Sturm: Email - The DeMarco Murray Conundrum

[Sturm1310]

http://cowboysblog.***BANNED-URL***/2014/10/email-bag-the-demarco-murray-conundrum.html/

Since there is no Sunday game to dissect this morning, I wanted to take advantage of the calm before tonight’s storm and address something that came up in last week’s DMN chat and elaborate just a bit.

Here is the question from one of our readers and my chat-length answer:

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Question: What would you rather do: Pay Murray 4 yrs at 45 million with 20 mill guaranteed and the option to get out of the last year OR spend your first round draft pick on Todd Gurley if he fell to you.

Bob Sturm: I would have to decide on Murray before I knew if Gurley would fall to me. Also, Gurley would not fall to a team that might draft really, really late in Round 1. So, I would love to replace DeMarco with Gurley, but given what I can control, I would franchise Murray next spring for 1 year.

 

[Seven]

Zero Conundrum.

Murray has earned his spot. Pay him, within reason.

Plus he's the kind of athlete that wants to win. Can't have enough of those.

 

[remdak]

Zero Conundrum.

Murray has earned his spot. Pay him, within reason.

Plus he's the kind of athlete that wants to win. Can't have enough of those.

The problem is what Murray and his agent think is "within reason" may be vastly different from what the Cowboys think is "within reason". That's the real conundrum.

 

[Idgit]

Minor typo: @Sturm1310: "Murray is certainly being compared to the best in the sport, but he is also dealing with be compared to himself."

EDIT: and I agree with you on Murray, pretty much all the way around.

 

[Cowboy Brian]

Murray or riot.

He's the best RB in the league when healthy.

 

[Idgit]

Murray or riot.

He's the best RB in the league when healthy.

I still take Peterson over him, hands down. And it's not even all that close.

There are other young backs I like, too, but the issue with Murray is his age and the number of carries he's getting this season. The odds are stacked against RBs in both of those situations, so it's a bad bet to sign him to an expensive deal when we know in advance what usually happens to teams that do that. We love him now, we'll end up regretting his contract--if not immediately, then within two seasons of signing it.

 

[Jenky]

http://cowboysblog.***BANNED-URL***/2014/10/email-bag-the-demarco-murray-conundrum.html/

Since there is no Sunday game to dissect this morning, I wanted to take advantage of the calm before tonight’s storm and address something that came up in last week’s DMN chat and elaborate just a bit.

Here is the question from one of our readers and my chat-length answer:

=====

Question: What would you rather do: Pay Murray 4 yrs at 45 million with 20 mill guaranteed and the option to get out of the last year OR spend your first round draft pick on Todd Gurley if he fell to you.

Bob Sturm: I would have to decide on Murray before I knew if Gurley would fall to me. Also, Gurley would not fall to a team that might draft really, really late in Round 1. So, I would love to replace DeMarco with Gurley, but given what I can control, I would franchise Murray next spring for 1 year.

At that salary? Hell no. Since there's no contract break down, I can only assume the average for each year, $11.25 million and that's too much. IMO, $5-7 million a year is all I would give for him.

 

[links18]

I hate next year contract talk in the middle of the season.....

 

[Future]

Murray or riot.

He's the best RB in the league when healthy.

I like Murray as much as the next guy, but as a pure runner he's not, and he's probably about #3 or 4 as a complete bakc.

 

[Outlaw Heroes]

Increasingly, I think the Cowboys have all of the leverage here. $5 million per on a multi-year deal is not entirely unrealistic, in my view (though the 5-year term you suggest is a bit long for my liking). Murray is in a situation where the longer he goes without a deal the more his future value is being dissipated because of the well-know concerns with RBs who are coming off years in which they shoulder extremely heavy work loads. Until he signs up, the Cowboys have every incentive to continue to "use him up", as it were. They won't have any incentive to manage his workload and preserve his future value until he signs. I think that means Murray has to find a way to crystallize his future value (even at a discount) sooner rather than later.

 

[TwoDeep3]

One way would be to franchise for two years then let him walk.

 

[romothesavior]

The problem is what Murray and his agent think is "within reason" may be vastly different from what the Cowboys think is "within reason". That's the real conundrum.

Bingo. I don't think anybody is opposed to paying Murray within reason, and he certainly has earned it, but the parties are going to be starting the negotiations at vastly different figures.

 

[bayeslife]

I still take Peterson over him, hands down. And it's not even all that close.

There are other young backs I like, too, but the issue with Murray is his age and the number of carries he's getting this season. The odds are stacked against RBs in both of those situations, so it's a bad bet to sign him to an expensive deal when we know in advance what usually happens to teams that do that. We love him now, we'll end up regretting his contract--if not immediately, then within two seasons of signing it.

Peterson and McCoy for sure.

 

[Direwolf63]

Well we already know that Murray has turned down an obvious low-ball offer from the Cowboys. Supposedly around $4M a year, from what I hear.

So that's the starting point. I would say $5-$7M a year, as someone else said, is reasonable. Murray and his agent probably has different ideas though.

 

[BAT]

http://cowboysblog.***BANNED-URL***/2014/10/email-bag-the-demarco-murray-conundrum.html/

Since there is no Sunday game to dissect this morning, I wanted to take advantage of the calm before tonight’s storm and address something that came up in last week’s DMN chat and elaborate just a bit.

Here is the question from one of our readers and my chat-length answer:

=====

Question: What would you rather do: Pay Murray 4 yrs at 45 million with 20 mill guaranteed and the option to get out of the last year OR spend your first round draft pick on Todd Gurley if he fell to you.

Bob Sturm: I would have to decide on Murray before I knew if Gurley would fall to me. Also, Gurley would not fall to a team that might draft really, really late in Round 1. So, I would love to replace DeMarco with Gurley, but given what I can control, I would franchise Murray next spring for 1 year.

Great article. And it confirms what many have stated on CZ, either Murray or Bryant, will be franchised. Neither of these guys (Ro McClain included) are going anywhere next season. It would be foolish to do otherwise. As for McCoy or Peterson being better, I have to scoff. Murray is the best FIT for this team, his pass protection and receiving is very underrated by the fans, fortunately the coaching staff and players know better.

 

[Gridiron Man]

One way would be to franchise for two years then let him walk.

This is what I have tried to find reasoning for why we shouldn't. I've yet to find a reason. Anybody have any reasoning as to why we shouldn't?

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

If Dez takes less money then I bet Murray does too. Would be awesome if we didn't have to franchise anyone.

There are still decisions regarding Free and Carr. McClain, Carter, Durant, and Harris need deals too. Joneses doing work.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

One way would be to franchise for two years then let him walk.

Commit $20 mil (or so) to him over the next two years?

Ugh.

No.

 

[5Stars]

If Dez takes less money then I bet Murray does too. Would be awesome if we didn't have to franchise anyone.

There are still decisions regarding Free and Carr. McClain, Carter, Durant, and Harris need deals too. Joneses doing work.

Well, with Dez moving on from his agent, maybe he does want a Tyron deal? I hope he does.

 

[jday]

The problem is what Murray and his agent think is "within reason" may be vastly different from what the Cowboys think is "within reason". That's the real conundrum.

Beyond that, the Cowboys have several deals to get done with starting players at the end of this year. If they win the Super Bowl, the Cowboys will be lucky to resign half of them.