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Edgerrin James has always been known to possess a laid-back personality.
So it shouldn't come as any surprise that the Indianapolis Colts' running back is taking a wait-and-see approach concerning his future. James has been the subject of trade speculation since he was tagged as the Colts' non-exclusive franchise player two weeks ago.
In an interview Thursday with Sirius NFL Radio, the former University of Miami standout remained steadfast in his desire for a long-term contract. But he wouldn't discount the possibility of returning to Indianapolis for the 2005 season.
"This thing changes daily. You never really know. I just hope to get a long term deal, whether it's with them or with someone else," James said, adding that he would probably be a no-show at the team's spring mini-camps if he remained with the Colts under a one-year contract.
"As far as mini camps, I pretty much won't go. As far as training camp, I don't know what will happen," he said. "I'm a football player and I love to play the game. I'll always be open-minded. My main focus is to get into a better situation, a situation where I can have a long-term deal, but right now isn't even the time to talk about August."
Concerning rumors of possible trades to Miami - for either cornerback Patrick Surtain or defensive end Jason Taylor plus middle-round draft picks - or Arizona, James said that he isn't getting involved in the conversation. He'll leave that to south Florida agent Drew Rosenhaus, who is trying to piece together a deal that would be agreeable to the Colts.
"If I was just an unrestricted free agent, it would be a totally different scenario," he said. "Knowing what they have to go through [to make a deal happen with the franchise tag], a team will pretty much say we can't focus in on this [deal]."
James added that although most speculation has him going to play for his hometown Dolphins, he contends that he would be happy anywhere - just as long as he received a long-term contract.
"First, you have to start with the long-term deal. You can go down the whole NFL. After the long-term deal, no problem," he said. "If I was dependent on a system or if I felt like I couldn't go anywhere else, I would probably feel like man, damn, what's up with me?
"But I got game, and when you got game, you don't worry about all that stuff. I got game, I can play anywhere and whatever happens, happens. I'm going to be all right regardless."
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Whatever transpires over the next few weeks, James says that he does not hold any ill feelings toward the Colts or the team leadership. He added that he does not have a problem with the mega-contracts that the team has awarded to quarterback Peyton Manning and wide receiver Marvin Harrison.
"It's cool. I had a great relationship there. It's all business," he said. "Everything that goes on is part of the package. I can't say that I'm mad or this or that, I just try to do my part.
"We [Manning and Harrison] have a great relationship. We all go out and work hard. That's the thing that young players get to see when they come [to Indianapolis]. They see the starters going hard, taking a lot of reps in practice. And for us to part ways, it's part of the business. The good thing about it is if you part ways, you're still going to be successful. I could see if I was on my last leg or if I didn't come back from the injury, then I'm going out in the cold, but now I'm ready. Good things are going to happen to me."
Edgerrin James has always been known to possess a laid-back personality.
So it shouldn't come as any surprise that the Indianapolis Colts' running back is taking a wait-and-see approach concerning his future. James has been the subject of trade speculation since he was tagged as the Colts' non-exclusive franchise player two weeks ago.
In an interview Thursday with Sirius NFL Radio, the former University of Miami standout remained steadfast in his desire for a long-term contract. But he wouldn't discount the possibility of returning to Indianapolis for the 2005 season.
"This thing changes daily. You never really know. I just hope to get a long term deal, whether it's with them or with someone else," James said, adding that he would probably be a no-show at the team's spring mini-camps if he remained with the Colts under a one-year contract.
"As far as mini camps, I pretty much won't go. As far as training camp, I don't know what will happen," he said. "I'm a football player and I love to play the game. I'll always be open-minded. My main focus is to get into a better situation, a situation where I can have a long-term deal, but right now isn't even the time to talk about August."
Concerning rumors of possible trades to Miami - for either cornerback Patrick Surtain or defensive end Jason Taylor plus middle-round draft picks - or Arizona, James said that he isn't getting involved in the conversation. He'll leave that to south Florida agent Drew Rosenhaus, who is trying to piece together a deal that would be agreeable to the Colts.
"If I was just an unrestricted free agent, it would be a totally different scenario," he said. "Knowing what they have to go through [to make a deal happen with the franchise tag], a team will pretty much say we can't focus in on this [deal]."
James added that although most speculation has him going to play for his hometown Dolphins, he contends that he would be happy anywhere - just as long as he received a long-term contract.
"First, you have to start with the long-term deal. You can go down the whole NFL. After the long-term deal, no problem," he said. "If I was dependent on a system or if I felt like I couldn't go anywhere else, I would probably feel like man, damn, what's up with me?
"But I got game, and when you got game, you don't worry about all that stuff. I got game, I can play anywhere and whatever happens, happens. I'm going to be all right regardless."
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=photo-left><TD></TD><TR><TD class=photo-left></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
Whatever transpires over the next few weeks, James says that he does not hold any ill feelings toward the Colts or the team leadership. He added that he does not have a problem with the mega-contracts that the team has awarded to quarterback Peyton Manning and wide receiver Marvin Harrison.
"It's cool. I had a great relationship there. It's all business," he said. "Everything that goes on is part of the package. I can't say that I'm mad or this or that, I just try to do my part.
"We [Manning and Harrison] have a great relationship. We all go out and work hard. That's the thing that young players get to see when they come [to Indianapolis]. They see the starters going hard, taking a lot of reps in practice. And for us to part ways, it's part of the business. The good thing about it is if you part ways, you're still going to be successful. I could see if I was on my last leg or if I didn't come back from the injury, then I'm going out in the cold, but now I'm ready. Good things are going to happen to me."
