Cardinals running back Edgerrin James via IM

	Edgerrin James is trying to keep his gold-plated smile despite the Cardinals' 1-7 start. Robert Beck/SI
	MAILBAG Submit a comment or question for Michael. Your name: Your e-mail address: Your home town: Enter your question:
	Compare Mortgage Offers Get up to 4 free mortgage/refinance quotes... www2.nextag.com Compare Mortgage Offers Get up to 4 free mortgage/refinance quotes... www2.nextag.com Compare Mortgage Offers Get up to 4 free mortgage/refinance quotes... www2.nextag.com Compare Mortgage Offers Get up to 4 free mortgage/refinance quotes... www2.nextag.com

The last time I hung out with Edgerrin James, he was the Prince of the Desert, the hottest thing to hit Arizona since ... well, you know what I mean.

After the former Indianapolis Colts halfback signed a four-year, $30 million contract with the Arizona Cardinals last March, he became the symbol of the rampant optimism surrounding the long-suffering franchise. Five months later, when I arrived to cover the team's first preseason game at its sparkling new stadium in the Phoenix suburb of Glendale, James was large and in charge: scoring a Plasma TV for the locker room, shepherding a switch to black cleats and winning side bets from teammates on the sidelines and in local pool halls.

Then the season began, and after Arizona's 34-27 victory over the 49ers on opening day, things got real ugly, real fast. A seven-game losing streak that included the benching of quarterback Kurt Warner in favor of rookie Matt Leinart and an epic collapse on Monday Night Football against the Bears has put the Cardinals (1-7) at the bottom of the standings. Statistically, James has struggled mightily, rushing for 516 yards on 185 carries -- a 2.8-yard average -- and three touchdowns, with a season-long gain of 14 yards. In that brutal defeat to Chicago, James carried 36 times for 55 yards.

In fairness, James believes the team has deviated from the type of offensive scheme -- three- and four-receiver sets that would spread opposing defenses and keep them from crowding the box -- he was told it would be employing while he was being recruited.

This was one of many topics we addressed Tuesday evening during the first Rollin' With using Instant Message technology -- me on my laptop while sitting at the dinner table with my wife and kids, James on his trusty Sidekick while keeping an appointment at a Phoenix barber shop.

Silver: Yo.

James: Yoooooooo! Whatup

Silver: Where you at? Watching election results?

James: Getting hair twisted.

Silver: Nice. How's life in the desert?

James: Same ol' brother

Silver: OK, let's get started. Normally you are smiling 24/7. How often are you smiling these days?

James: I'm just try'n 2 smile and stay positive

Silver: You've never been through this before, right?

James: Never, ever, ever, ever, ev, e ...

Silver: What do you think is going on?

James: Murphy's Law

Silver: You were warned about this ...

James: Didn't prepare 4 the unexpected

Silver: Is there some overriding reason the Cardinals can't win?

James: Not sure ... So much talent its krazy