Classy Move By Jim Irsay (1 Viewer)

[packersfan]

I saw this on ESPN.com today. I think this was a very classy gesture by Irsay:

Jim Irsay of Indianapolis recently showed why he is one of the NFL's classiest and most generous owners by sending a Super Bowl XLI ring to former Colts tailback Edgerrin James, who departed as an unrestricted free agent in the spring of 2006. Irsay felt James was such an integral part of the Colts' success leading up to their Super Bowl title that he thought the current Cardinal should have a ring.

 

[The Man with the Plan]

That's stupid. If you weren't on the team you don't deserve a ring. It's even dumber if he actually wears it.

Mike Vanderjagt should expect his ring in the mail too.

 

[proninja]

That's stupid. If you weren't on the team you don't deserve a ring. It's even dumber if he actually wears it. Mike Vanderjagt should expect his ring in the mail too.

Someone got to your cheerios this morning, huh?

 

[Joe Bryant]

I think James' continued positive comments about his time in Indy probably helped too. Class on both sides.

J

 

[gman8343]

wow - meanest thing ever. Every single day Edge is gonna think about that ring, and about how he had nothing to do with winning it, and how if only he'd stayed with the Colts he'd have been crowned champion instead of wasting away in Zona. Talk about a cruel, heartless gesture.

 

[Ghost Rider]

So, a guy gets a ring for bailing on the team and going to a franchise that is historically one of the worst in the NFL, just for the big payday? Interesting.

 

[IvanKaramazov]

wow - meanest thing ever. Every single day Edge is gonna think about that ring, and about how he had nothing to do with winning it, and how if only he'd stayed with the Colts he'd have been crowned champion instead of wasting away in Zona. Talk about a cruel, heartless gesture.

This was actually my thought as well. I'm sure it wasn't intended this way, but sending a guy a ring that the team won the season after he left is pretty close to a "FU" from the owner.

 

[NEUPJ]

When I first read this I went from "what a jerk rubbing his face in it." to "That's a classy thing to do." to "This could be the weirdest thing I've read in quite awhile." in about 10 seconds. It's a nice gesture and all but I really don't understand the whole thing, why would Edge even want it?

 

[The Man with the Plan]

That's stupid. If you weren't on the team you don't deserve a ring. It's even dumber if he actually wears it. Mike Vanderjagt should expect his ring in the mail too.

Someone got to your cheerios this morning, huh?

No I'm fine bro. I just don't think people who didn't win anything should get trophies (which the Super Bowl ring is). Edgerrin James made his decision to forget about getting "the ring" when he took the BIG money and went to Arizona (which I don't have a problem with). You can't have your cake and eat it too. If he's any kind of man he should throw that ring away or put it on Ebay or something. He didn't earn it. It's just that simple.

 

[SeniorVBDStudent]

Shouldn't Dungy get a Buccaneers ring?

The examples to cite are endless...

 

[TommyGilmore]

Wonder if Nomar or Adrian Dantley ever got rings?

 

[Buckle]

He take out the diamonds and melt the ring and make himself a mouth piece out of it.

 

[The Moz]

Only thing for Edge to do is thank you but no thanks. No chance would I take a ring for a title I wasn't apart of. Classy move by Indy but I doubt Edge excepts it.

 

[SteveInChicago]

Only thing for Edge to do is thank you but no thanks. No chance would I take a ring for a title I wasn't apart of. Classy move by Indy but I doubt Edge excepts it.

How do you "except" something?

 

[bonesman]

When I first read this I went from "what a jerk rubbing his face in it." to "That's a classy thing to do." to "This could be the weirdest thing I've read in quite awhile." in about 10 seconds. It's a nice gesture and all but I really don't understand the whole thing, why would Edge even want it?

do you realize what that thing must be appraised at?!?!BTW, I heard he was gonna wear it in his mouth.

 

[bicycle_seat_sniffer]

Im pretty sure alot of the Bics players when they finally won gave tons of credit to Dungy. Dont think he got a ring, but he got his own eventually.

 

[zamboni]

Wow, a lot of people bashing what looks like a clear good-hearted gesture. This place never ceases to amaze me.

 

[Ghost Rider]

Wow, a lot of people bashing what looks like a clear good-hearted gesture. This place never ceases to amaze me.

For the record, I was not bashing the gesture. I just think that it must be nice to bail on a team so you can get more money from a franchise that blows and yet still get a ring for when your original team won a championship after you left.

 

[Avery]

Wow, a lot of people bashing what looks like a clear good-hearted gesture. This place never ceases to amaze me.

For the record, I was not bashing the gesture. I just think that it must be nice to bail on a team so you can get more money from a franchise that blows and yet still get a ring for when your original team won a championship after you left.

As I remember, the Colts made no effort to resign him.

 

[Christo]

Wow, a lot of people bashing what looks like a clear good-hearted gesture. This place never ceases to amaze me.

You don't just win a championship on the field in the final game.

 

[Ghost Rider]

Wow, a lot of people bashing what looks like a clear good-hearted gesture. This place never ceases to amaze me.

