PatsRule

I wonder how much it would take to bring him to NE

Edgerrin James Done With Colts

Fanfrom1960

Methinks you jumped to a conclusion:

"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.

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.

I bet he'd stay at Indy if they can work him in. He's only 27 years old.

mcdonut16

Contrary to popular pundit opinion, Edge is the guy that makes that whole Offense tick, not Manning. Check out Manning's stats the year that Edge blew out his knee.

I love it. If the Colts don't resign him they are toast. Edge has been looking to get out of Indy for years, and I'll bet part of it is to get as far away from Manning as possible. He knows they are never going to win the whole thing.

"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."


I would love to bring Edge to the Patriots. He's definately got 2-3 years left in the tank.

AndyJohnson

I see the future of the Colts VERY clearly.
The slide is starting. But they will remain competitive, and disappointing.

Dungy is going to build a clone of his Tampa defenses. They will be pretty good defenses, but will lack big game qualities, i.e. they will excite people with sacks numbers and statistics, but will be undersized and wear down throughout the season, and be unable to come up big in playoff games.
The offense will also evolve into a Dungy-esque offense. Manning will lose weapons, starting with James. Losing the running game, and the playaction will expose the offense, and Manning will be an underachiever. The OL will not be a priority and also deteriorate. If they do keep Wayne, soon Harrisons age will reduce his effectiveness, and the deep talented WR corps will be reduced to average.
The Colts will spend 5-7 years as playoff contenders, with an imporving D, (that never becomes good enough to win in the playoffs) and a deteriorating O. Manning goes from the guy that couldnt win because of his defnese to the guy 'carrying a weak offense'.
Neither Dungy or Manning ever win a Championship, and they fall into the category of teams that underachieved.

edzo44

So the question would be "How does he get appreciation??"
For James, is it appreciation if you bust your butt with solid teamwork and get a ring?
Or is appreciation all about the money and no chance at a ring??

__________________
We've had a bunch of practices. We're going out there everyday. They're tired. They're sore. There's a little bit of information overload, but it is pro football. Nobody ever said it was going to be easy."

- - - Bill Belichick

Pats726

THAT is a big question,,,a large important one!!

MoLewisrocks

Polian has a little cache with that fan base where RB is concerned because he traded Marshall Faulk and survived because it was for Edgerrin James. Those who are not already becoming disenchanted assume he will just find a younger cheaper Edge.

Polian has seemed in the last week or so to have been throwing Edge and the Oline under the bus. He said recently they needed a RB who could do his own blocking! This about a guy who has been a fantastic pass blocker and receiver out of the backfield. Fans in Indy assume it's either his exit strategy for not resigning a player he can't afford or his attempt to blunt Edge's market (Polian could work for the Sox).

That entire organization has the excuse mentality firmly imbedded and it starts at the very top. The only player Polian will not blame ever is of course his $98M man. The Colts need a power running game for the post season, but the only reason they don't have it is because they won't dedicate to it. It's not a personnel decision so much as a scheme choice. Polamalu is right that they are one dimentional (when it comes to crunch time) even though the seasonal stats would seem to bely that. They ran early and often through the cupcake schedule, but as usual abandoned the run earlier and earlier as the season progressed. This proves very misfortunate because his franchise QB turns into a frog and his franchise WR disappears every year in that all important last game.

Dungy won't last long enough to make many more significant improvements in that D either. His desire to get out and his desire to go out a winner are at critical odds. One more disappointing season and he's toast probably by mutual choice.

Unfortunately James and Dillon aren't really a viable combo because of the cost factor and the timing (not to mention Faulk's contract). Too much money to tie up in the running game, and without a better run blocking line James would under perform here too. Because contrary to what Polian and Manning are saying, that's been an exceptional line who was just hung out to dry by their coaches (game planning in the wake of the SD blueprint) and Mr. Audibles failure to adapt or execute in the crunch per usual. Provided the CBA gets done Edge will find a home this time around though because Polian just can't afford to franchise him again with $19M in bonuses due to Manning and Harrison alone, not to mention a handful of starter FA he has to re-sign.

workhorse

First Edge hasn't been trying to get out of Indy. Edge has been wanted a big deal with some years on it. He doesn't like living in the cold, being from Florida, but he enjoys/enjoyed playing for the Colts. Second, how much money do you think it would take to sign Edge? He wants a 4 or 5 year deal. If the new CBA get worked out, the Colts will resign him, but if it doesn't he's probably gone. I don't think that the Pats are willing to fork out the chunk of change that it will take to get him. How much do they have wrapped up in Dillon?

Polian has already said they need to address their O line, so saying it's not a priority would be a mistake. I'm not sure were you arguement is with the receivers. The Colts have said Reggie will be resigned, but I don't see how the receivers will "be reduced to average" simply by Marvin getting older. Marvin may be getting older, but his game is far from slipping. I' don't know how you can say that the Colts D will never become good enough. Did you see the turn around that they have made in the last two seasons? They are young and improving. I know most here hate the Colts, but don't let that hatred blind you.

T-ShirtDynasty

Too much to even think about lookin' at Edge.
Marvin's one of the best, no doubt. In the regular season. But honestly, doesn't he seem to you to dissapear for long stretches once the play-offs hit?

workhorse

I agree with your comments about Polian on Edge. He is up to something. He has said previously that they will resign Edge if they get the CBA done in time though. The Colts won't franchise Edge, but with a new CBA you can spread the sign bonus over more years than the current one and give both sides a friendly deal. If Edge walks, I'm not sure where they will find his replacement. The are some pretty good backs in the draft, though I'm not sure who will be there when the Colts pick at 30. There have been some rookies that have been able to step up the past couple of seasons, but it's hard to count on that, especailly lower in the draft. If they go the FA route, I'm not sure who is out there that would best fit that role. Either way Edge will be missed.

As far as the O line goes, Polian is the only one that outright charged them. He's not too far off. With Peyton, most people inferred that he was talking ONLY about the line, but his comments were an indictment on the coaching staff more than anyone else for not adjusting, as well as himself. That said, the Colts' line is far from exceptional this season, especailly when compared to their line from years past. They have an excellent line coach in Mudd who can turn a lump of coal into a decent lineman, but they have been losing some guys to free agency and plugging holes. I'm not saying the line sucks, far from it. They are one of the better lines in the league, but they have some issues and no depth, look for that to be addressed in the off season and draft.