Murray's new contract could be monumental

[perrykemp]

It is not just the rushing total it is everything else that goes with the position. Some guys can run great they can't pickup blitzes worth a damn. I don't expect to break the bank I do think top 5 is not breaking the bank for an all around quality player. We have had our share of lousy RB since Emmitt retired the notion the position is easily replaced is not true.

I agree with this. I don't think anyone can argue Murray isn't a top 5 back.

The only thing that gives me pause in giving out a <huge> contract is all the really good RBs coming out in the 2nd round or lately lately. Think Bell, Lacy, and Hill for example -- all of them are young, cheap, and effective.

 

[Doomsday101]

Love Murray but I think the front-office should proceed with caution when handing out major money to a RB.

There are other 4 guys with 1000+ yards rushing that have a higher ypc than Demarco Murray and Murray is in a 3 way tie with 2 others (Lacy and Lynch) fpr 5th with 4.7 ypc.

There are a number of those guys who are dirt cheap including Lacy, Hill, Bell, and Forsett.

My point is this -- the main thing Murray is benefiting from is LOTS more carries than the other guys and he also is blessed to be running behind the best run blocking OL in the NFL. Despite all that there are 6-7 others guys who are as productive on a per carry basis as Murray and a number of them are cheap because they were recent 2nd round draft picks.

In summary -- I like Murray and I hope the Cowboys find a way to resign him at a fair price, however, if you look at the stats Murray isn't <that> exceptional other than he is carrying a lot more than the other guys.

More carries normally does not increase your yards per carry it reduces them. Lacy is cheap because he is on his rookie deal, hell Murray is cheap right now as well he makes less than what Lacy is making.

 

[JsnSA]

I think there are a few things that may hurt Murray's chance at a jumbo contract for next year.

First, I think the fact that AD and Lynch will most likely be available to teams will push down the amount of money Murray would be able to make after a season like this.

Second, you also have the fact that other than this season he has not been able to remain healthy and some may wonder if he could put up those kind of numbers if the Cowboys did not have the O-line they do now. Murray certainly didn't beast like this the last few seasons. If the team that is looking to pay mega bucks does not have a similar O-line, they should not expect Murray to perform the same way.

Finally, the statistics show that RBs that have a season like this rarely follow up with a similar season. It does happen every now and then but it really is rare to repeat on this level.

 

[Doomsday101]

I agree with this. I don't think anyone can argue Murray isn't a top 5 back.

The only thing that gives me pause in giving out a <huge> contract is all the really good RBs coming out in the 2nd round or lately lately. Think Bell, Lacy, and Hill for example -- all of them are young, cheap, and effective.

As I just mentioned Lacy is getting paid more than Murray and not asked to carry the load Murray is. I'm not talking Peterson money and if Murray is then I would say no, but I think when you have quality players that are a big part of your team then you pay them fairly.

 

[Doomsday101]

I think there are a few things that may hurt Murray's chance at a jumbo contract for next year.

First, I think the fact that AD and Lynch will most likely be available to teams will push down the amount of money Murray would be able to make after a season like this.

Second, you also have the fact that other than this season he has not been able to remain healthy and some may wonder if he could put up those kind of numbers if the Cowboys did not have the O-line they do now. Murray certainly didn't beast like this the last few seasons. If the team that is looking to pay mega bucks does not have a similar O-line, they should not expect Murray to perform the same way.

Finally, the statistics show that RBs that have a season like this rarely follow up with a similar season. It does happen every now and then but it really is rare to repeat on this level.

He may not have another exact season like this one. Emmitt set the team record with 1773 and never reached that number again but yet was still very productive for the next 5 years in yardage and TD's.

 

[Vinnie2u]

One could argue without Murray we wouldnt be here sitting as NFC East Champs...we all know who the workhorse has been.

I agree but going foward you don't pay for past performance.. Murray is peaking right now. Going forward production will be going down hill... Frank Gores and Emmitts are exceptions.

 

[LatinMind]

In this day and age when RB's are barely getting drafted in the 1st round, and most teams use a running back by comittee approach, I believe Murray's contract will set the benchmark for RB's going forward. You cant argue that Murray or any other RB couldve had a better year in a contract season. If the Cowboys decide to reward him for his effort that will be a big WIN for alot of other RB's around the league, should Dallas offer him a minimal type contract and let him walk, RB's will for sure become a dime a dozen. So in my mind the Cowboys decision on Murray is a very important one. I'm very interested to see what happens.

Dallas already offered him 4yrs 16mil. Like it or not thats todays rate for RBs.

 

[Joe Realist]

4 years, $23 million, he gets cut before year 4

 

[yimyammer]

What I meant by momumental was.....The type of contract he gets whether its a very lucrative or minimal, I believe will set the bar going forward for all RB's

clearly but reading comprehension is for **** these days, I think you make a valid point & it will be interesting to see if GMs have the discipline to hold the salary line with RBs, history says some bozo will lose his mind, hopefully its not our bozo

 

[Doomsday101]

I agree but going foward you don't pay for past performance.. Murray is peaking right now. Going forward production will be going down hill... Frank Gores and Emmitts are exceptions.

