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Trolling The Nation: At 8:59 PM ET On April 29th, 2011, The Dallas Cowboys Drafted RB DeMarco Murray

Tim MacMahon had a nice story up on ESPN Dallas yesterady in which he looks at how DeMarco Murray is dealing with being in the spotlight after setting a franchise rushing record. Along the way MacMahon details Barry Switzer's contribution in bringing Murray to Dallas.

Needless to say, Switzer thought Murray was a steal when the Cowboys selected Murray in the third round with the 71st overall pick. Switzer said as much about 30 minutes before the Cowboys went on the clock, when Jones called him from the Valley Ranch war room and put Switzer on speakerphone.

I found this quote particularly interesting, because it establishes a time for the call from the Cowboys warroom to Switzer: about 30 minutes before the Cowboys made their pick. As you can see from the title of this post, we know exactly when the Cowboys made their pick, so that call must have taken place slightly before 8:30 PM EDT on April 29th.

After the break we relive those thirty minutes through the comments of Cowboys fans on that day, and we also take a look at the initial reaction to the pick by Cowboys fans and fans of other NFL teams.

Now on to the 30 minutes prior to the Murray selection, and a little background to get you in the proper mood.

We join the action at 8:27, just as as the Redskins trade down with the Dolphins, who now are in possession of the 62nd pick. At right about this time, the Cowboys are on the phone with Switzer, inquiring about DeMarco Murray. Based on this conversation we'll assume that the Cowboys had their sights set on DeMarco Murray from at least this point, if not earlier, but will have to wait for another ten picks before they are on the clock with the 71st pick of the 2011 draft. The situation is tense.

Running backs Shane Vereen and Mikel Leshoure had just been taken by the Patriots and Lions with the 56th and 57th picks. Miami had been widely expected to take a running back in the first round, but took Mike Pouncey instead, and did not have a pick in the 2nd round. The Dolphins just traded up, they need a running back badly and they are on the clock.

Also waiting in the wings are the Packers at 64 who are thought to have a need at running back, and the Patriots are a threat to trade up from the 73rd pick to potentially get another running back.

The Cowboys are sweating bullets, and hope fervently that Murray will fall to them.

