According to ESPN.com Arizona Cardinals’ running back Edgerrin James wanted his outright release but the team denied his request.

“We spoke with [general manager] Rod Graves because Edgerrin still believes he is a 1,000-yard back and he is healthy and he is still capable of being a 1,000-yard back for a team,” Rosenhaus said. “He is not playing now, and there are teams that are banged up at the running back position that he could help. We didn’t get the answer we were hoping for.”

Graves said on Wednesday evening that Rosenhaus asked if the team would consider releasing James “and we declined it as a consideration.”

“I explained to him that we still saw Edgerrin as a valuable member of our football team,” Graves said.

“Edgerrin isn’t trying to cause any problems,” Rosenhaus said. “He has had a Hall of Fame career and he has enjoyed his stay in Arizona. But it’s apparent that he’s probably not going to be back with the Cardinals next season. If that’s the case, he can move and help another team and get a start now.”

The writing was on the wall for James in Arizona when there were rumors in April that the team wanted to draft a running back. And now that Tim Hightower has emerged as a quality starter (he has been more effective than James has), there’s just no room for James. I don’t blame the team for wanting to hang on to him throughout the year for insurance, but it would be fair to James if the Cards parted ways at the end of the season to give him another opportunity to start somewhere.