Twitter: Demarco Murray media rounds - DP Show and The Fan - 01/29/15

[Doomsday101]

Yep. I think Garrett really likes what Demarco gives him in terms of being able to stay on the field in all situations. He's also generally a really good RB on passing downs. Plus, I think the guy probably does have an attitude that you want on your team with all the MMA tough-guy stuff.

I expect if we sign him, we'll see significantly fewer rushing yards on somewhat fewer carries next season, but that he'll still be capable in the passing game, which is what I really care most about. I can live with that. I just think I'd rather see a 3rd rounder come in who can perform those functions adequately and save the $3.5M to add another impact player or two on defense, which you're not really going to do this offseason with a mid round pick in the draft.

Sorry I don't see it that way to say well a mid rd pick can do the job heck a mid round pick can play LB see Hitchens see many mid rd players at other position who have done great but fact is many mid rd players even RB are no more than JAGS they can do something well and other not so well. In Murray we have a tough RB, a guy who can step up and make critical blocks, who can receive and who can do the dirty work. I don't think that is easy to replace. I think 4 mill is what I have seen much lesser backs getting paid and it was an offer that was made back in oct I highly doubt the Cowboys will not up that offer.

 

[locked&loaded]

I see no reason why Murray cant buck the trend. People want to say he fell off towards the end of the year, but he had a plate and screws in his hand and still broke 100 against packers and Commanders at 5 yards a pop. My belief in him being able to buck the trend of rbs falling off after a high volume year combined with that fact that Murray says its not all about the money leads me to believe that this sign or no sign is a done deal. Sign him.

That being said the Cowboys better be prepared. I am not sure about Randle he could have Hambrick syndrome and I have no faith in Dunbar or the teams ability to effectively use Dunbar. Don't get me started on Ryan Williams. So if all this means we sign Murray and Draft a RB in what seems to be a draft suffused with rb talent, I say draft one.

Bottom line is, whoever is running the ball cant just be serviceable, the must be dominant.

 

[Stash]

Not sure why people thought Peterson would A) get released and B) waltz in here and want to play for a reduced rate. Just not going to happen. He will want more money than Murray and I don't want to pay Murray more than $4M per.

My thinking was this:

1) Peterson's current deal is ridiculous for ANY running back. Add to that the negative PR on him this season and the Vikings are virtually guaranteed to either greatly reduce his contract or flat out release him.

2) If he were to hit the open market, the money offers wouldn't be HALF of what he was scheduled to make before.

3) He lives in Texas and has expressed a strong desire to play there. Considering how close the Cowboys were to a Super Bowl and the strength of their offensive line, if the money is remotely close, the Cowboys would edge out any other destination.

 

[Idgit]

Not sure why people thought Peterson would A) get released and B) waltz in here and want to play for a reduced rate. Just not going to happen. He will want more money than Murray and I don't want to pay Murray more than $4M per.

I thought (and think) his number is too high in Minny, and that he was hurt enough by how he was treated by them/the league last season that he would not want to play ball on a renegotiation. I also think the fans up there are less likely to be--charitable is not the right word, but you get what I"m saying--about a switching, which is something that might be easier to get by culturally in other cities.
I don't think whatever happens that Peterson's going to come cheap. I do see him taking a deal where he gets paid a lot on a season-to-season basis. Sort of like TO did when he came to Dallas on his first contract. AD doesn't have the character issues TO did, but the opportunity in Dallas is just perfect for him if we can get the money to match what he could get elsewhere. It just makes so much sense if he's available.

 

[Doomsday101]

I see no reason why Murray cant buck the trend. People want to say he fell off towards the end of the year, but he had a plate and screws in his hand and still broke 100 against packers and Commanders at 5 yards a pop. My belief in him being able to buck the trend of rbs falling off after a high volume year combined with that fact that Murray says its not all about the money leads me to believe that this sign or no sign is a done deal. Sign him.

That being said the Cowboys better be prepared. I am not sure about Randle he could have Hambrick syndrome and I have no faith in Dunbar or the teams ability to effectively use Dunbar. Don't get me started on Ryan Williams. So if all this means we sign Murray and Draft a RB in what seems to be a draft suffused with rb talent, I say draft one.

