Given the declarations coming from the Arizona Cardinals' locker room about proving naysayers wrong, it was curious that as Edgerrin James pulled on a sweatshirt Saturday after Arizona's 30-24 win over Atlanta, there did not appear to be a discernable chip on either of his shoulders, wrote the New York Times.

If there was anyone among the Cardinals who could talk about being disrespected or written off, it was James. Earlier this season, he lost his starting job to the rookie Tim Hightower. His request to be released was rebuffed, and he said last week that he did not plan on being back with the Cardinals next year. He said his idea of playing running back was not to block in pass protection 50 times a game.

So, did James view his performance Saturday — when he rushed for 73 yards on 16 carries and gave the Cardinals a semblance of balance that they lacked almost all season — as redemption?

"It's playoff football, man," said James, who brushed off several versions of the question.

This might have been the most disappointing and least productive season of his career, but there is no bitterness in James.

"It really has nothing to do with proving something to somebody," James, 30, said. "Once I feel like I can't play, I won't go play the game. I'm not in a situation where I have to play. If I couldn't play at a high level, I would hang it up."

Source: New York Times