Cowboys Wait As DeMarco Murray Visits Philly
By Mike Fisher | @fishsports
IRVING (105.3 THE FAN) - DeMarco Murray's closest friends on the Cowboys have expressed their wish that he remain with Dallas. But they have also been made aware that the free-agent running back will fly to Philadelphia on Thursday for his first -- and maybe only -- outside-of-Dallas visit.
Much is being made of Murray having placed a call to Philadelphia coach Chip Kelly to express interest. But there's no way to know that they conversation is any more significant than Murray's impromptu and private Tuesday night meeting at the AAC following the Mavs-Cavs game, reported exclusively by 105.3 The Fan.
Murray, who led the NFL in rushing and set a single-season franchise record with 1,845 yards in 2014, has an asking price of $9 million annually. The Cowboys have never intended to pay that for Murray --who they view as a good player coming off a great season at a position not worthy of big money. Amid reports that Murray now has "leverage," Cowboys sources indicate to me that whether it was the Raiders, the Jaguars or the NFC East Eagles, their mindset was to not only to avoid bidding against themselves, but to also step back from an all-out bidding war. That remains the case, regardless of who the other bidders might be.
Murray is, of course, desired back by Dallas. And Philadelphia's strategy -- if they really want to pay "market-value" -- will be to bring him to town and to keep him there.
But if the Eagles want to win this so-called "showdown" by money-whipping the player, they will win. Easily. And the Cowboys -- including even DeMarco's closest Valley Ranch friends -- will move on.
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