Edgerrin James, unsigned and hoping to enter his 11th NFL season as a running back, projected a carefree attitude regarding his future.
“There are not 32 backs out there who are better than me,”
James said with a smile. Most NFL training camps begin Aug. 1. “I want to continue to play. I can play at a high level.“
“I’m not saying where I want to go. It will all take care of itself.”
Surrounded by about 400 children at the Immokalee Sports Complex, the 11th all-time leading rusher in NFL history also projected plenty of confidence.
The 1996 Immokalee High School graduate, released from his contract with the Arizona Cardinals after becoming the first Collier County high school graduate to play in a Super Bowl, put on a day-long football clinic today for his native town’s youth.
James did not charge for the camp. He enlisted the help of Immokalee High and area Pop Warner coaches along with former NFL wide receiver and Fort Myers resident Jammi German and Washington Redskins running back Clinton Portis.
The children, ages five through 17, arrived at 9 a.m. and listened to a brief speech by sports agent Drew Rosenhaus. Then they did a series of warmup drills and split into different agility drill stations. After a lunch break, they divided into teams and competed in 7-on-7 and 10-on-10 games.
“Football season is right around the corner,”
James said. “The timing of this is best of all. This will lead them right into their seasons.”
As for his own whereabouts this coming season, James said he was not in a rush to decide.
The death of his longtime girlfriend, Andia Wilson-James, also has factored into his decision to remain a free agent. James-Wilson died April 14 after a battle with leukemia.
“I had to make sure that part was taken care of first,”
James said of his family, which includes four children: Edquisha, Eyahna, Edgerrin Jr. and Euro. “Now I’m getting into football more.”
Xavier Griffin, 15, appreciated the opportunity. A distant cousin of James, Griffin said he enjoyed learning under him.