Picks 62-71, 2011 NFL draft
war room is tense. they want someone to fall for them
by CaliCowboysFan92 on Apr 29, 2011 8:27 PM EDT
I dont like the redskins getting more picks
by Jeremiah_24 on Apr 29, 2011 8:28 PM EDT
Miami takes Mallett?
by DonMoosavi on Apr 29, 2011 8:29 PM EDT
Pick 62: Miami Dolphins select Daniel Thomas, RB , Kansas State
another RB
by CaliCowboysFan92 on Apr 29, 2011 8:30 PM EDT
Another trade up for a RB.
by Rena on Apr 29, 2011 8:31 PM EDT
Um... was Jerry just dancing???
by Blue Eyed Devil on Apr 29, 2011 8:32 PM EDT
man they are really tense in the warroom
by TheCowboyWay on Apr 29, 2011 8:33 PM EDT
Pick 63: Pittsburgh Steelers select Marcus Gilbert, OT, Florida
Steelers got a OT.
by Rena on Apr 29, 2011 8:34 PM EDT
Green Bay could go with Murray
by KJDH2154 on Apr 29, 2011 8:34 PM EDT
Would make sense
by Jeremiah_24 on Apr 29, 2011 8:35 PM EDT
cobb to GB
by MadDawg03 on Apr 29, 2011 8:35 PM EDT
Like GB needs another WR
by Fergie3108 on Apr 29, 2011 8:36 PM EDT
Tons of great 3rd rounders availiable!!! You got your "I’m smarter than everyone else" pick in Bruce Carter Jerry. Now MAKE A SMART PICK!!!
by Blue Eyed Devil on Apr 29, 2011 8:38 PM EDT
Pick 64: Green Bay Packers select Randall Cobb, WR, Kentucky
It is Cobb
by APerfectStar on Apr 29, 2011 8:40 PM EDT
Randall Tex Cobb is in this draft? He was great in Raising Arizona
by jstaubach on Apr 29, 2011 8:40 PM EDT
Six picks until DAL
by APerfectStar on Apr 29, 2011 8:41 PM EDT
Carolina has to go defense here
by KJDH2154 on Apr 29, 2011 8:44 PM EDT
OH NO. someone please hurry and take mallet before he falls to us and Jerry does something stupid
by TheCowboyWay on Apr 29, 2011 8:46 PM EDT
Pick 65: Carolina Panthers select Terrell McClain, DT, South Florida
alright 5 more picks....
by CaliCowboysFan92 on Apr 29, 2011 8:46 PM EDT
Pick 66: Cincinnati Bengals select Dontay Moch, LB, Nevada
ahh Moch
by CaliCowboysFan92 on Apr 29, 2011 8:47 PM EDT
jerry on the phone...
by MadDawg03 on Apr 29, 2011 8:47 PM EDT
lot of WAR ROOM ACTION GOING ON got someone on speakerphone
by MadDawg03 on Apr 29, 2011 8:48 PM EDT
Pick 67: Denver Broncos select Nate Irving, LB, North Carolina State
alright nate irving gone we already got our ILB
by CaliCowboysFan92 on Apr 29, 2011 8:49 PM EDT
3 more picks...
by CaliCowboysFan92 on Apr 29, 2011 8:49 PM EDT
they are really thinking on something
by TheCowboyWay on Apr 29, 2011 8:49 PM EDT
i think we're moving back trying to get Ellis at a better value…and some late picks since UDFAs won’t happen.
by MadDawg03 on Apr 29, 2011 8:50 PM EDT
Ellis or Rackley--- who wins?
by KD Drummond on Apr 29, 2011 8:50 PM EDT
DeMarco Murray
by KJDH2154 on Apr 29, 2011 8:51 PM EDT
Pick 68: Buffalo Bills select Kelvin Sheppard, LB, LSU
wow sheppard reaching
by CaliCowboysFan92 on Apr 29, 2011 8:52 PM EDT
Pick 69: Arizona Cardinals select Rob Housler, TE, Florida Atlantic
a TE for ARI. AWESOME!
by CaliCowboysFan92 on Apr 29, 2011 8:53 PM EDT
Mallett keeps falling
by Antonio S on Apr 29, 2011 8:54 PM EDT
Pick 70: Kansas City selects Justin Houston, DE, Georgia
we're on clock now
by CaliCowboysFan92 on Apr 29, 2011 8:55 PM EDT
Chiefs take Houston
by KD Drummond on Apr 29, 2011 8:55 PM EDT
Gotta be Rackley here.
by IrishP1 on Apr 29, 2011 8:55 PM EDT
Rackley or Ellis here. Anything else is unacceptable.
by TXHC on Apr 29, 2011 8:56 PM EDT
ELLIS! ELLIS! ELLIS!
by CaliCowboysFan92 on Apr 29, 2011 8:56 PM EDT
edmund gates might be a good pick about now
by Lissyyyyy on Apr 29, 2011 8:56 PM EDT
please Rackleyyyyyyyyyyyy
by scandrick32 on Apr 29, 2011 8:56 PM EDT
Please Rackley, please Rackley
by Blue Eyed Devil on Apr 29, 2011 8:57 PM EDT
For the love of god! Get Ellis or Rackley!
by Rat-Pack on Apr 29, 2011 8:57 PM EDT
Mallet to the Cowboys.
by DCProf on Apr 29, 2011 8:57 PM EDT
Jerry talking to player.
by MadDawg03 on Apr 29, 2011 8:58 PM EDT
Handshakes and excitement. i wonder…
by DonMoosavi on Apr 29, 2011 8:58 PM EDT
Stephen & Rocket shaking hands in celebration
by jstaubach on Apr 29, 2011 8:59 PM EDT
Pick 71: Dallas Cowboys select DeMarco Murray, RB, Oklahoma

Star_medium

This is where we take the blogging equivalent of an extremely annoying commercial break.

The initial fan reaction to the Murray pick was predictably negative, as most fans had not expected the Cowboys to draft a running back. So keep that in mind as you read those initial comments a little further down this post. Also, this post not intended to call out any of the commenters, it's meant in good fun, and I'm sure that every Cowboys fan who reacted negatively to the pick at first is quite happy to have been proven wrong by Murray since.

Before going into the individual comments, full disclosure up front: I was dead set against drafting a running back on the second day of the draft, particularly when reports had surfaced that the Cowboys had seriously considered going after Mark Ingram on the first day of the draft. Like most other fans, the Murray pick caught me completely by surprise and it took me a while to get comfortable with the selection. Here is my comment on the possibility of the Cowboys taking a running back, about four hours before the Cowboys selected DeMarco Murray:

Flashback: four hours earlier ...
Somebody please shoot me if we draft a RB today.
by One.Cool.Customer on Apr 29, 2011 5:10 PM EDT
Someone get OCC's belt & shoelaces He’s now on the Chia Suicide Watch.
by jstaubach on Apr 29, 2011 5:15 PM EDT
It better be defense then back to OL in that order I don’t want to see any WR’s or RB’s
by APerfectStar on Apr 29, 2011 5:19 PM EDT
+10000
by somebodyquiet on Apr 29, 2011 5:21 PM EDT
Tomorrow should be the RB pick for sure
by DonMoosavi on Apr 29, 2011 5:25 PM EDT
Screw that. You and me'll be playing 6-shell Russian roulette. Fighting over who goes first.
by tanstaafl on Apr 29, 2011 5:36 PM EDT
You Took the Words Out of My Mouth. There might be a new Jonestown massacre if that happened. Another round of Kool-Aid, please!
by kindablue on Apr 29, 2011 6:48 PM EDT

