Report: DeMarco Murray Expected To Join Eagles, Stay In NFC East
PHILADELPHIA (CBSNewYork/AP) -- It looks like the New York Giants will still have to deal with running back DeMarco Murray.
The All-Pro rusher will visit the NFC East rival Philadelphia Eagles on Thursday -- and he's expected to stick around once he gets there, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.
It's a no-lose situation for the Eagles. If they somehow don't seal the deal with Murray, they're helping drive up his price for the rival Dallas Cowboys.
But the expectation is that Murray will join the Eagles, Schefter reported, leaving Dallas to mull a number of options at running back. C.J. Spiller is available in free agency and it's been speculated that the Cowboys could have their eyes on Minnesota running back Adrian Peterson, who is reportedly unhappy with the Vikings organization for their handling of his child-abuse scandal.
Murray helped the Cowboys win the NFC East title last season while rushing for a franchise-record 1,845 yards. He broke the Dallas record held by NFL career rushing leader Emmitt Smith and also set a league mark with eight straight 100-yard games to start the season.
New Eagles quarterback Sam Bradford is hoping to convince his former Oklahoma teammate to join him in Philly.
"I've been trying my hardest," Bradford said. "I called him. I've texted him. I've done everything. We've been in communication and I think if we could somehow land DeMarco, it would be a great pickup.
"Not only is he a great player, but he's a great person. He's a really great friend of mine, too. I really think that he could help this ballclub."
Even reigning AL MVP Mike Trout of the Los Angeles Angels, a lifelong Eagles fan, lobbied Murray to come to Philadelphia via Twitter.
The Eagles have sought a running back since trading two-time All-Pro LeSean McCoy to Buffalo last week for linebacker Kiko Alonso. They agreed to a deal with Frank Gore on Sunday before he changed his mind and signed with Indianapolis.
Philadelphia agreed to a three-year contract with running back Ryan Mathews on Wednesday, according to The Associated Press.
The 27-year-old Murray turned down a four-year, $16 million offer from the Cowboys last fall and went on to become the AP Offensive Player of the Year. He played 16 games for the first time in 2014 after missing games with injuries in each of his first three years.
Murray played the final four games last season, including the playoffs, after breaking his left hand in a win at Philadelphia. He tied Seattle's Marshawn Lynch for the NFL lead with 13 touchdowns rushing. Murray has been to the Pro Bowl the last two seasons. He had 1,121 yards rushing and nine TDs in 14 games in 2013.
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