The Edge in the Desert - What the &%#!

I have not been keeping up with NFL news lately. So imagine my shock when I read that earlier this evening Edgerrin James signed a four year, $30 million deal with the Arizona Cardinals. I knew he hadn't been feeling the Colts for a while. But the Arizona Cardinals...? What the hell? I'm never going to be able to see him play this season what with the NFC West being all boring and the bad game times and little national coverage the Cardinals garner. (Yeah, I have a thing for the Edge. I don't know why. Moving on.)

Let's peruse the 2006 regular-season, opponents schedule, shall we? (Sorry, its the only schedule available at this point in the offseason.) Arizona, a member of the less than glamorous NFC West, is all set to face such teams as: San Francisco, St. Louis and Seattle. That is so NOT sexy. Yes, it is true that the Seattle Seahawks went to the Super Bowl last season, but we all know no one cared. Sorry, its a harsh reality. And the St. Louis Rams haven't been the "greatest show on turf" for quite some time now. Don't even get me started on the 49ers. But I guess some would argue nothing is sexier than $30 million in 4 years.

Once the game times are fixed, this situation is going to go from bad to worse, fast. Arizona usually plays its games late on Sunday afternoons; and, it is has about as much chance as a snowball in hell of getting a nationally televised games. Maybe the game times will be better this season. Who knows? People are describing the Cardinals as an "up-and-coming" team this season. Whatever! We'll have to see about that; though, they have been making some pretty good moves.

In addition to the Edge, the Cardinals have signed free agent guard Milford Brown, a player known for his aggressive style of play - just what the Cardinals need, in their opinion. Kendrick Clancy, defensive tackle, also signed with the team. Equally important, the Cardinals are in the process of relocating to a new stadium with a retractable roof and natural grass. Yippy! Grass is so much better for the knees!

Now let's talk about something really important. How will the Edge look in red and white? I must admit, I really wasn't feeling him in the Colts uniform. But the red will probably be a good contrast color on his chocolatey skin. Ultimately, though, like the game times, I guess we'll have to wait to see how the Edge looks in his new uni'.