posted on May, 21 2005 @ 10:54 AM
Edgerrin James was a no-show Friday as the Indianapolis Colts began a mandatory minicamp session amid his effort to get a new long-term contract from
the team or be traded.
The former two-time NFL rushing champion signed a one-year franchise offer from the Colts in March that will pay him a little more than $8 million
this year.
Colts coach Tony Dungy said the minicamp would continue, with or without James.
Drew Rosenhaus, James' agent, declined to comment when reached Friday by The Associated Press.
Rosenhaus had said in March that James was "not enthusiastic" about playing under a one-year contract and that he was negotiating with the Colts and
other NFL teams.
The contract offer the Colts made to James came after the team had signed quarterback Peyton Manning and wide receiver Marvin Harrison to long-term
deals during the previous year.
sportsillustrated.cnn.com...
Notice his agent is Rosenhaus, the same agent recently hired by Terrell Owens. He is becoming known as the agent players go to to try and get more
money and his players often use holdouts as their leverage. I think James has a bit more of a case than TO as he's playing under a one-year deal and
his offensive teammates, Manning and Harrison, were just given long-term lucrative contracts. Then again, he shouldn't have signed the one year deal
in March if he didn't intend on honoring it.