Does Edgerrin James Need a Super Bowl Victory More Than Kurt Warner?

All the talk this week has been about Arizona Cardinals Quarterback Kurt Warner needing another Super Bowl victory to cement his name in the Hall of Fame.

However, it seems as though the former Super Bowl MVP might already have done so and Cardinals running back Edgerrin James on the other hand may be the one who needs the victory.

James left the Colts the year before they won the Super Bowl in 2006 and hasn’t won an NFL Championship. Although the Colts technically gave him a Super Bowl ring for his part in helping the Colts' franchise develop and win the Super Bowl, he still doesn’t have a real championship victory of his own.

In fact, if anything, the Colt’s Super Bowl victory hurt his legacy by showing people that the Colts didn’t need James to win. Since he has gone to the Cardinals in 2006, his numbers have dropped tremendously and his legacy seemed to have taken a hit.  

In his three years with the Cardinals he has averaged a very poor 3.6 yards per carry. Earlier this year, things got so bad for him, that during an eight-game stretch starting in week nine he was limited to 11 carries.

James was so unhappy following a 35-16 victory over the St. Louis Rams on Nov. 16, that he asked to be released. Fortunately for him and the Cardinals, they refused to do so.

James regained his starting role in Week 17 and since then he has suddenly been playing with a chip on his shoulder. In the Cardinals' playoff stretch, James seems to be fresher, more explosive, and more importantly he seems to be fighting for every yard he can get.

James’ performances have been vital in helping bring the Cardinals to their first Super Bowl ever. No matter what you want to say about James, you can’t deny that he has had an incredible career.

James is 11th in NFL history with 12,121 rushing yard and is only 1501 yard from passing Bettis to enter the top five of all-time.

Other career highlights and awards:

• 80 career touchdowns (18th all time)
• 4x Pro Bowl selection
• 4x All-Pro selection
• AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year in 1999
• Led NFL with 1,553 rushing yards in 1999
• Led NFL with 1,709 rushing yards in 2000
• Colts career rushing leader with 9,226 yards
• Colts career rushing touchdown leader with 64

I had no idea that James had so many yards in his career until I looked it up. Many people like me have forgotten just how good he was for the Colts since he has gone to Arizona.

James would probably be a sure Hall of Famer if he had stayed in Indianapolis and I wonder if his departure might have cost him the Hall of Fame.

I have no doubt that James at some point may have regretted leaving Indianapolis for more money and been envious of his former Colts’ teammates for hosting the Lombardi Trophy.

However, if James can win the Super Bowl this year, it will no longer be a mistake that he left the Colts and he may finally be at peace with himself.

If the Cardinals to do win, James can ride into the sunset like Jerome Bettis did after winning Super Bowl XLII and eventually be put into the Hall of Fame.