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DeMarco Murray tells of move from Cowboys to Eagles
Phil Sheridan, ESPN Staff Writer
PHILADELPHIA -- DeMarco Murray turned in his career-best, NFL-leading 2014 season with the strong sense that it would be his last with the Dallas Cowboys.
Murray appeared Thursday night on ESPN's Face to Face with Hannah Storm. The taped interview offered insights into Murray's departure from Dallas and arrival in Philadelphia.
"Training camp, there were some discussions with my agents and the Cowboys," Murray told Storm. "And they weren't going too well. There was a point where I was like, you know what, I'm done negotiating. I want to focus on the season."
Murray did just that, leading the NFL in rushing with 1,845 yards. He was driven by the tenor of his negotiations with the Cowboys and also the opportunity presented by impending free agency. The Philadelphia Eagles pounced quickly, offering Murray a five-year, $40-million deal with $21 million guaranteed.
Chip Kelly called Murray to find out if he was interested in coming to Philadelphia.
"It was awesome," Murray said. "Playing in the same division the last few years, I knew a lot about him. I knew what type of offense he ran. I knew he was a smart head coach. He talked about the sports science aspect. He talked about Sam."
That would be Sam Bradford, the quarterback for which Kelly had just traded. Bradford and Murray had been teammates and roommates at Oklahoma.
"Let's get the deal done," Murray said. "Whatever it takes, let's join this team."
And so the Eagles were able to take the NFL's leading rusher away from their biggest rival.
"It was a little bittersweet," Murray said. "I wasn't going there to check the facilities out and hang out and scare the Cowboys. Once I gave them my word I was coming down there [to Philadelphia], I was signing."
Murray did, and the Eagles-Cowboys rivalry was that much more intense. The two teams meet next in Philadelphia in the second game of the 2015 season.
"It will be strange, I'm sure, and emotions will be high," Murray said. "It will be a heck of a game."
Phil Sheridan, ESPN Staff Writer
PHILADELPHIA -- DeMarco Murray turned in his career-best, NFL-leading 2014 season with the strong sense that it would be his last with the Dallas Cowboys.
Murray appeared Thursday night on ESPN's Face to Face with Hannah Storm. The taped interview offered insights into Murray's departure from Dallas and arrival in Philadelphia.
"Training camp, there were some discussions with my agents and the Cowboys," Murray told Storm. "And they weren't going too well. There was a point where I was like, you know what, I'm done negotiating. I want to focus on the season."
Murray did just that, leading the NFL in rushing with 1,845 yards. He was driven by the tenor of his negotiations with the Cowboys and also the opportunity presented by impending free agency. The Philadelphia Eagles pounced quickly, offering Murray a five-year, $40-million deal with $21 million guaranteed.
Chip Kelly called Murray to find out if he was interested in coming to Philadelphia.
"It was awesome," Murray said. "Playing in the same division the last few years, I knew a lot about him. I knew what type of offense he ran. I knew he was a smart head coach. He talked about the sports science aspect. He talked about Sam."
That would be Sam Bradford, the quarterback for which Kelly had just traded. Bradford and Murray had been teammates and roommates at Oklahoma.
"Let's get the deal done," Murray said. "Whatever it takes, let's join this team."
And so the Eagles were able to take the NFL's leading rusher away from their biggest rival.
"It was a little bittersweet," Murray said. "I wasn't going there to check the facilities out and hang out and scare the Cowboys. Once I gave them my word I was coming down there [to Philadelphia], I was signing."
Murray did, and the Eagles-Cowboys rivalry was that much more intense. The two teams meet next in Philadelphia in the second game of the 2015 season.
"It will be strange, I'm sure, and emotions will be high," Murray said. "It will be a heck of a game."