INDIANAPOLIS --- One of the all-time great Colts running backs, Edgerrin James, was at Lucas Oil Stadium to witness the important 27-24 win over Peyton Manning and the Broncos Sunday, stopping to talk with Colts.com outside the locker room after the game.
"It was a great experience. Anytime you get a chance to come back and watch the game, especially when the Colts win, it's a great feeling," said James. "You always want to come out here and support. I try to get here once a year, at least, to always support. I love the organization. I love the city. It's always good to me, and I'm always going to make sure that I'm trying to pop in here as much as I can."
So what does James see in the 2015 Colts, after witnessing such a big win over a previously unbeaten team after Indianapolis lost three consecutive games?
"They have the team. They have everything it takes to be successful. So, it's just a matter of everything coming together," said James. "They just need a little time. You're going to see this team get better every week."
James also understands the outside expectations for the 2015 Colts, after such a frenzy of activity during free agency in the offseason.
"I know because of the offseason everybody expected it to happen right then and there. It doesn't happen like that," said James. "You need a little time to gel. You're going to see this team progress every week. Going into the playoffs, they'll be a team that's very dangerous."
The Colts will obviously have to keep winning in the immediate future without Andrew Luck, but Matt Hasselbeck is 2-0 with every other back-up QB in the NFL a combined 5-18 this season.
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THE U NORTH
In addition to catching up with Peyton Manning pre-game, who James said he always talks to and still has a great friendship with to this day, James caught up with the other former University of Miami players before the game, notably Colts running back Frank Gore and wide receiver Andre Johnson.
"We're always going to represent," said James of "The U" fraternity, something that was evident in a pre-game photo with James, Gore, and Johnson. "To see them out on the field that me and Reggie (Wayne) actually played on and played for, that's even better."
Andre Johnson said he's known Edge since he went to Miami from 2000-2002 and is very close with him. James went to Miami from 1996-1998. Gore went to Miami from 2001-2004, following Clinton Portis.
"I talk to him all the time. It was great to see him back," said Johnson. "He was a great player in this league. I'm sure he'll be in the Hall of Fame someday."
A lot of Colts fans hope so. Jerome Bettis was just inducted last season into Canton with 15,111 career scrimmage yards, 3.9 yards per carry, and 94 total touchdowns in 13 seasons. Edge racked up 15,610 scrimmage yards, 4.0 yards per carry, and 91 total touchdowns in 11 seasons.
Either way, James will always be loved in Indianapolis, as was evident when Colts fans spotted him on the big boards Sunday.
