Indianapolis Colts sign Javarris James
The Indianapolis Colts will be hoping that a familiar name can help them in their depth at the running back position by signing Javarris James.
Javarris James is a younger cousin of former Colts running back Edgerrin James who played seven seasons for Indianapolis.
When the Colts backup running back Donald Brown got injured it became necessary to find some depth to fill in at the position behind starting runningback Joseph Addai – who is also nursing a sore back.
That's when the Colts stumbled on James.
"It came out of the blue," James said. "I had just gotten out of practice when they called me. I was excited. I'm just happy to be back. Whatever role I have to play, I'm just going to make sure I give
100 per cent."
James had spent the off-season and training camp with the Colts but went over to the New England Patriots practice squad after being released. James was subsequently released from New England's practice
squad on Tuesday, then practiced with the Washington Redskins on Wednesday before the Colts took the opportunity to pick him up.
"I went to sleep a Patriot, woke up a Redskin and went to sleep a Colt," James said.
Colts head coach Jim Caldwell explained the move stating that James' inclusion in the lineup was made to address concerns they have about their depth chart:
"Certainly, it's a numbers issue," he said. "A numbers issue is usually caused by some concern we have, so we're just trying to make sure we're in a position to cover ourselves if we have any difficult."
The James name might send a few sparks through the skin of some Colts fans as, during his seven seasons with the Colts, Edgerrin was as fan favourite running for over 1000 yards five times and was named
the NFL's offensive rookie of the year by the associated press in 1999.
Expectations certainly won't be nearly as high for cousin Javarris.
Tags: