Meager months after signing free agent RB Edgerrin James to a 4 year deal, the Arizona Cardinals cannot be happy with their investment. 

Through 3 preseason games, the Edge has rushed for 1 measly yard in 7 attempts.  QB Kurt Warner could trip over his center Alex Stepanovich and accumulate more distance.  Breaking his 4 year/$32 million deal into an annual salary of $8 million, Edge is earning the Cardinals right around $222,000 per inch gained.  Even Andy Reid couldn't pass up a jog at that income rate. 

What is there to make of this chilling statistic?  Render it meaningless because it's just the preseason and as the Cardinals would like us to believe, he's not trying hard?  Maybe not- Adam Schefter gives a comprehensive breakdown of his preseason statistics from past years.  Since '03, James has carried the ball 42 times for 174 yards in the preseason, good for a reasonable 4.14 average.  That idea must be dispelled since there is no glaring reason why he would try any differently in this preseason from the past 3.

What then could account for a hideous preseason by someone who has been one of the best all-around running backs in the game?  The only plausible answer for James' pathetic performance is the Curse of the Cardinals Running Back. 

Not sure what I mean?  Witness the numbers:

In 2005, the Cardinals were last in the NFL in the following rushing categories: attempts, yards, yards per carry, and touchdowns.  Marcel Shipp was the team's leading rusher, he averaged 2.9 ypc.

In 2004, the Cardinals were 22nd in rushing yards, and 30th in yards per carry.  The team's leading rusher, Emmitt Smith, averaged 3.5ypc.

In 2003, the Cardinals were 30th in rushing attempts and rushing touchdowns, 29th in rushing yards, and 25th in ypc.  Marcel Shipp was once again the team's leading rusher, he averaged 3.6ypc.

In 2002, the Cardinals were 23rd in both rushing attempts and rushing touchdowns.  Marcel Shipp was once again the leading rusher for the team, finally averaging a respectable 4.4ypc.

In 2001, the Cardinals were 27th in both rushing attempts and yards, 28th in ypc, and 22nd in touchdowns.  Michael Pittman lead the team in yards, he averaged just 3.5ypc. 

In 2000, the Cardinals were 30th in both rushing attempts and touchdowns, 27th in yards, and 25th in ypc.  Michael Pittman was the leading rusher again with 3.9ypc. 

I could go back even further, but you will notice just a similar pattern.  In fact, the last time the Cardinals had a 1,000 yard rusher was Adrian Murrell (1042 yards) back in 1998! 

Only 1 team leading rusher over the past 6 years averaged more than 4ypc. 

What's more alarming is that the Cardinals lack of a running game has plagued what would otherwise be good running backs. 

Thomas Jones was a 1st round pick by the Cardinals in 2000.  In 3 years with Arizona, he averaged 3.49ypc in 362 attempts.  In 3 years since then, he has averaged 4.21ypc in 691 attempts.

Michael Pittman was a 4th round pick by the Cardinals in 1998.  He played 4 years with the Cardinals, averaging 3.75ypc in 518 attempts.  In 4 years with the Tampa Bay Bucs, he's averaged 4.16ypc in 680 attempts. 

Emmitt Smith averaged 4.2ypc in his career, but only 3.5 in '04, and even worse, 2.8 in '03, both with the Cardinals. 

This is not personal opinion speaking, this is undeniable fact.  Running Backs stink when they're with the Cardinals, but either were or went on to become above average running backs with other teams.  It strikes me that Edgerrin James will fall into the category of a running back who was great before joining the Cardinals.  Regardless, Edgerrin James will be the next back to suffer The Curse of the Cardinals Running Back.