In the end, nobody shot me, so on to your regularly scheduled programming

Star_medium

Pick 71: Dallas Cowboys select DeMarco Murray, RB, Oklahoma
Unbelieveable
by TXHC on Apr 29, 2011 8:59 PM EDT
Wow, Demarco
by markdamack on Apr 29, 2011 8:59 PM EDT
murray
by nspirals on Apr 29, 2011 8:59 PM EDT
FUDGE
by CaliCowboysFan92 on Apr 29, 2011 8:59 PM EDT
A RB?
by CaliCowboysFan92 on Apr 29, 2011 8:59 PM EDT
bye bye barber
by Bmadd3233 on Apr 29, 2011 8:59 PM EDT
You are kidding me....
by Rena on Apr 29, 2011 8:59 PM EDT
DeMarco Murray FML
by Key19 on Apr 29, 2011 8:59 PM EDT
I LOVE this pick
by Fergie3108 on Apr 29, 2011 8:59 PM EDT
Such a Jerry pick.... oh no, oh no
by Blue Eyed Devil on Apr 29, 2011 8:59 PM EDT
You guys shouldnt be suprised. Jerry was trying to move back in the first yesterday to nab Ingram
by Boyzfan94 on Apr 29, 2011 9:13 PM EDT
I hate jerry jones
by nspirals on Apr 29, 2011 8:59 PM EDT
bye bye marion
by MadDawg03 on Apr 29, 2011 8:59 PM EDT
freakin ridiculous
by KD Drummond on Apr 29, 2011 9:00 PM EDT
Good Effing Grief. Jerry is officially a deluded fool.
by kindablue on Apr 29, 2011 9:00 PM EDT
SMH
by Jeremiah_24 on Apr 29, 2011 9:00 PM EDT
WTF?????
by yehti on Apr 29, 2011 9:00 PM EDT
Never expected this
by pfloyd1 on Apr 29, 2011 9:00 PM EDT
Goodbye Marion Barber III
by DonMoosavi on Apr 29, 2011 9:00 PM EDT
This draft just fell apart.
by nspirals on Apr 29, 2011 9:00 PM EDT
Frustrating… We could have had a really solid Guard in Rackley, instead we take another freakin RB.
by Luke. on Apr 29, 2011 9:01 PM EDT
Waste of a pick he’ll never get the PT Rackley or Ellis would have gotten
by TK19 on Apr 29, 2011 9:01 PM EDT
I dont like that pick
by Antonio S on Apr 29, 2011 9:01 PM EDT
Hmmm I don't get this. I don’t get this at all.
by Iron Fist on Apr 29, 2011 9:01 PM EDT
I love this pick… Very solid for a third rounder. With Barber on the way out and Choice’s future up in the air, this gives us a solid back that we can use as a blocker and to alternate with Felix.
by 7footer on Apr 29, 2011 9:02 PM EDT
I like it too
by Fergie3108 on Apr 29, 2011 9:03 PM EDT
my dreams are over....that was jerry jones pick....without any doubt....
by orli on Apr 29, 2011 9:03 PM EDT
I believe the young RB’s are nearing the end of their first contract. Good move.
by CowboyLang on Apr 29, 2011 9:03 PM EDT
This was a miss. I really dislike this pick, plus now OCC is going to commit hari kari
by APerfectStar on Apr 29, 2011 9:03 PM EDT
what a steal
by ChiaCrack on Apr 29, 2011 9:03 PM EDT
The ticket Is killing this pick…Norm is calling it absolutely stunning…. BAD PICK
by bignastydog on Apr 29, 2011 9:04 PM EDT
I hate it too
by somebodyquiet on Apr 29, 2011 9:05 PM EDT
can't believe we drafted an RB in the 3rd...
by CaliCowboysFan92 on Apr 29, 2011 9:04 PM EDT
Wheels just came off the bus
by Birddog26 on Apr 29, 2011 9:05 PM EDT

