Dez being Dez

[JoeKing]

If your only contribution to this discussion is childish remarks, don't bother staying.

I wouldn't give a flip about Murray if he played for another team. However, the fact that he was one of the driving forces to this team's recent success compels me to point out statistical reality. This guy was more than good, long before Martin and Frederick were on the team. It would be unbelievably stupid to disagree by discounting the same statistics that are traditionally used to call every other RB a great one.

And yet the people that matter, disagree with you about his importance to the team, otherwise he would still be on it. You see something in the man that many others do not. Maybe your Eagles will have success with him. It's not stupid or childish to disagree with you, good sir. Try again.

 

[Toruk_Makto]

10 day contracts are the only non-guaranteed deals actually (Edit...and mid-year pick ups have pro rated deals as well). And no...neither player would have gotten much more than what they signed for with their respective teams at the time. What they took was what they likely would've been offered. So why not stay at home.

Btw, I know of two offers each received and they were close to what they signed for but the deals were from losing teams.

Dude.... There are tons of non guaranteed contracts in the nba.

Case in point.

http://www.cleveland.com/cavs/index.ssf/2014/11/due_to_his_contract_situation.html

 

[slick325]

Dude.... There are tons of non guaranteed contracts in the nba.

Toruk_Makto...no beef over here...that's saved for those in the burger business. You're right...late 2nd rounders contracts are generally not guaranteed either. Not sure I would say there are "tons of non guaranteed contracts in the NBA" though...rosters aren't very big.

Edit...in the link you provided it says.."in his UNUSUAL contract"

 

[mahoneybill]

He is not getting less money, he just has to wait longer to get it.

And a nice raise in the interim......

 

[cowboyvic]

He is getting paid 13M.

You know what he means. give the guy a long term deal. he has earned it.

 

[Clarkson]

Dez is one of the top 3 WRs in the NFL and is just getting better every year. The eye test AND the stats show it. He is a special talent. He needs to be retained for his entire career.

 

[AsthmaField]

Dez will get his contract and all of this fear mongering will be all for naught.

 

[Wood]

It seems pretty hypocritical to me....DeMarco Murray contributed far more to the success of this team. not only has he been their leading rusher over the past four seasons, he was also the team's 3rd leading receiver.

I believe that if Dez had been more reasonable, less selfish, the Cowboys could have kept DeMarco. That's how great seems win consistently, they have great players that realize they can make more money post career if they make the necessary sacrifices that lead to more winning.

If Tim Duncan tried to squeeze every penny out of the Spurs then they wouldn't have won a single championship because they never could have let their Big Three for ao Amy seasons.

The Cowboys Big Three, Romo, Bryant, Murray has been dissolved.

you make good points about Duncan.

 

[plasticman]

This is terrible reasoning. Dez had nothing to do with Demarco not getting his. Cowboy Brass did not thing Demarco was worth the money. Cowboys arent getting paid like that right now. Numerous amounts of RBs could do what Murray did behind this line. No WR has done was Dez has done TD wise the past 5 years.

I previously showed that Murray's average yards per carry were higher before this offensive line was formed. In 2011 and 2012, his first two seasons, he had a combined yards per carry of 4.8. This is despite the fact that, in 2012, all 5 offensive line starters had never played their position as a Dallas Cowboy.

I am shocked when I hear so many people say that there are so many RB's that could have done what he did.

Since 2000 there have been only 6 RB's that have rushed for more yards in their first four seasons. None of them have a higher yards per carry.

Dez Bryant is trying to get maximum on his contract. Obviously, if there is a finite amount for available cash, per a salary cap, then for every dollar more he gets, there is less to pay someone else. I believe that if Dez had signed a contract that payed him well, but not the max he could have gotten, then there would have been more money left to offer Murray.

 

[Nova]

I previously showed that Murray's average yards per carry were higher before this offensive line was formed. In 2011 and 2012, his first two seasons, he had a combined yards per carry of 4.8. This is despite the fact that, in 2012, all 5 offensive line starters had never played their position as a Dallas Cowboy.

I am shocked when I hear so many people say that there are so many RB's that could have done what he did.

Since 2000 there have been only 6 RB's that have rushed for more yards in their first four seasons. None of them have a higher yards per carry.

Dez Bryant is trying to get maximum on his contract. Obviously, if there is a finite amount for available cash, per a salary cap, then for every dollar more he gets, there is less to pay someone else. I believe that if Dez had signed a contract that payed him well, but not the max he could have gotten, then there would have been more money left to offer Murray.

