The Red Zone Lounge

Posts Tagged ‘Tim Hightower’

The Arizona Cardinals releasing veteran running back Edgerrin James is expected to go down sometime this week, says an anonmyous NFL source.  The Cardinals picked up two running backs in this years draft including first round pick Chris “Beanie” Wells from Ohio State.  Already having Tim Hightower as a change of pace back, Wells is projected to take the starting roll and be the featured back in the desert. 

James sought an exit from Arizona during last season, after seeing a decreased roll in the offense due to the prolific passing game and introduction of Hightower.  James only put up 133 carries for 514 yards for the season, career lows for the 10-year veteran.  James could be released as early as Tuesday says the source and would be able to go to another team but with all the younger talent he may find the same situtation in another franchise.  He may find the role he’s looking for with a team that doesn’t yet have a defined running game, such as Cincinnati or perhaps Cleveland.  Kansas City wouldn’t be a stretch but what is almost certain is James will find a home rather quickly if he is indeed let go from Arizona.

Now that the Cardinals have moved on to new running back Tim Hightower, veteran Edgerrin James wants to move on as well.  Two weeks ago, Arizona decided to move rookie Hightower up the depth chart to take more of the snaps, leaving James on the bench.  Now James wants out of Arizona.

Quitely, James asked to be released after the switch was made which was ignored.  Now James is going public and wants out.  James’ agent, Drew Rosenhaus is trying to help him get a chance to play this season rather than spend the rest of it warming the bench. 

“He’s not looking to create controversy, he’s not trying to disrupt chemistry, he’s happy to see their success,” said Rosenhaus. “But he wants to play. He doesn’t understand why he was demoted and taken out of the offense.

“He would rather go someplace else and help someone else than stand around on the bench. We’re very eager to get back on the field and play because Edgerrin was on his way to a third straight 1,000-yard season. He’s not unhealthy. He hasn’t lost any of his skills. He just doesn’t want to wait until next year to show everyone he can play. He wants to do it now.”

If Arizona refuses to release him, James will get out but he will have to wait until after the season is over.  Next year James is slated to make $5 million that the Cardinals are unlikely to want to pay.  So James would like to find a team to take him now and let him play the rest of the season.  Theres no reason he couldn’t find one, hes on par for a third consecutive 1,000 yard season and has alot of gas left in the tank.  He will be a hot commodity, the question is will he be available now, or during the offseason.

Rookie running back Tim Hightower has had some success with the Arizona cardinals this season thus far.  Starting off primarily a goal line back, he does get alot more touches throughout the game now.  Enough touches that head coach Ken Whisenhunt does not completely rule out Hightower replacing veteran starting running back Edgerrin James, and could be effective as of the end of this season.

“I think we’ve shown we’re going to go with the players that give us the best chance to win,” Whisenhunt said. “We did that with the quarterback, we did that at linebacker, we did that with the offensive line. So if we feel Tim gives us the best chance to win, then absolutely.”

With a young, producing back in Hightower, the Cardinals may decide to move on without James and his scheduled $5 million base salary next season.  With that extra money, they can give Hightower a new contract and sign another back in the 2009 NFL Draft.  Although Hightower is proving his worth, the losing of veteran experience in James could hurt the Cardinals.

If James would be out of Arizona at the end of the season, he would be competing for starting jobs, much like former MVP Shaun Alexander did this season.  Alexander missed all of the preseason and the first half of the regular season before getting a one-year deal with the Washington Redskins after Ladell Betts suffered a knee injury.  James might have some difficulty finding a team for the next season should he be let go from Arizona, but he still has some game left in him and would be a valuable asset to any team’s running strategy.