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PRO: In 2005, the mantle of leadership and tackle production was passed from the recently retired Dat Nguyen to the rising star of Bradie James. While making a name for himself as a stellar special teams performer in his first three years with Dallas, James stepped into a starting middle linebacker role in the 3-4 scheme and made a visible impact on the overall production of the Cowboys defense in 2005. Possessing size, strength and the ability to bring a big hit to any play, James led Dallas in tackles last season (109 stops) and posted the type of performance that should signal stability and consistency at the inside linebacker spot for the future. While working primarily as a backup to Pro Bowl outside linebacker Dexter Coakley in the 4-3 scheme during his first two NFL seasons, James showed the natural instincts and football savvy that warranted his fourth round (103rd overall) selection. With the switch to the 3-4 in 2005, James figured to be a key figure in one of the NFL's youngest and more promising defenses for many years. A serious and dedicated professional, James will take on a leadership role on the club in 2006.
2005: James enjoyed the type of break-out year in 2005 that fulfills the transformation of moving forward from the ranks of being a solid special teams performer to one of the more productive starting middle linebackers in the NFL. He led the Cowboys in tackles with a career-high 109 stops. He was the team's leading tackler in seven of the 16 regular season games and finished the year third in tackles for losses with four. He also registered the first sacks of his career with 2.5, a figure good enough to be ranked fourth on the club. In the season opener at San Diego (9/11), James recorded five tackles and a quarterback pressure in his first start at inside linebacker in the 3-4 defense. In the following week's Monday night loss to Washington (9/19), he had three tackles and helped hold Clinton Portis to 52 yards on 17 carries. On the two-week west coast swing, he was third on the club in tackles at San Francisco (9/25) with five and led the squad with nine tackles at Oakland (10/2). In the key division win over Philadelphia (10/9), James led the team with five tackles and broke up a pass in the end zone to prevent a score as the Eagles were limited to 129 total yards, including just 19 on the ground - the fourth lowest rushing total in Dallas history. With Nguyen ruled out of the N.Y. Giants game (10/16), James took on the additional responsibilities of calling the defensive signals in the Dallas huddle. He finished the overtime win against the Giants third on the team with four tackles and also broke up a pass intended for Jeremy Shockey. James's effort helped Dallas limit the Giants to a one-for-11 day on third down conversions. In the last-minute loss at Seattle (10/23), he recorded his first career sack with a seven-yard trap of Matt Hasselbeck in the second quarter to end a Seahawks drive. He also tipped a pass that turned into a Terence Newman interception on the game's opening drive. James finished the day with four tackles as the Dallas defense limited the NFL's top ranked offense entering the game to 289 total yards, 118 below their season average, and one touchdown. Shaun Alexander, the NFL leading rusher was limited to 61 yards on 21 carries (2.9 avg.). James had an outstanding day in the win over Arizona (10/30), helping the Dallas defense limit the Cardinals to 213 total yards, including just 71 on the ground. He tied for second on the team with seven tackles, while adding half a sack, a tackle for a loss and a pressure. His half sack (shared with Greg Ellis) ended the Cards opening drive and forced them to settle for a field goal. In the thrilling Monday night win at Philadelphia (11/14), James led the team with a career-high 15 tackles, the highest single-game total of the season by a Dallas defender. He also added a red zone sack in the fourth quarter on a drive that ended in a field goal. On the game's pivotal play, James threw a block on Donovan McNabb that cleared the path for Roy Williams's touchdown return of the McNabb interception that provided the deciding points for Dallas. In the following week's win over Detroit (11/20), James led the team in tackles for the second straight week with eight. He also had a tackle behind the line on a screen pass to Kevin Jones. James's effort against Detroit helped limit the Lions to 227 total yards, including just 57 yards on the ground. On special teams he recorded his second tackle of the season on punt coverage when he hauled down Eddie Drummond for a six-yard loss on his only punt return of the game. At the N.Y. Giants (12/4), he led the team with 10 tackles en route to his second double-figure tackle game of the season. He also had a tackle for a loss as the Giants were held to 150 net passing yards and one offensive touchdown on the day. In the come-from-behind win over Kansas City (12/11), he had five tackles and broke up a pass. In the next week's loss at Washington (12/18), he led the team with 12 tackles, his second best performance of the season and his third double-digit tackle game in six weeks. He was again the team leader in tackles in the Christmas Eve win at Carolina (12/24) with nine, as the Dallas defense limited the Panthers to 71 rushing yards on 24 carries (3.0 avg.). Carolina's longest run of the day was nine yards.