How other SB Nation bloggers reacted to the Murray pick
Bears Cowboys go RB? It may be the end of The Barbarian
by frenchbears113 on Apr 29, 2011 9:00 PM EDT
When are they going to try to improve that secondary?
by #23 on Apr 29, 2011 9:02 PM EDT
Dallas Demarco Murray. I like him..Felix Jones clone though??
by tfrabotta on Apr 29, 2011 9:02 PM EDT
Lions cowboys demarco murray sheesh they have like 5 backs now
by mochaj on Apr 29, 2011 9:00 PM EDT
yeah, not a good pick for them, but whatevs
by rames on Apr 29, 2011 9:01 PM EDT
Packers DeMarco Murray to the Cowboys! Tashard Choice and Marion Barber may be gone…
by OBrienSchofieldismyHero on Apr 29, 2011 8:59 PM EDT
Felix Jones and DeMarco Murray. two 3rd down backs! woooo. Stupid Jerry
by handheld on Apr 29, 2011 9:00 PM EDT
WTH? Why would Dallas take Murray? Don’t they have Felix Jones?
by Omaha Sun on Apr 29, 2011 8:59 PM EDT
Shh don’t tell them
by Tepo6688 on Apr 29, 2011 9:00 PM EDT
and 8 other RB's
by tmoneyttime1 on Apr 29, 2011 9:00 PM EDT
No, that’s New Orleans
by Tepo6688 on Apr 29, 2011 9:01 PM EDT
Difference is New Orleans kinda needs any sort of healthy running back.
by OBrienSchofieldismyHero on Apr 29, 2011 9:02 PM EDT
Bucs jerry jones is dumb as soup
by putupyourDUKES on Apr 29, 2011 9:00 PM EDT
This
by 4QB on Apr 29, 2011 9:00 PM EDT
Ding ding ding
by Sander on Apr 29, 2011 9:01 PM EDT
Falcons Cowboys got DeMarco Murray. (!@#&!@$ I liked what I saw of him.
by Caleb Rutherford on Apr 29, 2011 9:00 PM EDT
Giants Hmmm. Murray could be a real good pick. I like this guy.
by bigbluethruandthru on Apr 29, 2011 8:59 PM EDT
I really like Murray...not happy he'll be a cowboy
by Big Blue the Wrecking Crew on Apr 29, 2011 9:00 PM EDT
+1, I liked him too.
by GhostDini on Apr 29, 2011 9:01 PM EDT
he's gonna be a pain in the ass catching the ball
by Rorschach44 on Apr 29, 2011 9:03 PM EDT
Eagles And the Cowboys take DeMarco Murray.
by ChaoticEagle on Apr 29, 2011 8:59 PM EDT
dammit
by alcatraz0109 on Apr 29, 2011 9:00 PM EDT
So that's 2 picks in a row where the Boys take someone with health issues?
by ChaoticEagle on Apr 29, 2011 9:00 PM EDT
Bye Barber.
by JimmyK on Apr 29, 2011 8:59 PM EDT
Damn I liked him too..I guess that means Barber is gone
by eaglesfan20 on Apr 29, 2011 9:00 PM EDT
An RB must be on his way out in Dallas since the Boys just got Murray
by The Legend on Apr 29, 2011 9:00 PM EDT
Redskins How many RBs do the Cowboys need?
by DavidDunn on Apr 29, 2011 8:59 PM EDT
About as many draft picks as the Redskins have
by Obey on Apr 29, 2011 9:04 PM EDT
More running backs for the Cowboys to poorly juggle
by Ultada on Apr 29, 2011 9:00 PM EDT
49ers What? another RB to Dallas, they already have 3
by Lok on Apr 29, 2011 8:59 PM EDT
and they're all mediocre
by whistlingmountain on Apr 29, 2011 9:00 PM EDT
tell me about it.....dumb… maybe garrett is planning a cleanout
by ratumike on Apr 29, 2011 9:00 PM EDT
Which one is on the way out is the question
by ChesapeakeBay9er on Apr 29, 2011 9:00 PM EDT
Bengals Dallas takes yet another RB
by emeybee on Apr 29, 2011 9:01 PM EDT
i'd make fun of jerry jones but we have mike brown.
by palewook on Apr 29, 2011 9:02 PM EDT
Jaguars Cowboys really like average running backs...
by LA jaguars fan on Apr 29, 2011 9:01 PM EDT
Texans Southern OK pick a Sooner. color me shocked
by LoneSpot on Apr 29, 2011 9:00 PM EDT
Jets Oh crap DeMarco Murray. Best speed score ever
by Exystence on Apr 29, 2011 8:59 PM EDT
Hmmm interesting pick for Cowboys
by GreenBeer on Apr 29, 2011 9:00 PM EDT
Broncos Dang ... DeMarco Murray is a nice pick for Cowboys ... whom we hate. Tough, tough runner
by coronad0 on Apr 29, 2011 9:00 PM EDT
Chiefs AHHH Murray!!!
by Artimus Clyde on Apr 29, 2011 8:59 PM EDT
Who are they kidding drafting a RB?
by KeyboardGato on Apr 29, 2011 8:59 PM EDT
demarco murray from ou. as a mizzou fan that pleases me because i didnt realize he went to the draft….. but i like murray. think he’ll be a great back
by KC Nate on Apr 29, 2011 9:03 PM EDT

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