Bottom line is, whoever is running the ball cant just be serviceable, the must be dominant.

I agree, if Dallas plans on leaning on a RB then serviceable is not an option.

 

[slick325]

I want Murray back at most 6mil per but Indy is gonna be in the mix without question. They may see Murray as an important cog worth 8mil or 9mil.

 

[Idgit]

...Bottom line is, whoever is running the ball cant just be serviceable, the must be dominant.

This is probably where I differ from most who want Murray back. I'm ok with a committee approach at the position if it means spending more on defense.

And I'm not ok betting a guy is going to beat an actuary table at his position. Sign big future deals based off of what you know typically happens. Don't do it based off of the fact that you like the guy and he had a career year. We massively overpaid for Barber, and knew it at the time, but it was an easy honey-pot of a trap when you looked at how good the guy was the season heading into the negotiations. Those feel-goods can change in a hurry, though. And if you've seen the guy tail off-and Murray did--at the end of the career season already, you gotta be really careful with your expectations going forward. I just don't like the risk.

 

[Doomsday101]

I want Murray back at most 6mil per but Indy is gonna be in the mix without question. They may see Murray as an important cog worth 8mil or 9mil.

I agree but that is also why I hope to get a deal done at the figure you mentioned before March 10 and the opening of FA period. Teams will be trying to get some of their priority players signed before they hit the FA market. in the end I think Dallas should make that offer and if Murray wants to remain in Dallas then he will take it, if he is looking for a bigger pay day then I expect he will find it.

 

[slick325]

I agree but that is also why I hope to get a deal done at the figure you mentioned before March 10 and the opening of FA period. Teams will be trying to get some of their priority players signed before they hit the FA market. in the end I think Dallas should make that offer and if Murray wants to remain in Dallas then he will take it, if he is looking for a bigger pay day then I expect he will find it.

Agreed Doomsday...

 

[Dave_in-NC]

Man, it's weird for me on DM. There's probably not an attitude I like better on the team. *Maybe* Witten or Romo. The guy just wants to work, and he wants to win. And yet, I don't want to resign him because I think the odds say he's going to diminish and diminish quickly. Even at the $4-4.5M/year level, I'm lukewarm. At the same time, I really really like everything I ever hear out of the guy's mouth. And he walks the walk, too. Throw in the MMA stuff, and you know he's a bonafide badass. I feel guilting hoping the guy moves on.

Maybe he's a guy that can defy the odds. I know every one says stats say he will auto decline but maybe he isn't that guy. I'm way more comfortable with the main pieces staying together than trying to fit another piece in. He's focused on winning a SB. He is the best chance for that to happen.
I think the players and coaches know it. I think Jerry and Stephen know it.
He's going to be here next year. Some guys might as well get used to the idea.

 

[DFWJC]

Man, it's weird for me on DM. There's probably not an attitude I like better on the team. *Maybe* Witten or Romo. The guy just wants to work, and he wants to win. And yet, I don't want to resign him because I think the odds say he's going to diminish and diminish quickly. Even at the $4-4.5M/year level, I'm lukewarm. At the same time, I really really like everything I ever hear out of the guy's mouth. And he walks the walk, too. Throw in the MMA stuff, and you know he's a bonafide badass. I feel guilting hoping the guy moves on.

Probably no coincidence that the first year he spent the off-season training with Witten ended up being by far his most durable and best.

 

[Stash]

I agree but that is also why I hope to get a deal done at the figure you mentioned before March 10 and the opening of FA period. Teams will be trying to get some of their priority players signed before they hit the FA market. in the end I think Dallas should make that offer and if Murray wants to remain in Dallas then he will take it, if he is looking for a bigger pay day then I expect he will find it.

I think that there is zero chance of any deal getting done with Murray before the free agency period begins.

 

[Dave_in-NC]

I think the talent on the team as a whole, namely the defense, would improve if Murray walked.

But there's something to be said for his intangibles in the locker room and that's why I'm undecided if I'd like him back or not.

A few weeks ago I would have preferred we find someone else but I'm leaning toward the latter now.

Hu?

 

[Dave_in-NC]

Yeah, that's pretty much how I read it all, too. I do think that market for second contracts on RBs is going to be very soft, too. They're just too easy to replace with middle-round picks.

