Sam Donnellon: Running back James gives Cardinals an Edge

TEMPE, Ariz. - It's been a season of learning for Edgerrin James. He's learned that a big contract doesn't assure you of playing time. He's learned, or relearned, the value of ball possession. He's learned how to take his little victories when he can get them, whether it's a 1-yard gain, or just getting on the field again after a forced semisabbatical of nearly 2 months.

He also learned this, for the first time in his life:

"Sideline etiquette," the Arizona running back said after practice yesterday. "When to get up, when to move, where to stand.

"It's a new world."

And an unwelcome one to the four-time Pro Bowler, who came to the desert in 2006 from Indianapolis to forever etch his name among the greats like his idol Walter Payton - not to become a glorified cactus. James signed a 4-year, $40 million deal with the Cardinals, then ran for more than 1,000 yards in two straight seasons.

Expecting to be the featured star, James carried the ball about as much or less as he had with Indianapolis in his first two seasons here. But his productivity decreased, from an average well over 4 yards a carry to one well under 4 yards per carry. He is 30 now, and when he creaked through October, the league noted the odometer.

So did the Cardinals' coaching staff, no matter what the rewrite is now. James gained 29 yards against the Jets on nine carries, a game in which Kurt Warner threw for 426 yards - and lost, 56-35. He gained 57 yards on 21 carries the following week against Buffalo, then repeated his 9-for-29 against Dallas. Again, Warner threw for a zillion yards. This time, though, the Cardinals won in overtime.

The following week, though, a 27-23 loss to Carolina, James had 17 yards on seven carries and his third-quarter fumble enabled the Panthers to forge a tie. Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt sent him to the bench, replacing him with rookie Tim Hightower. In the weeks that followed, the Cardinals went pass-happy. They got a couple cheap wins, but down the stretch lost to every playoff team they faced, three times by embarrassing scores.

Meanwhile, "Edge" got edgy. His agent, the lovable Drew Rosenhaus, asked the Cardinals to trade him. They refused. As late as the last week of the season, James pronounced he would not return to the team next year, a thought that still seems mutually shared.

He never pouted, though, never held impromptu, self-serving press conferences. He supported and tutored Hightower, still calls him, "My man."

And he learned that sideline etiquette.

"When the offense comes off the field, you've got to move off the bench," he said, laughing.

You must also give up your spot near the heater during those cold games, like the one in Philly.

"You turn from a player to almost like an assistant coach," James said. " 'This is what I see out there' . . . 'Watch your spacing.' It's almost like having an extra set of eyes."

Behind early on Thanksgiving night, 21-0, the Cardinals ran the ball 10 times against the Eagles. James did not carry it once, carried just once the previous week against the Giants. Similar beatings by Minnesota and New England down the stretch convinced Whisenhunt and his staff to try the old man in the season finale against Seattle.

James responded with 100 yards on just 14 carries.

In two playoff games, has carried 36 times for 130 yards and a touchdown.

"His legs were fresh," Whisenhunt said yesterday, taking the bait, not aware that James had scoffed at the premise just minutes before. "He hadn't taken the toll that he was taking earlier in the season with the hits and the carries."

"No,'' James had said when asked if he was fresher. He responded as if his manhood had been challenged.

"I've always trained to make sure I'm in tip-top condition," he said. "Everyone is going to have their takes on this or that, but the difference is you're getting the opportunities and you're playing. I've played football a long time. Every year I've played, I've always carried the ball a lot and I've gotten up. That's the reason you train in the offseason, to prepare yourself to take those hits.

"I'm not really worried about what someone else says because if you go out and have a big day, that'll change their thoughts instantly."

It did with his coach. Whisenhunt said he felt respected by James during the benching, and yesterday James responded to a question about their relationship by saying, "That's my coach and I'm going to come out and play hard for my coach."

But it was clear moments later that he still sees his benching as insanity, still sees Mercedes-like mileage left on his 30-year-old legs. He learned sideline etiquette and little else. The Cardinals learned, painfully, that they still need The Edge.

"I continued to practice and do the things that I've always done all my career," James said. "And all of a sudden we're back to doing what's best for the team." *

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