Dan Patrick’s radio show, Dan Bickley of the Arizona Republic and XTRA Sports 910 said in no uncertain terms that Cardinals running back Edgerrin James is already gone.

Bickley said that James didn’t return to Arizona with the team, and that he fully expects James not to be back in 2009.

James is entering the final year of his contract, at a base salary of $5 million.

By cutting him, the Cardinals would create $5 million in 2009 cap space — which would push their bulge under the spending limit to at least $47 million.

James currently is 11th on the all-time rushing list, with 12,121 yards.  He trails Marcus Allen by 122 yards, and Jim Brown by only 191 yards.

Tim Hightower presumably will be the starting running back in 2009; backup J.J. Arrington is due to become an unrestricted free agent.

(profootballtalk.com)