The pros and cons of keeping Murray

[blindzebra]

I see it coming down to two main factors money and defense.

Obviously money is an issue with any RB, especially one coming off of the amount of touches he got this year.

Many will say that you can plug any back in behind this OL and do fine. Yes I can see us having some success but can we find/have a complete RB to replace him? In looking at Murray he clearly lacks breakaway speed and looks awkward in the open field. You can see him missing on probably 6-8 runs to the house this year that turned into 20 yard gains, but he also routinely turns losses into 2-3 yards and 4 yard runs into 8 yard runs. So is an increase in explosive plays worth the risk of more 3rd and long plays?

That is where the defense comes into play. Murray is the perfect RB to protect our current defense. The question then becomes can we turn an undermanned, hard working D into a solid, hold their own and then some D in one offseason?

For me I think our best course of action is to hedge our bets and tag Murray, just in case we can't get all the pieces to make our defense able to stand on their own consistently through free agency and the draft.

 

[Beast_from_East]

I would like to resign Murray to a reasonable deal, I think he is a very good RB.................................................however, if he wants to break the bank then I let him walk.

 

[JoeKing]

Murray needs to make his money while he can. If that means getting it from another team then so be it. I won't blame the man for going were the money takes him.

 

[Jack Burton]

I like Murray. I hope we can keep him somehow. He's assignment sound, has good hands, and always seems to fall forward. I wouldn't give him a big money deal based on a career year though, and if he can get mega bucks in free agency, I'd be ok with letting him walk. We have too many holes to fill on this team.

 

[lane]

my only issue with demarco is the yards he leaves on the field.

he just does not hit the hole quick enough... and when he does he takes weird angles.

as far as being a pure bell cow and great receiver and blitz picker upper..

he's really great at that.

 

[Szczepanik]

Team Chemistry is something that is very underrated.

Him and Dez have undeniably strong team chemistry. I wouldn't mess that up.

 

[big dog cowboy]

For me I think our best course of action is to hedge our bets and tag Murray

There is very little chance of that happening. The cost is around $10M isn't it?

 

[Galian Beast]

This team is not built to have a high paid running back.

You look at the best paid running backs in the league and most have the same thing in common.

Run oriented team with a strong defense (at one point at least).

Vikings
Kansas City
Eagles
Texans
Bears
Seahawks
Panthers
49ers
Bills

The next highest paid running back is the Colts' Trent Richardson who was brought in by trade.

This team has been built to pass the ball, and that transition to a running team is going to be a difficult one on the cap.

It's going to generally hold our defense back. It helps that Romo is outplaying his contract, but it's still pass heavy, and will become more so with the signing of Dez.

 

[cowboyfan4lyfe]

I think the Cowboys will move on from Murray. I don't think he will do better than what he is doing this season. Sign AP he is a better Murray and after this season he will have something to prove. And he has had this season off and should be good for at least 3 seasons. He is that rare back that will last. Randle as a change of pace and a 4th round draft of Gurley and we should be set at RB for awhile.

 

[Galian Beast]

I think the Cowboys will move on from Murray. I don't think he will do better than what he is doing this season. Sign AP he is a better Murray and after this season he will have something to prove. And he has had this season off and should be good for at least 3 seasons. He is that rare back that will last. Randle as a change of pace and a 4th round draft of Gurley and we should be set at RB for awhile.

You won't get Gurley in the 4th round, we'd be lucky to get him in the 3rd round where we're going to be drafting.

I do agree that you have to look at your options at RB in the offseason if Murray wants his pay day. You have to focus on fixing this defense, and if the difference is paying Murray or getting a defensive player or two, I have to go with the defense.

I also think AP would be a short term upgrade over Murray.

 

[Idgit]

There is very little chance of that happening. The cost is around $10M isn't it?

The threat of the tag is more useful than the tag itself. The idea that we could hold him for another year and log another 400+ carries is pretty useful, at Murray's age. It might convince him to do a longer term deal for less than he otherwise would, because it makes the prospects after next year for a 28 year old RB with back to back 400+ carry seasons getting a big guarantee a lot less likely.

