SHOPPING E.J.
James, meanwhile, seems headed out of Indianapolis after South Florida agent Drew Rosenhaus talked with Colts president and GM Bill Polian on Wednesday morning.
The result of that meeting: James probably will not get a multiyear contract offer from the Colts and is on the trading block.
Rosenhaus said he was free to shop James to interested teams and that Polian would be doing likewise.
And the price for Indianapolis' franchise player?
''There is no first-round requirement,'' Rosenhaus said. ``We had a great conversation, but it's clear they won't be able to do a long-term deal, so they will call teams and encouraged me to do the same.
``Polian explained to me that they will be very reasonable in the compensation they request because it's not even one first-round pick, he told me.''
The Colts declined to address the matter when contacted by The Herald.
Rosenhaus has talked recently to many teams, including the Dolphins, about acquiring James.
But most teams, including the Dolphins, dismissed the notion because they believed the move would require giving up two first-round picks.
That requirement has been lifted, according to Rosenhaus, who plans a new round of talks with various teams that might show new interest in the 26-year-old former University of Miami standout.
''This is a major development, so I will be contacting teams again and expecting to get something done relatively soon,'' Rosenhaus said.
``I will talk to the Dolphins again and, as I did before, I will pretty much talk to every team that needs a running back. If a team didn't have a Pro Bowl player at running back, I will call them.''
Miami's need at running back is obvious, and Saban is on record saying he would seriously consider adding James ``if the opportunity ever presented itself.''
