Cowboys Record-Setting RB Retires From NFL - Nick Eatman, DallasCowboys.com
With DeMarco Murray announcing his retirement, Nick Eatman of the mothership breaks the news to Cowboys Nation.
Former Cowboys running DeMarco Murray, who holds two prestigious team rushing records, is retiring from the NFL.
Murray made an announcement on ESPN’s “NFL Live” on Friday, officially ending his seven-year career, which began in Dallas.
”It’s been a long time thinking, the last year or two and physically, mentally and emotionally, I think it’s time for me to hang it up, “Murray said.
A third-round pick of the Cowboys in 2011, Murray owns both the single-game and single-season records for rushing yards with the club.
George gives interesting insight on how DeMarco Murray ended up a Philadelphia Eagle, and just how strange it was to see him wearing rival colors.
Cowboys fans were caught off guard in March when running back DeMarco Murray flew to Philadelphia to sign with the Eagles. Even some of Murray’s teammates couldn’t believe what they were hearing.
After all, Murray had capped the best rushing season in franchise history just three months earlier with an NFL-best 1,845 yards. He was everything coach Jason Garrett wanted in a player, helping to form the identity of the Cowboys with his physical style and the “right kind of guy” away from the field.
And then poof, Murray was gone. And to an NFC East rival no less.
Another line that stood out really puts emphasis on how tough the decision to let Murray walk had to be, was this quote:
All week at Valley Ranch, Cowboys players didn’t often reference their former teammate by name. They’ve treated Murray as Garrett prefers, like any another “nameless, faceless opponent.”
This after Murray spent a lot of time with Garrett, Romo and tight end Jason Witten at basketball games in the weeks leading up to the start of free agency.
The Cowboys' 2014 stat leaders can't be found on an NFL roster:
— Bobby Belt (@BobbyBeltTX) July 13, 2018
Passing - Tony Romo (retired)
Rushing - DeMarco Murray (retired)
Receiving - Dez Bryant (unsigned)
Sacks - Jeremy Mincey (retired)
Interceptions - Bruce Carter (unsigned)
Pass breakups - Sterling Moore (unsigned) https://t.co/JcnYmfEYQT
DeMarco Murray and the Sad Financial Reality of NFL Running Backs - Riley McAtee, The Ringer
Murray's career arc could provide a glimpse into the financial futures of other NFL backs.
Murray is a perfect example of why NFL teams don’t want to hand out big deals to running backs. After being drafted in the third round in 2011, he gave the Cowboys 4,526 rushing yards (4.8 per clip), 1,200 receiving yards, and 29 touchdowns through four seasons. During that stretch he was paid just $3.65 million. Then, when it came time to cash in on his rookie-contract production, the Cowboys lowballed him and let him walk. It’s ugly, doing that to a superstar. It is, also, given the league’s economics, the right business decision for the team.
And soon Ezekiel Elliott, Alvin Kamara, Kareem Hunt, Leonard Fournette, and even Saquon Barkley will likely find themselves in similar situations.
If the Cowboys had given Murray the contract he wanted, it could have been a disaster for the long-term success of the team, and NFL franchises will no doubt take note. When it’s time to get paid, a rusher’s best years are often already behind them—and teams know that. For many players, that time is already here, and teams are going to look at what happened to Murray. Then they’ll do the same thing the Cowboys did: Lowball them, or let them walk.
1 Move Each NFL Team Should Make Before the Regular Season Begins - Gary Davenport, Bleacher Report
WOW.. looks like we’ve arrived at the rock bottom of the offseason, where five year-old rumors are mined for headlines. What do you think? Would you like this move?
Dallas Cowboys: Sign Adrian Peterson
Stop looking at me like that.
Dating back to 2013, there have been rumors that future Hall of Fame running back Adrian Peterson wanted to finish his career with a star on his hat.
With Peterson still looking for work as training camps near, the idea is being kicked around again.
The wild thing about the idea? It’s not that out there.