Actually you do pay for past that is how players are able to demand the money the do. You think Dez is going to remind Jerry the numbers he has put up? of course he will. As for what Murray will or will not do? we don't know you say Gore and Emmitt are exception yet you do not know if Murray is as well. His conditioning program is very good and it is showing.

 

[TwoDeep3]

I agree with this. I don't think anyone can argue Murray isn't a top 5 back.

The only thing that gives me pause in giving out a <huge> contract is all the really good RBs coming out in the 2nd round or lately lately. Think Bell, Lacy, and Hill for example -- all of them are young, cheap, and effective.

So, by your theory we use a high draft pick and take a player we hope will play as well as one we already have, and ignore using that pick for defense or another OLman.

Does that sum it up?

 

[yimyammer]

It's strange that Jerry is threatening the franchise tag for Bryant but not Murray. I know he only has one to use, but you'd think it could be used as a weapon in negotiations against both.

Murrays tag is way too much is why

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

It is not just the rushing total it is everything else that goes with the position. Some guys can run great they can't pickup blitzes worth a damn. I don't expect to break the bank I do think top 5 is not breaking the bank for an all around quality player. We have had our share of lousy RB since Emmitt retired the notion the position is easily replaced is not true.

Agreed.

I actually think that he just wants a fair deal and WANTS to stay a Cowboy!

 

[perrykemp]

So, by your theory we use a high draft pick and take a player we hope will play as well as one we already have, and ignore using that pick for defense or another OLman.

Does that sum it up?

All I am saying TwoDeep is that yes, instead of taking TEs in the 2nd round every other year or so it might benefit the club to take advantage of the wealth of quality RBs available in the 2nd round -- recent examples being Jeremy Hill, Bell, Lacy, etc.

Doing so would provide the front-office choices.

 

[Doomsday101]

Agreed.

I actually think that he just wants a fair deal and WANTS to stay a Cowboy!

I agree. I think when people say things like 4 mill a year I think Murray would look at that as a slap in the face that is not even top 10 money at RB for the league leader no way he would take that. I think Dallas can get him around the top 5 and structure the deal to less the blow

 

[Doomsday101]

All I am saying TwoDeep is that yes, instead of taking TEs in the 2nd round every other year or so it might benefit the club to take advantage of the wealth of quality RBs available in the 2nd round -- recent examples being Jeremy Hill, Bell, Lacy, etc.

Doing so would provide the front-office choices.

We have not taken TE in the 2nd rd every year? nor every other year they took Bennett in 2008 draft and Escobar in 2013 draft. Give it a rest on the we take TE in the the 2nd all the time, FACT We don't/

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

I agree. I think when people say things like 4 mill a year I think Murray would look at that as a slap in the face that is not even top 10 money at RB for the league leader no way he would take that. I think Dallas can get him around the top 5 and structure the deal to less the blow

Yep.
Jerry won't beat him. He will be fair PLUS!

 

[xwalker]

It's strange that Jerry is threatening the franchise tag for Bryant but not Murray. I know he only has one to use, but you'd think it could be used as a weapon in negotiations against both.

It's not much of a threat against Murray. The tag will be around 10M and the Cowboys offered Murray 4 years, 16M.

 

[skinsscalper]

It is not just the rushing total it is everything else that goes with the position. Some guys can run great they can't pickup blitzes worth a damn. I don't expect to break the bank I do think top 5 is not breaking the bank for an all around quality player. We have had our share of lousy RB since Emmitt retired the notion the position is easily replaced is not true.

All of this is true, Dooms, but it's not a cut and dry issue. Several factors play into replacing a guy like Emmitt. #22 was effective because the rest of his team was effective (not the least of which was a dominating O-line). Emmitt isn't in the HOF if he spends his entire career with the Arizona Cardinals.

The laundry list of RBs that have strolled through here since Emmitt left haven't had the luxury that Murray experiences now. Dominant O-line, #1 WR in the NFL, savvy veteran QB that's gunning it like a well trained sniper, HOF TE. A lot of stars are aligning for Murray that haven't aligned for any back SINCE Emmitt Smith.

Now, that's not to say that Murray isn't exceptional. I think he is but he has more yardage before contact than many backs in the NFL have from scrimmage period. Some of that is Murray but most of that is blocking. Murray brings a lot to the table and I hope that he's re-signed on a reasonable deal. If he can't be, I don't think that he'll be as hard to replace as Emmitt due to the current factors listed above. That doesn't mean that we can just throw any scrub in there and he'll put up Murray's numbers but I don't think we'll end up chasing unicorns in an effort to continue with an effective running game in the absence of Demarco Murray.

With all that said, let's hope a good deal for both sides can be reached.

 

[skinsscalper]

I agree but going foward you don't pay for past performance.. Murray is peaking right now. Going forward production will be going down hill... Frank Gores and Emmitts are exceptions.

With all due respect, no one knows if Murray is such an exception, also.