I'm in the true minority in that I wouldn't offer Murray very much at all after this season. I'd want a 4 year deal with ~$5M/year, or I'd let him walk. And I really, really appreciate how good a player he is. I just know he's got a really limited shelf life and there are other good players available at his position in the 2nd and 3rd rounds every season. It's just not worth committing big money to any RB not named 'Peterson.' And, even then, it's still not worth all that much.

 

[NoLuv4Jerry]

I continue to be amused with threads where people suggest "let him walk".....for a guy that is 40% of our offense. Here's the thing....if this coaching staff had proven we can plug anyone in and keep rolling....then DO IT! This week is the perfect week to DO IT! But wait...many of you all think a ROOKIE can gain 2000 yards.....catch out the backfield....pick up the blitz....and INSPIRE an entire organization? I was not the biggest Murray fan before this year....and I agree he leaves yards on the field....but having a RB available every week on every down is simply hard to find....and why would we stop the momentum this team is showing over a couple of dollars?

The approach on how he was used this year was dumb to me. Once he proved he was MORE than just a rented mule...we should have deployed him with the intent of keeping him around another 3 years. Murray is like Witten....not the most athletically gifted...but suits up week after week....is productive....and INSPIRES his teammates. I do not want to overpay either...but the guy played for 600k dollars this year and was leaned on more than anybody on this team. You get in the BUSINESS of not treating people fairly....and it will come back to bite you. No different with Dez. These coaches rely on players being PHYSICALLY superior than the opposition...so you cannot just plug ANYONE into this system and get the same results. You don't want to pay Dez or Murray?...then these coaches need to trash the VCRs and VHS tapes from the 90s and design an offense that actually makes the lives of the players less physically taxing. But that is NOT what Garret is about...he is 90s Cowboys through and through! But until you get a defense like the 90s Cowboys...our chances of winning the big one with this approach are going to be very difficult

 

[Smith22]

I continue to be amused with threads where people suggest "let him walk".....for a guy that is 40% of our offense. Here's the thing....if this coaching staff had proven we can plug anyone in and keep rolling....then DO IT! This week is the perfect week to DO IT! But wait...many of you all think a ROOKIE can gain 2000 yards.....catch out the backfield....pick up the blitz....and INSPIRE an entire organization? I was not the biggest Murray fan before this year....and I agree he leaves yards on the field....but having a RB available every week on every down is simply hard to find....and why would we stop the momentum this team is showing over a couple of dollars?

The approach on how he was used this year was dumb to me. Once he proved he was MORE than just a rented mule...we should have deployed him with the intent of keeping him around another 3 years. Murray is like Witten....not the most athletically gifted...but suits up week after week....is productive....and INSPIRES his teammates. I do not want to overpay either...but the guy played for 600k dollars this year and was leaned on more than anybody on this team. You get in the BUSINESS of not treating people fairly....and it will come back to bite you. No different with Dez. These coaches rely on players being PHYSICALLY superior than the opposition...so you cannot just plug ANYONE into this system and get the same results. You don't want to pay Dez or Murray?...then these coaches need to trash the VCRs and VHS tapes from the 90s and design an offense that actually makes the lives of the players less physically taxing. But that is NOT what Garret is about...he is 90s Cowboys through and through! But until you get a defense like the 90s Cowboys...our chances of winning the big one with this approach are going to be very difficult

The argument isn't don't pay him, the argument is don't pay him top 5 money because of 1 amazing season. He has had previous injury issues, and Dez needs to be paid. Offer him a reasonable contract, and if he wants top 5 money, let him walk and pay Dez. There is only so much money to go around. We also have to sign R. McClain and do something about D. Free.

 

[jrumann59]

I continue to be amused with threads where people suggest "let him walk".....for a guy that is 40% of our offense. Here's the thing....if this coaching staff had proven we can plug anyone in and keep rolling....then DO IT! This week is the perfect week to DO IT! But wait...many of you all think a ROOKIE can gain 2000 yards.....catch out the backfield....pick up the blitz....and INSPIRE an entire organization? I was not the biggest Murray fan before this year....and I agree he leaves yards on the field....but having a RB available every week on every down is simply hard to find....and why would we stop the momentum this team is showing over a couple of dollars?

The approach on how he was used this year was dumb to me. Once he proved he was MORE than just a rented mule...we should have deployed him with the intent of keeping him around another 3 years. Murray is like Witten....not the most athletically gifted...but suits up week after week....is productive....and INSPIRES his teammates. I do not want to overpay either...but the guy played for 600k dollars this year and was leaned on more than anybody on this team. You get in the BUSINESS of not treating people fairly....and it will come back to bite you. No different with Dez. These coaches rely on players being PHYSICALLY superior than the opposition...so you cannot just plug ANYONE into this system and get the same results. You don't want to pay Dez or Murray?...then these coaches need to trash the VCRs and VHS tapes from the 90s and design an offense that actually makes the lives of the players less physically taxing. But that is NOT what Garret is about...he is 90s Cowboys through and through! But until you get a defense like the 90s Cowboys...our chances of winning the big one with this approach are going to be very difficult

The issue is the timing of his career year. If he was in year 2 of his next contract no one would care. But he is in the last year of his rookie contract having a career year and slated to get over 400 touches when he is considered a fragile back. He is not Fred Taylor but he is not as durable as Emmitt was. Not to mention a RB that is run into the ground in one season usually is done a few years later.

 

[cowboys2233]

This team is not built to have a high paid running back.

You look at the best paid running backs in the league and most have the same thing in common.

Run oriented team with a strong defense (at one point at least).

Vikings
Kansas City
Eagles
Texans
Bears
Seahawks
Panthers
49ers
Bills

The next highest paid running back is the Colts' Trent Richardson who was brought in by trade.

This team has been built to pass the ball, and that transition to a running team is going to be a difficult one on the cap.

It's going to generally hold our defense back. It helps that Romo is outplaying his contract, but it's still pass heavy, and will become more so with the signing of Dez.

Of all the teams you listed, one will make the playoffs. That team is Seattle, a team we beat in their own place. So why are we assuming that this is the ideal model? Maybe we have the right model - multi-dimensional offense with an especially strong running game and a high-effort defense with a few very talented players at key positions.

 

[DCBoysfan]

I like Murray, I just think he has played his way out of Dalas. His price tag is gonna be to high and Dallas has so many other holes to fill.

 

[Jenky]

The argument isn't don't pay him, the argument is don't pay him top 5 money because of 1 amazing season. He has had previous injury issues, and Dez needs to be paid. Offer him a reasonable contract, and if he wants top 5 money, let him walk and pay Dez. There is only so much money to go around. We also have to sign R. McClain and do something about D. Free.

Well said. I'd pay Dez and Rolando first. I'd let Murray test the open market. I don't think NFL teams will pay that much for a RB anymore. He may not get the high paying contract he thinks he will.

Laurent Robinson produced in his contract year, tested the open market, got paid, and then was released by Jacksonville cause of injuries. I'd like Dallas to go with the same philosophy with Murray. See what other teams will offer him and evaluate from there.

My gut tells me it's a bad signing, but I wouldn't be upset if they took this approach.

 

[Jenky]

I like Murray, I just think he has played his way out of Dalas. His price tag is gonna be to high and Dallas has so many other holes to fill.

I disagree. I don't think he'll be offered an outrageous amount. The rest of the league knows his history and I highly doubt he'd produce the same numbers on another team, unless they have an amazing line.

 

[Joe Realist]

Murray will join Cutler with the Titans in Tennessee

 

[Bullflop]

Every team has its limits as to what they can accomodate on their plate of expenses. We'll either be able to afford Murray when his contract is addressed or we won't. It wouldn't be a preposterous intention to address drafting his replacement rather than destroying our salary structure to retain him next year. Gotta be practical.