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 |
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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 |
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 ... |
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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
Pick 71: Dallas Cowboys select DeMarco Murray, RB, Oklahoma |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |