DeMarco Murray"s "Not Top-10 Moment" During His Press Conference When Asked About Playing Cowboys
DeMarco Murray left Eagles practice early today, according to the team, due to a hamstring injury. Murray was listed on the Eagles" injury report as a limited participant. According to Adam Caplan of ESPN, Murray will undergo an MRI to assess the damage.
Murray"s season is quickly going from bad to worse. He has not had anywhere to run when he has touched the football, and he is tied for 96th in the NFL in rushing yards. In fact, there are 23 quarterbacks with as many rushing yards as Murray so far this season. If his injury is serious enough to warrant an MRI, his availability for Sunday"s game against the Jets has to be in question.
We"ll update as we learn more.
Bradford on his inaccuracy
On Monday, we showed six inaccurate throws by Sam Bradford, in gif form, from his game against the Cowboys. While Bradford thought his reads were good, he acknowledged that his ball placement was not.
Theres no doubt I missed a few passes," Bradford told reporters at the NovaCare Complex today. "Im not saying that they were all perfect. I think that a couple of those passes I missed, they were going to the right places, they just werent good b***s. After looking at the tape, I think my feet were just a little bit off. I just have to get my feet back into rhythm, taking the correct drop. Usually when my feet are good, my accuracy is good.
There isnt much of a reason Bradfords footwork should have been off. While the offensive line was brutally bad in the run game, they actually did a good job in pass protection, as Bradford more often than not had a clean pocket.
ESPN First Take - Darren McFadden Signs with Cowboys & DeMarco Murray Signs with Eagles SHARE ON WHATSAPPWHATSAPP
What is Chip Kelly doing?
Thats a question that has been asked many times over the last week after the polarizing coach traded his starting quarterback and running back for two players coming back from ACL injuries.
Coming on the heels of the team releasing several veteran starters, the football world was starting to question the sanity (and motives) of the former Oregon coach after the trades.
Many people surmised the frantic maneuvering was part of a grand scheme to land Oregon QB Marcus Mariota, based entirely on the fact Kelly had coached him in college. One analyst suggested Kellys personnel decisions may be influenced by race, despite a wealth of evidence suggesting otherwise.
Kellys approach to this offseason was not based on an emotional tie to a certain player or even a staunch commitment to his offensive system. Kelly has taken a scientific approach to football. Theories are tested, and if they prove successful, Kelly implements them into his program. If something isnt working, he cuts the cord.
The Eagles roster before Kelly put an ax to it was not working.
Even at 10-6, Philadelphia was a deeply flawed team. Some of those flaws were easy to diagnose. The Eagles gave up 72 passes of 20 yards or more in 2014, by far the most in the NFL. They also led the league in giveaways with quarterbacks Nick Foles and Mark Sanchez throwing a combined 21 interceptions.
Both Foles and Sanchez had problems protecting the football in 2014. (Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports)
Other flaws were not so obvious. Like LeSean McCoys league-leading 125 carries for zero yards or fewer. Or Nick Foles wayward accuracy on downfield throws limiting the offenses big play potential.
All of these problems contributed to the Eagles late-season collapse. And nothing was likely to change without significant improvements.
With under $20 million in cap space heading into the offseason, the Eagles did not have the financial flexibility to address all of those issues. With about $5 million needed to sign draft picks and money needed for re-signings or in-season pickups, Philadelphia was looking at around $10 million (remember that number) to make upgrades.
So Kelly went to work.
It started with release of linebacker Trent Cole for $8.4 million in savings. Then cornerbacks Cary Williams and Bradley Fletcher were shown the door for a combined $10.2 million in cap relief. Guard Todd Herremans was next to go, providing another $2.7 million in cap space.
Then came the LeSean McCoy trade, which was painted as a my-way-or-the-highway move, like the DeSean Jackson release the year before it. But just like the decision to cut Jackson, parting ways with McCoy was a financial decision, as Kelly explained in his press conference Wednesday:
The opportunity with LeSean came up and it was offered, you got an outstanding young linebacker at a position we have a huge need at The result of it is the money that was freed up. They way we looked at it was we got Kiko Alonso and Byron Maxwell for LeSean McCoy. The bottom line is that every decision you have to make is governed by money.
After the trade, the Eagles had acquired a talented young player on a modest deal and were up to nearly $50 million in cap space.
Byron Maxwell, the top corner on the market, was the first to sign at about $8.7 million a year. Next came his teammate in Seattle, Walter Thurmond, on a one-year, $3.25 million deal.
The Eagles had upgraded their secondary and filled a need at linebacker, but after losing McCoy and Jeremy Maclin, who signed with Kansas City, the offense needed attention.
Kellys next move took everyone by surprise: Philadelphia sent Foles and a 2016 second-round pick to St. Louis for Sam Bradford and a fourth-rounder.
The Eagles had given up a high draft pick for an injury-prone quarterback with a big cap hit. Kelly was undoubtedly taking a risk. But turn on Bradfords tape and you see the makings of a franchise QB. Bradford has a big-time arm, good accuracy and sees the field clearly. And now hes going from a rough situation in St. Louis to a system that made Mark Sanchez look like a competent NFL starter.
Bradford has the rare ability to deliver a strong, accurate throw while taking a hit in the pocket. (Courtesy of NFL Game Rewind)
Bradford has one year left on his rookie deal, so Philadelphia isnt making a long-term commitment unless Bradford earns it.
Worst-case scenario: The Eagles take a one-year flyer on Bradford. Best-case scenario: Kelly finds his quarterback. If he stays healthy, Bradford is, at the very least, an upgrade over Foles.
Next up was finding McCoys replacement. After striking out with Frank Gore, Kelly signed Ryan Mathews, a downhill runner whose value had been hurt by injury problems in San Diego.
Then out of nowhere, reports of DeMarco Murray expressing interest in Philadelphia surfaced. A day later, the NFLs leading rusher had walked away from the Cowboys to sign with their division rivals.
Murray and Mathews will make a combined $12.5 million in 2015 or only $1.25 million more than the Eagles were set to pay McCoy before the trade. Two good backs for the price of one.
Coming into free agency, the knocks on Murray were a heavy workload and a statline supposedly inflated by a dominant Cowboys line. But Murray has 527 fewer career carries than McCoy and has now gone from Pro Football Focus second-highest graded run-blocking line in Dallas to to the only line graded higher in Philadelphia.
Murray shouldnt have a problem adapting to Kellys system; the Eagles and Cowboys employ a similar zone-blocking scheme in the run game. And he will do a better job of keeping the Eagles in favorable down-and-distances. McCoy had the third-highest rate of runs for zero or less yards, while Murray had the ninth-lowest rate, per ESPN Stats and Info.
Murray may not be the electrifying talent McCoy is, but his north-south style is a better fit for Kellys offensive philosophy. McCoys east-west running style had caused Kelly to sour on the 26-year-old, according to the MMQBs Peter King.
Murrays downhill running style should serve the Eagles well. (Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports)
The Eagles have yet to replace Maclin. But they have to 20th pick in a draft deep on playmaking wideouts.
Lets say Philadelphia takes a receiver with their first-round pick. Well give them Oklahomas Dorial Green-Beckham. That gives the Eagles a skill position rotation of Green-Beckham, Riley Cooper, Jordan Matthews, Brent Celek, Zach Ertz, Murray, Mathews and Darren Sproles, with only one of those players making more than $5 million a year.
On the other side of the ball, the Eagles have upgraded their secondary and linebacking corps while maintaining a good defensive line.
And Kelly made all of these improvements with just an $8 million increase in payroll. Safe to say he made the most of that $10 million he had to work with at the start of the offseason.
Not to mention, the six players he sent packing were an average age of 29.5. The six he brought in average out at 26.7 years old. Fewerthan two months into the offseason, Philadelphia is younger with fewer holes.
What is Chip Kelly doing?
Hes making the Eagles better. One calculated move at a time.
Chip Kelly, DeMarco Murray, LeSean McCoy, NFL, Philadelphia Eagles, NFL
ESPN First Take - How Will DeMarco Murray"s Free Agency Play Out Dallas Cowboys ?
Earlier today, reports came out that the Eagles were still interested in free-agent running back DeMarco Murray even after agreeing to sign Ryan Mathews (see story).
As talented as Murray is, it was a confusing fit given the Eagles" backfield depth. But a reason for the maintained interest was revealed this afternoon by ESPN"s Chris Mortensen.
Murray himself called Chip Kelly and personally expressed interest in playing for the Eagles.
Bradford"s presence can only help. The Eagles" new QB said at his press conference Wednesday afternoon that he"s been contacting Murray in an attempt to recruit his former Sooners teammate to the Eagles.
Murray, the NFL"s leading rusher in 2014, is in line for a huge payday. And, given Kelly"s explanation Wednesday afternoon that money was a main factor in trading LeSean McCoy to Buffalo, he seems to be out of the Birds" price range.
Mathews" agreement is for $11.5 million over three years with $5 million guaranteed. Darren Sproles has cap hits the next two seasons of $4.1 million and $4.5 million. Chris Polk is also on the roster. If the Eagles were to add Murray, they"d be committing a heck of a lot of money to a position many believe to be expendable.
Then again, Murray is anything but an interchangeable part. He totaled 2,261 yards in 2014 and scored 13 touchdowns for the Cowboys. For his career, he"s average 4.8 yards per carry. And most importantly, he played all 16 regular-season games for the first time in his four-year career.
UPDATE:6:07 - NFL analyst LaDainian Tomlinson has an update on the possibility of the Eagles signing Murray.
Brennan Clay Exposes Texts Message Between Demarco Murray and His Wife!
Updated: December 15, 2014, 5:20 PM ET
By Todd Archer | ESPN.comDeMarco Murray Set For Surgery
IRVING, Texas -- Dallas Cowboys running back DeMarco Murray will have surgery Monday to repair a broken bone in his left hand, coach Jason Garrett said.
More from ESPN.com
The Cowboys must show they are about more than just DeMarco Murray if the running back has to miss time with a broken bone in his hand, Todd Archer writes. Story
Murray, however, has not been ruled out for this week"s game against the Indianapolis Colts.
"The biggest question we have to ask ourselves is, is he functional to do his job?" Garrett said. "Can he hold the football? Can he carry it under duress? Can he block? Can he do the things necessary to play the position?
"He"s as strong-willed and as determined an individual as I"ve ever been around, and if anybody has a chance to come back, he does. So let"s take first things first and see how the surgery goes, and we"ll make our best decisions from there."
Murray suffered a broken fourth metacarpal bone, a source told ESPN.com. The injury occurred late in the fourth quarter of the Cowboys" 38-27 win against the Philadelphia Eagles.
After the game, Murray said he was "good," but he did not elaborate about his hand. He had X-rays taken after the game and was examined further Monday.
The fourth metacarpal is the long bone in the hand that runs from the base of the fourth finger to the wrist.
If Murray can"t play against the Colts, the Cowboys would turn to Joseph Randle and Lance Dunbar as their top tailbacks. Ryan Williams has spent the year on the practice squad.
Counting on Murray
DeMarco Murray has accounted for 38 percent of the Cowboys" yards from scrimmage this season. No other player has accounted for a higher percentage of his team"s yards.
Highest Pct of Team"s Yards From Scrimmage -- This SeasonPlayerTeamPercentDeMarco MurrayCowboys38Matt ForteBears34Le"Veon BellSteelers33Arian FosterTexans29>>Highest since Adrian Peterson in 2012 (42)
"We have a lot of confidence in those guys," Garrett said. "Obviously we like to give them opportunities in games to spell DeMarco and just to give those guys a shot. I thought last night was a good example of how those guys consistently take advantage of those opportunities. Joseph got a couple of carries and was productive with his. I felt Lance did a really nice job in that game, at the end of the game handling the football and just doing some good things and making some good runs. They weren"t splashy runs but they were real positive runs in critical moments of that ballgame."
Should Murray miss the game, it would be a serious blow to an offense that has relied heavily on the NFL"s leading rusher. Murray has established career highs in carries (351) and yards (1,687). He needs 87 yards in the final two games to eclipse Emmitt Smith"s single-season team record of 1,773 yards set in 1995. He has an outside shot at 2,000 yards, as well, but those chances took a hit Sunday when he was held to 81 yards on 31 carries.
Murray has 11 100-yard games this season and has scored a career-high 11 touchdowns. Randle has 237 yards on 34 carries and has two touchdowns. Dunbar has 91 yards on 26 carries.
Others have dealt with the same or similar injuries as Murray"s. Smith missed one game in 1999 after undergoing the surgery following a 13-carry, 140-yard and two-touchdown game against the Minnesota Vikings. He had two straight 100-yard games after his return. In 2006, Terrell Owens suffered a similar injury while with the Cowboys. He had a plate and screws implanted into his hand and did not miss a game, thanks to the Cowboys" bye week. He wore a glove with extra padding on the top of his hand for added protection. In 2011, Denver Broncos running back Willis McGahee missed one game with the injury.
Because Murray carries the ball predominantly in his right hand, it might not be much of an issue, but he has lost five fumbles on the season. He missed 11 games in his first three seasons with ankle, foot and knee injuries.
Covered NFL since 1997, Cowboys since 2003
Previously covered Bengals and Dolphins
Lives in Dallas area with his wife and two children
