You simply cannot use Murray's output in Philadelphia as any basis to measure his value.
Different team, different O-line, different coaches, different system, different role, far too many changes for him to have had a chance to be anything like he was in 2014.
Those guys up front in 2014 were his dogs. Heck, he practically helped raise them. More than any other player besides Romo, Murray had to endure this squad's development, remember, in 2012 they started an offensive line of 5 guys that never played their position as a Cowboy before.
He ran for over 700 yards in his first 7 games as a rookie. A fellow rookie, Tyron Smith, was the starting right tackle at the age of 20. Murray was a thousand yard rusher in 2013, Frederick's rookie year.
He was familiar with them and they with him. They operated like a machine. After each player, other than Martin, played two to four seasons together with him, they knew his tendencies, where and when he would hit the line, what direction he favored. They could anticipate his path and be more efficient blockers. Murray was familiar with his line's physical presence, that is, he knew how much space he needed to get around or through them without collision or time consuming navigation at the line of scrimmage.
That's what it's all about. That's what so many fans just don't seem to understand. These guys are not "Plug and Play", "One Size Fits All".....Familiarity provides cohesion, cohesion results in efficiency which then produces success for all the elements involved, the runner, the blockers, even the defense has a direct benefit because of the sustained offensive drives.
I guarantee that when you look at the successful teams in the league they have something in common, they all have a group of 3-4 offensive linemen that have played together for several years along with a RB that can jell and produce a running game at a time in games when it's needed the most.
It is absolutely a team sport and when you have finally built a successful team, why in the ("Extreme Profanity") would you then rip it apart and even have the ridiculous perception that only one element of the team was truly responsible...like only one organ is truly responsible for sustaining life.
It was a salary issue? Not if you understand which elements of the team simply cannot be considered less than elite much less easily replicable.
That' why we talk about salary cap management. The whole reason you try to make responsible cap decisions is so you can then use that money to pay for the guys who are performing at a superior level. He was the top rusher in the NFL for crying out loud. This was the first time in history the leading rusher switched teams the following season. Now, there's a clue!
Responsible cap management is desirable precisely so the Bryants and Murrays can be kept and paid. If you want to save cap space, cut the guys that isn't doing anything for the team, there are some of those, Brandon Carr comes immediately to mind.
By the way, did I mention that Murray was also the team's 3rd leading receiver over the combined previous four seasons. Then Dez goes down and Romo is now without two of his top three receivers. You don't think that didn't keep him in the pocket s little longer?....just long enough to break his clavicle a couple of times?
With that said, Murray is staying in Philadelphia. It would be worth it for the Eagles if only for the effect of depriving the Cowboys of his services, addition by subtraction you might say.
