EDGERRIN JAMES
On the U.S. court of appeals decision upholding the NFL's right to bar players such as Maurice Clarett until they're three years out of high school
That was cold, man. Some special players could enter the league at a young age. I was 20 when I got drafted, and I'd barely played in college; Clarett was 19 and had led his team to a national championship. The moral of the story is, Don't be messing with the NFL. The league has a lot of bad mother- in the right places, and it's not going to let anybody tamper with the system.
• On Ricky Williams's retirement
So many people who played in this league end up dead-ass broke, and they've also got all these aching bones and can't run around. One thing I know about Ricky is, his body won't be broke up. Whether he's broke, I don't know.
• On the possibility of returning to his hometown, Miami, to play for the Dolphins when his contract ends after the season
I'm not stupid. We've got the coolest owner [Jim Irsay], a coach [Tony Dungy] I could play for till I'm 50, and Mr. Polian [the team's president] went out on a limb to get me coming out of college. So the Colts have first choice. Then again, I'm open-minded. I have kids in Florida who I only see on my cellphone. I get lonely in Indy, and in a perfect world you'd be with your family. Bottom line is, whatever's thrown my way, I'll be fine. It's like when my brothers and I were kids, and my mom used to get put out of houses. We'd pick up our s, say 'See y'all later,' go stay somewhere else and make the best of it.--As told to Michael Silver
JAMES, IN HIS SIXTH SEASON, RAN FOR 142 YARDS AGAINST THE PATS LAST WEEK. HE PLAYS AT TENNESSEE THIS SUNDAY
"I don't eat breakfast.... I'd probably throw up if I did." --Patriots' Ty Law
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" I could play for Dungy till I'm 50, but I get lonely in Indy."
COLOR PHOTO
JEFFREY A. SALTER (JAMES)
COLOR PHOTO
AP PHOTO/VICTORIA AROCHO