They offered Murray a contract during the season. He declined. It seems as though the Cowboys had a number they were willing to assign to the RB position, and Murray did not like that number.

The Eagles overpaid for Murray, who until this year has had injury concerns and plays a position with a short NFL life-span. As of now, the Cowboys were smart to not throw such a big number at Murray.

Murray went for the money and I don't think it had anything to do with Dez and his money.

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

Love this guy!
http://instagram.com/p/0577pJN5MV/

He's going stronger than that guy running with him, weight vest and all.

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

I previously showed that Murray's average yards per carry were higher before this offensive line was formed. In 2011 and 2012, his first two seasons, he had a combined yards per carry of 4.8. This is despite the fact that, in 2012, all 5 offensive line starters had never played their position as a Dallas Cowboy.

I am shocked when I hear so many people say that there are so many RB's that could have done what he did.

Since 2000 there have been only 6 RB's that have rushed for more yards in their first four seasons. None of them have a higher yards per carry.

Dez Bryant is trying to get maximum on his contract. Obviously, if there is a finite amount for available cash, per a salary cap, then for every dollar more he gets, there is less to pay someone else. I believe that if Dez had signed a contract that payed him well, but not the max he could have gotten, then there would have been more money left to offer Murray.

Those are nice factoids but I saw the surge off the line that the group was able to generate. He did have the most yards before contact in the NFL. And while his production should not be discounted, neither should his injury record even going back into college.

 

[MRV52]

Was that Claiborne defending him? MoClay in mid-season form

No that was Sam Shields. And yes it was a catch.

 

[percyhoward]

I previously showed that Murray's average yards per carry were higher before this offensive line was formed. In 2011 and 2012, his first two seasons, he had a combined yards per carry of 4.8. This is despite the fact that, in 2012, all 5 offensive line starters had never played their position as a Dallas Cowboy.

Murray's YPC in seasons prior to 2014 was high because we mostly avoided the run in what would usually be considered obvious running situations (short-yardage and goal line). So there were a lot of missing 1- and 2-yard runs that might have resulted in first downs or TD, but would have brought down Murray's average. Instead, Murray was often running when defenses were expecting pass, which naturally helped his average.

Rank in Conversion Percentage
Short Yardage
2011-13 19th
2014 4th (first 8 games)
2014 10th (full season)

From 2011-13, on 3rd or 4th down with 2 yards or less to go, Dallas ranked 19th in conversion percentage, and the Cowboys ranked 29th in attempts in those situations. In 2014, after 8 games, we'd moved up to 4th in conversion percentage, and 12th in attempts. We finished the season 10th in conversion percentage and 7th in attempts.

Before the current OL was formed, we were below average in short yardage, despite Murray's high overall YPC. The same was true in goal line situations. From 2011-13, from the opponent's 1- or 2-yard line, Dallas ranked 22nd in TD percentage, scoring only 13 times on 27 runs. In 2014, the Cowboys led the league scoring 8 times on 8 runs.

Rank in Conversion Percentage
Goal Line
2011-13 22nd
2014 1st

This doesn't prove Murray was just an average back, but it does show that the meaningful improvement in the running game coincided with the improvement of the OL itself.

 

[casmith07]

They offered Murray a contract during the season. He declined. It seems as though the Cowboys had a number they were willing to assign to the RB position, and Murray did not like that number.

The Eagles overpaid for Murray, who until this year has had injury concerns and plays a position with a short NFL life-span. As of now, the Cowboys were smart to not throw such a big number at Murray.

Murray went for the money and I don't think it had anything to do with Dez and his money.

It didn't. Romo taking a paycut, restructuring, or anything else wouldn't have changed anything about the situation.

The Cowboys (see Stephen Jones) were not going to pay Murray more than $6M per year AAV, or a total of $24M. The guaranteed money, I would imagine, was probably around $12M, maybe less ($9M?). They have a dollar amount on the running back position and that is that.

What remains to be seen is what they do re: Dez Bryant's contract. My guess is that it's simply taking more time to get all of the details worked out. I would be willing to bet they have an agreement on the guaranteed portion and maybe even the total dollar amount, but probably not the years. The Cowboys probably have no problem giving Dez $100M+ with $50-$60M in guarantees, but over 7-10 years. Dez probably wants something in the 4-5 year range so that he can negotiate for another large pay day in a few years before he starts to hit the downswing of his prime.

Somewhere in the middle is the right answer.

All in all? None of this has or had anything to do with the Cowboys not wanting to give Murray the keys to Jerry's house.

 

[Apollo Creed]

Most average Joes couldn't stand up off their couch with that vest on, let alone run a go route passed an able bodied person and catch a one handed deep pass with your off hand.