If they are so easy to replace what happened between Emmitt and DeMarco? To me there was a lot of replacements there.

 

[Idgit]

Maybe he's a guy that can defy the odds. I know every one says stats say he will auto decline but maybe he isn't that guy. I'm way more comfortable with the main pieces staying together than trying to fit another piece in. He's focused on winning a SB. He is the best chance for that to happen.
I think the players and coaches know it. I think Jerry and Stephen know it.
He's going to be here next year. Some guys might as well get used to the idea.

Maybe he is, maybe he isn't. I just wouldn't take the bet when the odds say it's likely to be a loser.

It's way too early to tell if he's going to stay or not. We're definitely not going to break the bank on him prior to FA, and there's just no way of knowing what the market on him is going to be. It wouldn't shock me to see him back next year, and I'd be ok with it. You have 53 contracts on a team, one or two of them are going to be stinkers that don't work in your favor. You obviously want to limit those, but I'm not going to cry about them once they're done. I'll hope for the best and hope we can pick up the slack on another deal, someplace else.

 

[Doomsday101]

I think that there is zero chance of any deal getting done with Murray before the free agency period begins.

You may be right, the fact that they are working on a deal at this point leads me to think Dallas will make an offer before March 10th we will see.

 

[Idgit]

If they are so easy to replace what happened between Emmitt and DeMarco? To me there was a lot of replacements there.

Well, now....Demarco is not in Emmitt's class. So that's a false equivalency.
When you're yards-before-contact alone puts a back in the top half of the league, you're playing with a significant advantage at that position. But remember, I also don't care all that much about how effectively we run the ball, anyway. I want a guy who can pass protect for Romo. We didn't almost-beat GB because Murray ran all over them. We lost, because we couldn't pressure the QB and couldn't cover when they put a WR in the backfield and released him into coverage in the second half. Spend that money on the things that are going to make the difference between winning and losing and not on the guy who's going to get you a few extra hundred yards rushing over a committee approach at the end of the season.

 

[DBOY3141]

I want Murray back at most 6mil per but Indy is gonna be in the mix without question. They may see Murray as an important cog worth 8mil or 9mil.

I see them as a player as well, but they also have to get a long term deal done with Luck and Hilton. Lot of cap money eaten up between those two.

 

[Dave_in-NC]

Well, now....Demarco is not in Emmitt's class. So that's a false equivalency.
When you're yards-before-contact alone puts a back in the top half of the league, you're playing with a significant advantage at that position. But remember, I also don't care all that much about how effectively we run the ball, anyway. I want a guy who can pass protect for Romo. We didn't almost-beat GB because Murray ran all over them. We lost, because we couldn't pressure the QB and couldn't cover when they put a WR in the backfield and released him into coverage in the second half. Spend that money on the things that are going to make the difference between winning and losing and not on the guy who's going to get you a few extra hundred yards rushing over a committee approach at the end of the season.

I'm not comparing him to Emmitt. I'm just saying he's the best to come along since Emmitt. Like you I don't care about the yards so much. I care about the threat of the yards. My biggest reason for wanting him to stay is Romos health. I don't want to put that in the hands of a rook just to save a few bucks when Romo is all we have at QB. His window is closing fast.

 

[Donny Phoenix]

Everybody keeps talking about the mileage, the mileage, the mileage, based on one season with a high workload. Before this season, the talk was all about him being injury-prone. Well guess what? The one season that the team leans on him as a workhorse back, he makes it thru the whole season and leads the NFL in yards by almost 500 yds. He doesn't take unnecessary hits, although he does deliver them. By all accounts, he is the quintessential teammate and "RKG". He sets the tone for the team. He needs to be brought back, period. Not at ALL costs, but the mindset needs to be what can the FO do to bring him back at a reasonable number. The question becomes what's reasonable. Something in the range of 5-6m per for 3-4 years seems to be the magic number and fair.

Anybody thinking that the combination and level of production, leadership, and pass protection he brings can be replaced simply by penciling any old FA or highly touted draft pick in is fooling themselves. I say sign D-Mo and ride him til the wheels look like they may be falling off. Right now the arrow is pointing up.