RENTON, Wash. -- The Edgerrin James experiment in Seattle is over.
The struggling Seahawks cut ties with James on Tuesday, releasing the backup running back who never provided the pop Seattle hoped to get when it signed the 31-year-old in late August.
James’ release was one of a handful of moves Seattle made two days after a lackluster 38-17 loss that dropped the Seahawks to 2-5. Seattle also released safety C.J. Wallace and cornerback Travis Fisher.
The two-time NFL rushing champ signed with Seattle near the end of training camp hoping to revitalize a career that fell flat after moving from Indianapolis to Arizona. After getting benched for the first time last season, James provided a spark the Cardinals needed in their run to the Super Bowl. But he was released by Arizona in the offseason, and remained unemployed until the Seahawks came calling. Before his release by the Cardinals, James had one year and $5 million remaining on the four-year, $40 million deal he signed with Arizona before the 2006 season.
James failed to provide the punch Seattle hoped for when it cut T.J. Duckett to make room for James. He gained just 125 yards on 46 carries with no scores. He averaged just 2.7 yards per carry.
James had a season-high 16 carries for 46 yards in Seattle’s 41-0 win over Jacksonville, but James got double-digit carries in only one other game. Three times he was held to less than 10 yards rushing.
His only accolade in his seven games with the Seahawks was the 17 yards James gained last week at Dallas to pass Marcus Allen for 10th place on the NFL’s all-time rushing leaders list with 12,246 yards.
It has been a difficult year for James. His longtime girlfriend and mother of his four children, Andia Wilson, died April 18 of leukemia. James said he had to sort out his life before he turned his attention back to football and that was why it took until late August before he signed with a team.
(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
