Fellow RB T.J. Duckett released, but no Seahawks contract yet for Edgerrin James

Seahawks don’t have James, release Duckett

RENTON, Wash. — The Edgerrin James saga with the Seattle Seahawks could be nearing a conclusion, after the team waived T.J. Duckett on Tuesday to clear roster space.

James did not practice with the Seahawks, one day after the league’s active leading rusher reportedly had reached an agreement on a free-agent contract. His agent, Drew Rosenhaus, was inside team headquarters into Tuesday afternoon but declined to comment publicly.

Duckett confirmed to The Associated Press in a text message Tuesday night that he had been released. Seattle was at its preseason roster limit and had to shed someone to add James, who is likely to sign Wednesday and perhaps practice with his third NFL team.

Tuesday was a day of innuendo, speculation and no comments befitting the arrival of a rushing king in his prime, instead of a 31-year-old running back who was benched for the first time in his career last season by Arizona.

In April, the Cardinals finally granted James’ wish to be released.

Seahawks coach Jim Mora had nothing to say Tuesday. A team spokesman said there was “nothing new to report,” even though Duckett was missing.

Team president Tim Ruskell and his top deputies who handle Seahawks personnel and contracts, Ruston Webster and John Idzik, were not on the sidelines as usual. With Rosenhaus in Seattle, a deal to sign the running back who’s 11th on the rushing list with 12,121 yards seemed imminent.

The lone veteran tailback remaining on Seattle’s roster is Julius Jones.

“No. I’m not worried about that,” said Jones, former lead back with the Dallas Cowboys. “All I’m working on is trying to get myself better.”

Jones practiced for only the second time in 12 days following a bruised thigh.

“We’ll wait and see,” Jones said of the Seahawks’ running back picture. “I guess in a day or two, it will work itself out.”

Seattle and new offensive coordinator Greg Knapp are installing his highly successful zone-blocking scheme this season. He had been planning to use a triumvirate to run behind it: Jones, Duckett and elusive, still-developing second-year man Justin Forsett.

In 12 combined seasons, they have rushed for 5,125 fewer yards than James, the 10-year veteran and former star with the Indianapolis Colts. James is within 158 yards of Marcus Allen and Marshall Faulk on the career rushing list, and 191 yards behind Jim Brown for eighth.

“Yeah. I watched ‘Edge’ quite a bit. I know he’s a good back,” Jones said. “He’s definitely a great back and somebody I’ve always watched.”

James had 794 carries for 2,895 yards and 16 touchdowns in his three seasons in Arizona. He topped 1,000 yards in 2006 and again in 2007, but was benched for seven games early in ‘08 as the Cardinals went with rookie Tim Hightower.

James asked Arizona to release him then. The Cardinals refused, and he was reinserted into the lineup late in the season. His resurgence during the playoffs gave Arizona the running game it had lacked and sparked the team to James’ only Super Bowl.

Before the Cardinals released him, James had one year and $5 million remaining on the four-year, $40 million deal he signed with Arizona before the 2006 season.

AP Sports Writer Larry Lage in Detroit contributed to this story.