Dez makes spectacular plays look routine.

 

[Apollo Creed]

Murray's YPC in seasons prior to 2014 was high because we mostly avoided the run in what would usually be considered obvious running situations (short-yardage and goal line). So there were a lot of missing 1- and 2-yard runs that might have resulted in first downs or TD, but would have brought down Murray's average. Instead, Murray was often running when defenses were expecting pass, which naturally helped his average.

Rank in Conversion Percentage
Short Yardage
2011-13 19th
2014 4th (first 8 games)
2014 10th (full season)

From 2011-13, on 3rd or 4th down with 2 yards or less to go, Dallas ranked 19th in conversion percentage, and the Cowboys ranked 29th in attempts in those situations. In 2014, after 8 games, we'd moved up to 4th in conversion percentage, and 12th in attempts. We finished the season 10th in conversion percentage and 7th in attempts.

Before the current OL was formed, we were below average in short yardage, despite Murray's high overall YPC. The same was true in goal line situations. From 2011-13, from the opponent's 1- or 2-yard line, Dallas ranked 22nd in TD percentage, scoring only 13 times on 27 runs. In 2014, the Cowboys led the league scoring 8 times on 8 runs.

Rank in Conversion Percentage
Goal Line
2011-13 22nd
2014 1st

This doesn't prove Murray was just an average back, but it does show that the meaningful improvement in the running game coincided with the improvement of the OL itself.

Romo said in an interview and when he was mic'd up one game in the 2013 season, 'we always come up half a yard short.'

 

[GimmeTheBall!]

franchise Dez for the next two years and move on.....high priced receivers aren't the end all be all to winning championships, if they were, they would be leading their teams to Superbowls every year, but they aren't..

In that short post there is a world of wisdom.

 

[plasticman]

"They offered Murray a contract during the season. He declined. It seems as though the Cowboys had a number they were willing to assign to the RB position, and Murray did not like that number."

They offered Murray an insult, 5 mil a year, they pay some of their O-lineman the same amount or more. He was practically chased out of Dallas, despite the fact that he made every overture to attempt to work it out so he could stay. He was worth 8 mil a year.

"Murray's YPC in seasons prior to 2014 was high because we mostly avoided the run in what would usually be considered obvious running situations (short-yardage and goal line). So there were a lot of missing 1- and 2-yard runs that might have resulted in first downs or TD, but would have brought down Murray's average. Instead, Murray was often running when defenses were expecting pass, which naturally helped his average."

http://pfref.com/tiny/8kRr1

From 2011 to 2013 they handed the ball off to Murray 25 times on third down and 1 or 2. He converted to a 1st down or TD 20 of those times for an average carry of 3.64. Again, prior to 2014, when they handed the ball off to Murray, he practically doubled the necessary yards.

"Those are nice factoids but I saw the surge off the line that the group was able to generate. He did have the most yards before contact in the NFL. And while his production should not be discounted, neither should his injury record even going back into college."

Despite the injuries:

He was ranked 6th since 2000 in yardage for RB's in their first 4 seasons.
Only two other players in Oklahoma Sooner history played in more college football games than DeMarco Murray.
I would take him if he only played in13-14 games before I took 98% of the other RB's for a full seasons. His injuries are the reason he didn't rush for 4 consecutive 1000 yard seasons.
These other "replacements", like Williams and McFadden, lack passion, desire, and instinctive football traits.

 

[percyhoward]

From 2011 to 2013 they handed the ball off to Murray 25 times on third down and 1 or 2. He converted to a 1st down or TD 20 of those times for an average carry of 3.64. Again, prior to 2014, when they handed the ball off to Murray, he practically doubled the necessary yards.

Forget YPC. It doesn't have even a moderate correlation to wins in the NFL. A 90-yard run in short yardage can give you a great average "doubling the necessary yards," but it's the conversion percentage that determines how successful you are on a regular basis. Murray was easily the best back we had for those years, and his conversion percentage was clearly better than that of the other players on the team. But as I said, I'm not trying to prove Murray isn't a good RB.

My point had to do with the improvement of the running game in obvious running situations in 2014. That wasn't Murray, it was the OL. Those include 3rd and 4th down (1 or 2 yards to go), and goal-line situations -- not just 3rd and short. Looking only at Murray's runs, you can still clearly see the effect of the improved OL in 2014.

Short yardage and Goal Line
Murray only
2011-2013: 27 of 41 65.9%
2014: 19 of 21 (first 8 games) 90.5%
2014: 27 of 34 (full season) 79.4%