James may be done Indy?

[12thMan]

According to ESPN, Edgerrin James will be looking elsewhere during free agency and feels his services are no longer needed in Indy.

I think this would be a huge blow to them, as it would make it a bit easier to game plan for them offensively.

I guess it's another story of a superstar getting caught in the numbers game.

[MTK]

The Colts have a crazy amount of their cap tied up in just a few players. Losing Edge will hurt them but I'm sure they can find someone at a cheaper price who will give them enough production to keep defenses honest.

[12thMan]

Seems like they pretty much want to keep Wayne, Freeney, and of course Peyton.....it will be very interesting to see how they respond next season.

[Monksdown]

I am glad to be a Redskins fan yet again. If I were a Colts fan, I would have to concede that most of my cap space was eaten up by one future hall of famer who at his current pace, will have more post season int's then td's, and will probably never win a super bowl because of the damage his contract does to the rest of the team.

[That Guy]

brady has to be the best QB now just because he gave back $10mill to not destroy the pats cap and get better players around him. peyton's contract with harrison et al... its just too much money in 4-5 players.

[12thMan]

I just can't see them continuing to make runs with so much tied up in two or three guys. Fortunately for us, that's how we landed Marcus!!

Them losing James won't devastate them, but it will hurt some.

[jdlea]

I think that Indy has been planning on the loss of Edge for a few years, now. Last year I heard their GM saying that he felt like he could get a lot of yards out of a guy like James Mungro. I don't buy it, but the Colts don't seem to think that they need a premier runner. That's fine, but I don't think it's gonna be nearly as easy for Peyton to sit back there without a running back who can tote the rock.

Also, I believe that I remember seeing one mock draft that had the Colts taking Lawrence Maroney. I think that would be a good fit for them. I think that kid is gonna be a very solid in the NFL. If they do get the opportunity to take him, assuming they lose Edge, I don't see that as a huge blow to the offense.

Bottom line is the Colts running back just needs to be respectable for Peyton to be able to get the time he needs. However, when they lose Edge, the complection of that offense will have to change, at least a little bit.

[backrow]

Just because we will lose the Edge, doesn't mean more losses!

The above brought to you courtesy of "The fly on the wall" from the Colts FO!

[saden1]

Dominic Rhodes ran for 1104 yards his rookie when James went down. Is he as good as James? No. Will he garner attention for defenses? You can bet your ass. Losing James will cost them a game or two but the Colts will still be playoff team.

[onlydarksets]

I put the over-under at 4 hours (3:19pm EST) for the first "Should we dump Portis for James?" thread.

Actually, for the first time in a while, I get the feeling that nobody is thinking that. It's a good feeling - stability!

[dmek25]

how much of a team player is manning with that monsterous contract and leaving the colts no wiggle room with the cap?

[redsk1]

This situation brings up the question of playing for a winning team for less or going to a lesser team, probably a losing team, and making more money.

I'll make the argument that in a lot of cases players are better off playing for a discount on a winning team. W/ the sal cap, teams just can't keep all of their core players forever. James may be better off playing for a discount and potentially winning mult. SB's w/ Peyton. He would be remembered forever in the Indi area and be treated like a king. Think about the former skins that live in the area. Its been fifteen or twenty years for most of the former skins that won sb's and they are still making money-being an x-skin.

[scowan]

You guys notice what is happening..... E. James may be gone from his team, Shawn Alexander may be gone from his team no matter what the result on Sunday, Larry Johnson, my vote for stud RB next year, is playing for Herman Edwards next year, so while he will be great, I wonder if he can repeat last year's performance. Meanwhile Clinton Portis, just stays with the Skins and gets Saunders calling plays next year. Portis could be a 1600-1700 yard back next year! And the Rushing Champ!

[dmek25]

that would be sweet

[12thMan]

Originally Posted by redsk1

This situation brings up the question of playing for a winning team for less or going to a lesser team, probably a losing team, and making more money.

I'll make the argument that in a lot of cases players are better off playing for a discount on a winning team. W/ the sal cap, teams just can't keep all of their core players forever. James may be better off playing for a discount and potentially winning mult. SB's w/ Peyton. He would be remembered forever in the Indi area and be treated like a king. Think about the former skins that live in the area. Its been fifteen or twenty years for most of the former skins that won sb's and they are still making money-being an x-skin.

But you know that was a different era. Players come and go these, not really of their doing a lot of the times. A lot of the guys from those Redskins teams were with the organization for several years. In some cases at least 10. On top of that, the city embraced these players even more because they were, well Super Bowl champions.

It makes it a little easier to stick around somewhere when you've spent most of your career with that team or you played on a couple of championship teams.

I think if Edge sticks with Indy, which I doubt he will, and wins a Super Bowl he could be in a similiar situation.