2004: Following his solid rookie campaign in 2003, James used 2004 to showcase his abilities on the defensive side of the ball while continuing his impressive special teams play. Splitting time at weakside linebacker with Coakley, James finished the year with 38 defensive tackles, two pressures and a pass deflection. He also posted a career- and team-high 24 special teams stops - the most by a Cowboy since Charlie Williams tallied 26 in 1997 - while helping Dallas's kickoff coverage unit limit opponents to a league-low 17.5 yards-per-return. Splitting time with Coakley in the season opener at Minnesota (9/12), James finished second on the team with a season-high eight tackles. The following week against Cleveland (9/19), he tallied three special teams tackles as the Browns averaged 7.0 yards on three kickoff returns. He recorded three tackles and tied for the team lead with two special teams stops at Washington (9/27). He earned his first NFL start at Green Bay (10/24) when the Packers opened in a two-tight end formation. He finished the day with seven tackles. Against Detroit (10/31), he tallied a special teams tackle as Eddie Drummond - the NFL's third ranked kickoff returner entering the game at 29.0 yards-per-return - was limited to a 16.8-yard average. James finished third on the team with five defensive stops against Philadelphia (11/15) before starting his second career game and totaling three tackles at Baltimore (11/21). He also tied for the team lead with three special teams stops against the Ravens. He helped limit the Ravens to a 14.0-yard average on three kickoff returns. Against Chicago (11/25) on Thanksgiving Day, he totaled three special teams tackles as the Bears were limited to a 15.5-yard average on four kickoff returns. In Dallas's come-from-behind, Monday night victory at Seattle (12/6), he was second on the team with three special teams stops. He also recorded his first career pass deflection against the Seahawks. Against New Orleans (12/12), he tallied two special teams tackles in helping limit the Saints to a 16.5-yard average on four kickoff returns. One of his tackles came when he helped stop a fake punt attempt by the Saints, giving Dallas the ball at the New Orleans 38-yard line. He tied for the team lead with two special teams tackles at the N.Y. Giants (1/2/05). The Giants, who entered the game with a league-best 25.1-yard kickoff return average, were limited to a 16.0-yard average on five returns.
2003: James put his rookie season to productive use, learning the Cowboys defensive scheme as a backup linebacker and becoming one of the team's more prominent special teams players. He closed the year fourth on the squad in special teams tackles with 16. Inactive the first two games of the year, James made his NFL debut at the N.Y. Jets (9/28), recording two kicking game tackles. At Detroit (10/19), James saw his first action on defense and recorded a fourth quarter tackle. In the key victory over Carolina (11/23), he forced a fumble on the opening kickoff that Roy Williams recovered to set up Dallas at the Panthers 18-yard line. That turnover led to a Dallas field goal and the first points in the 24-20 win. James tied for the team lead with two special teams tackles as the Panthers were limited to two punt returns for -1 yard. In the Thanksgiving Day loss to Miami (11/27), James was third on the team with two special teams tackles as Miami was limited to a 4.0 average on four punt returns and a 17.8-yard mark on four kickoff returns. In the loss at Philadelphia (12/7), he tied for the team lead with two special teams tackles as the Eagles were limited to 7.0 yards on two punt returns and a 16.5-yard average on four kickoff returns. He led all Cowboys in special teams stops with three - one of those coming on a Redskins fake punt - at Washington (12/14).
COLLEGE: James was a two-time All-SEC selection on the football field and a National Scholar Athlete as selected by the National Football Foundation and a member of the SEC Academic Honor Roll in the classroom. James finished his playing days as the school's second leading tackler with 418 career stops - 33 of which were for lost yardage - while also recording 29 quarterback pressures, 14 sacks, eight pass deflections, four forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and two interceptions. He spent his first three seasons with the Tigers playing weakside linebacker before moving to middle linebacker as a senior and earning All-America and All-SEC honors. James set the LSU single-season tackle record with 154 as a senior. As a junior, he earned All-SEC honors after finishing second on the team with 113 tackles. LSU posted a 10-3 record, captured the SEC title and a Sugar Bowl win along the way. As a sophomore, James earned second-team All-SEC honors after closing the season second on the team (third in the conference) with 110 tackles. He was the team leader with five sacks.
PERSONAL: Bradie Gene James earned Parade All-America, all-state, class 5A defensive MVP and district defensive MVP honors after totaling 136 tackles, five sacks and three fumble recoveries as a senior at West Monroe, La., High School. His play helped lead West Monroe to a state championship while earning him selection to the Louisiana Football Magazine's All-Louisiana team, the New Orleans Times Picayune's Top 20 blue chip list and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution's super southern 100 list. James graduated from LSU with a degree in criminology. After his senior year in college, he was named a National Scholar Athlete (as selected by the National Football Foundation) and member of the SEC Academic Honor Roll in the classroom. As a member of the Cowboys 2003 Rookie Club - a program designed to introduce rookie team members to community service in the Dallas area - James participated in charity visits to various non-profit organizations serving children and adults. Visits included work with the ChildCareGroup, The Salvation Army, Children's Medical Center Dallas and Kid's Cafe at The Voice of Hope Ministries. In 2004 and 2005, James participated in The Salvation Army Angel Tree program - donating Christmas gifts for underprivileged children. Early during the 2006 offseason, he served as a celebrity reader for a National Read Across America event to celebrate Dr. Seuss' birthday at an Arlington Boys & Girls Club. James also signed autographs and interacted with loyal Dallas Cowboys fans at the team's annual NFL Draft Day party hosted in appreciation for their support. He also had the opportunity to address 1,000 participants from across all spectrums of society to discuss and collaborate on the issue of childhood obesity. James continued keeping busy throughout the 2006 offseason serving as a guest speaker at a local elementary school Career Day and hosting a Bradie James Football camp for youth in his hometown of Monroe, La. He has also donated weight equipment to his former high school. During the spring of 2006, James took part in the NFL Business Management and Entrepreneurial Program - attending the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University and has also started his own real estate business. |