For the record, I was not bashing the gesture. I just think that it must be nice to bail on a team so you can get more money from a franchise that blows and yet still get a ring for when your original team won a championship after you left.

As I remember, the Colts made no effort to resign him.

Wasn't that because they knew he was asking for a ton of money, and they knew that he wasn't worth what he was asking for?

 

[Avery]

Wow, a lot of people bashing what looks like a clear good-hearted gesture. This place never ceases to amaze me.

For the record, I was not bashing the gesture. I just think that it must be nice to bail on a team so you can get more money from a franchise that blows and yet still get a ring for when your original team won a championship after you left.

As I remember, the Colts made no effort to resign him.

Wasn't that because they knew he was asking for a ton of money, and they knew that he wasn't worth what he was asking for?

Maybe.What I seem to remember, and I could be wrong, is that the Colts did not have the realistic cap room to resign all of their core players to "fair market" contracts without putting themselves is deep cap trouble down the road so they simply were not planning on offering Edge a contract at his market value.

 

[Ozymandias]

I think he ought to give a ring to every Indy fan. I am sure their support helped the players on the team.

Now that would be classy.

 

[tikitime]

Wow, a lot of people bashing what looks like a clear good-hearted gesture. This place never ceases to amaze me.

It depends truly how the breakup between Edge and the Colts went down. If the Colts told Egde, we're not going to sign you, and look elsewhere, then I'd see it as purely a kind gesture. However, if the Colts wanted to negotiate, and Edge told them "thanks but no thanks I want the big CAISH", then I'd say all the people thinking this is an F U gesture might have a point.

 

[ChromeWeasel]

That's stupid. If you weren't on the team you don't deserve a ring. It's even dumber if he actually wears it. Mike Vanderjagt should expect his ring in the mail too.

I agree with you, it's pretty dumb to give a ring to someone who wasn't on the team. It's generous, but it's not classy. It takes away from the players who actually played on the winning team by cheapening their trophy. James didnt leave because his knees gave out or he was too injured to play or anything. He took the big paycheck and left the team. Good for him for taking the money, but lets not pretend that it was some sort of unavoidable tragic parting. It's business.This is the kind of things that soccer moms should enjoy, with the mentality that "Everyone is a special person" and no one actually wins or loses. Everyone gets to tie so that no one's feeling's get hurt. That's great for little kids. It has no business in professional football. Anyone who calls this crap 'classy' has a different definition that what's in my book. This cheapens the prize for the players who actually won last year. That's not classy, it's degrading.

 

[Nathan R. Jessep]

on the stone: *

engraved inside the band: Did Not Participate

 

[North]

Wow, a lot of people bashing what looks like a clear good-hearted gesture. This place never ceases to amaze me.

You don't just win a championship on the field in the final game.

Last time I checked you kind of do!

 

[North]

So I guess if the Patriots win this year they're goingto send a ring to Dillon?

If Indy wins it are they going to send a ring to Rhodes and Cato June?

 

[SuperJohn96]

First this is stupid.

He did not win the Super Bowl = doesn't get a ring.

Second, the only time Irsay and classy should be in the same sentence is if the sentence reads, "Jim Irsay* is not classy."

*See Colts, Baltimore

 

[mozzy84]

you know he sold that thing or gave it to someone in his entourage.

 

[North]

First this is stupid.He did not win the Super Bowl = doesn't get a ring.Second, the only time Irsay and classy should be in the same sentence is if the sentence reads, "Jim Irsay* is not classy."*See Colts, Baltimore

Probably the best post all year!

 

[Tom Servo]

I would officially like to call dibs on Mike Vandegjagt's ring that the Steelers will surely send him...assuming he doesn't want it, of course.

 

[by_the_sea_wannabe]

First this is stupid.He did not win the Super Bowl = doesn't get a ring.Second, the only time Irsay and classy should be in the same sentence is if the sentence reads, "Jim Irsay* is not classy."*See Colts, Baltimore

 

[PlayaHata]

Jim Irsay had almost nothing to do with the Baltimore Colts. That was his drunk father's fault. Ever since Jim took over ownership from his dad, he has been a great owner. He hires quality people (GM Bill Polian, HC Tony Dungy) and gets out of the way and lets them do their jobs.

 

[Fear & Loathing]

So I guess if the Patriots win this year they're goingto send a ring to Dillon?If Indy wins it are they going to send a ring to Rhodes and Cato June?

Time to head back to Analogy 101.First lesson: apples to apples, oranges to oranges; not apples to oranges.

 

[Fear & Loathing]

That's stupid. If you weren't on the team you don't deserve a ring. It's even dumber if he actually wears it. Mike Vanderjagt should expect his ring in the mail too.

I agree with you, it's pretty dumb to give a ring to someone who wasn't on the team. It's generous, but it's not classy. It takes away from the players who actually played on the winning team by cheapening their trophy.

 

[Christo]

Wow, a lot of people bashing what looks like a clear good-hearted gesture. This place never ceases to amaze me.

