2009 Free Agents

[skinsfan_nn]

EDGERRIN “PLEADS” WITH CARDINALS FOR RELEASE
Posted by Mike Florio on March 3, 2009, 8:52 p.m.

With free agency in full gear and guys getting paid (albeit not the huge chunks they might have wanted), one player continues to be kept on the sidelines.

Cardinals running back Edgerrin James, to whom the team surely won’t pay $5 million in base salary next season after being benched midway through the last one, has been asking for his release since last November.

He has said he was under the impression that it would come after the season. But it still hasn’t.

Per a league source, James has spoken to G.M. Rod Graves, and James has pleaded with Graves to release the veteran tailback. James’ thinking is that, if they’re going to cut him anyway at some point before the season, why not cut him now?

The Cardinals are fully within their rights to squat on James’ contract. But what do they gain from it? More than a few veteran players were dumped prior to free agency to give them a fair crack at the open market.

If the Cardinals plan to keep James and pay him $5 million in 2009, they need to say so. If they don’t, then they should let the guy try to find a job elsewhere.