You don't just win a championship on the field in the final game.

Last time I checked you kind of do!

Check a little closer.

 

[j3r3m3y]

Wow, a lot of people bashing what looks like a clear good-hearted gesture. This place never ceases to amaze me.

You don't just win a championship on the field in the final game.

Yes you do.See "Dan Marino"

 

[Mike]

Wow, a lot of people bashing what looks like a clear good-hearted gesture. This place never ceases to amaze me.

For the record, I was not bashing the gesture. I just think that it must be nice to bail on a team so you can get more money from a franchise that blows and yet still get a ring for when your original team won a championship after you left.

As I remember, the Colts made no effort to resign him.

Wasn't that because they knew he was asking for a ton of money, and they knew that he wasn't worth what he was asking for?

Maybe.What I seem to remember, and I could be wrong, is that the Colts did not have the realistic cap room to resign all of their core players to "fair market" contracts without putting themselves is deep cap trouble down the road so they simply were not planning on offering Edge a contract at his market value.

ding ding ding. We have a winner. at a lot of people's attitude in this thread.

 

[PahtyTom]

eh I think it's pretty dumb and if I were Edge I wouldn't have even wanted a ring for a team I wasn't on. Weird

 

[candy bar]

First this is stupid.He did not win the Super Bowl = doesn't get a ring.Second, the only time Irsay and classy should be in the same sentence is if the sentence reads, "Jim Irsay* is not classy."*See Colts, Baltimore

What did Jim Irsay do to the Baltimore Colts?

 

[candy bar]

Classy move by Irsay. James gave a lot to the Colts, and I'm sure many in the organization feel that if it wasn't for Edgerrin James' contributions over the years, the Colts wouldn't have won it all last season. to Irsay.

 

[phthalatemagic]

Shouldn't Dungy get a Buccaneers ring?The examples to cite are endless...

I was thinking Walt Coleman should get one.

 

[j3r3m3y]

Classy move by Irsay. James gave a lot to the Colts, and I'm sure many in the organization feel that if it wasn't for Edgerrin James' contributions over the years, the Colts wouldn't have won it all last season. to Irsay.

How did his performance in previous years contribute to a superbowl win in a year where he was playing for another team?

 

[phthalatemagic]

First lesson: apples to apples, oranges to oranges; not apples to oranges.

Why do you say this?

 

[RoarinSonoran]

Perhaps a plaque instead would have been more appropriate. "In recognition of contributions provided to build this organization into a Super Bowl Champion, (...etc...)".

 

[candy bar]

Classy move by Irsay. James gave a lot to the Colts, and I'm sure many in the organization feel that if it wasn't for Edgerrin James' contributions over the years, the Colts wouldn't have won it all last season. to Irsay.

How did his performance in previous years contribute to a superbowl win in a year where he was playing for another team?

In countless ways. He mentored Dom Rhodes, who rushed for 113 yards and a TD. He helped carry the team to the playoffs many times over, giving them the necessary playoff experience and mental toughness to stage the largest comeback in AFC Championship game history. If Edgerrin James was a bust draft pick, I don't think you can say with any degree of certainty that the Colts win the Super Bowl in '06.

 

[Da Guru]

I have mixed emotions about that move.

I agree that James was a big part of the Colts progression. Yet at the same time they never won with him on the team, they won the year after he left.

It was a good gesture, but was it really the right move? Rings should be special for the team involved.

 

[Fear & Loathing]

First lesson: apples to apples, oranges to oranges; not apples to oranges.

Why do you say this?

Seriously? Go back and look at what Edgerrin James did for the Colts over seven seasons while the Colts were building to be a great franchise. He was one of the best in the league at his position most seasons and was an absolutely integral part of getting the Colts' to the annual contention status they now enjoy. Corey Dillon played three seasons in New England after the franchise had already enjoyed plenty of success. In those three seasons, he played well...but only one of the three where he would have been considered Edge-on-the-Colts level of play.Dominic Rhodes? Cato June? Come on. You don't see anything askew about the comparison of them helping the Colts to get where they are as a franchise vs. what Edgerrin James did? Let's not be obtuse here...There are a lot of people who need to go back and re-read the original post. Irsay gave Edge the ring to acknowledge the role Edge played in getting the Colts to this level. He didn't win the Super Bowl, but Irsay realizes that Edge was a significant factor in the Colts franchise going from the annual outhouse to the annual penthouse.Edit to add: You can argue whether Edge's contribution should have netted him a Super Bowl ring, or a plaque, or a thank you card, or a gift card to the local Applebees, or a phone call, or a pat on the backside, but comparing his contribution in building the Colts juggernaut to Dominic Rhodes' or Cato June's? That's simply a bad analogy. Ditto Corey Dillon and the Patriots.

 

[candy bar]

I have mixed emotions about that move.I agree that James was a big part of the Colts progression. Yet at the same time they never won with him on the team, they won the year after he left.It was a good gesture, but was it really the right move? Rings should be special for the team involved.

He's the owner. He put the whole team together. He paid their $100M salaries. He can do whatever he want.