Obviously, Peterson wouldn’t start in Dallas. For most of 2017 with the Cardinals and New Orleans Saints, he looked his age, averaging just 3.4 yards a carry.
But the 33-year-old peeled off a couple of big games, showing that he could at least take some of the pressure off Ezekiel Elliott. The sledding should be that much easier given Dallas’ dominant offensive line, and Rod Smith could handle passing-down work.
What Impact Will Tavon Austin Have? - DallasCowboys.com Staff
The staff writers continue their “20 Questions” roundtable series. Today: what kind of impact Tavon Austin will have on offense and possibly special teams. Note the complete absence of any reference to Peterson.
Bryan Broaddus: Jerry Jones put the pressure on Scott Linehan to make this work and he assured him that it would. What’s clear is that Austin has bought into the program. After a slow start in the OTAs, he really burst onto the scene during the minicamps. He is saying all the right things and even spending extra time with Dak Prescott and the other receivers throwing in the heat of the day while most players are taking a break. The one thing Austin has is speed, and when they get the ball in his hands, you can see it. He puts a great deal of pressure on defenders to have to get a body on him quickly before he gets going. Don’t be surprised if Linehan and new receivers coach Sanjay Lal work him as a true receiver with routes down the field. That is an area where the Rams didn’t focus with him and the Cowboys are willing to explore.
Looks like Bo Scarbrough is getting ready for training camp - RJ Ochoa, BloggingTheBoys
Ochoa shows off some of the heavy lifting rookie-running back Scarbrough is doing preparing for training camp. If you look closely, you’ll see Adrian Peterson is nowhere to be seen.
We actually haven’t seen much from Bo this offseason. Why would we, though? He’s not one of the higher-picked rookies, and we haven’t gotten to training camp yet. Thankfully there’s a bit of footage floating around on social media for us to feast our eyes on.
Who's ready for some Bo Scarbrough? @starbo06 pic.twitter.com/8tg3goWdcg
— Blogging The Boys (@BloggingTheBoys) July 13, 2018
How can Cowboys get Cole Beasley going again? - Staff, SportsDay
Bryan Broaddus recently spoke on 105.3 The Fan about how different the offense will look in 2018.
BB: ... I think Scott Linehan realizes, "Yes, I'm going to run the football." 46-47 percent of the time, he's going to run the football. And he feels good about handing it to Ezekiel Elliott.
To make this offense work better for his quarterback, he's going to have to find ways -- I've said this before and I really do believe this -- they've got to get Cole Beasley going here. You take away Jason Witten and those 7- or 8-yard passes -- sure you didn't get much after the catch -- but there was that reliability factor.
Teams last year basically took Beasley out of the mix and the challenge for him is going to be, "How do I get going again?" How do we make him available for Dak Prescott? ... How do we get first downs? How do we keep the chains moving?
Who on the Cowboys is poised for a breakout season? - SportsDay Staff
Kevin Sherrington answers reader questions and likes the Cowboys' chances this year.
Q: Who on the Cowboys is poised for a breakout season?
Kevin Sherrington: We seem very excited about the possibilities of a breakout season. By its very definition, if we knew that, it really wouldn't be a breakout season, would it? I suspect the young secondary will be better. I'm interested to see what Allen Hurns does.
I think this could be a good season for the Cowboys. I expect them to be contenders. To do that, they'll have to play well in all three phases, as Jason Garrett likes to say. They've got the material to do that, I think.
Tyron Smith Among NFL’s True Franchise Cornerstones - Doug Farrar, Bleacher Report
Farrar gives his opinion on who the NFL’s true franchise cornerstone players are for each team.
Since the Dallas Cowboys selected him with the ninth overall pick in 2011, Tyron Smith has developed into the best left tackle in the NFL.
Some may argue left and right tackles are now equally valuable, as the quick-passing game has expanded and right tackles face more elite edge-rushers to the quarterback’s front side. But Dallas’ 27-7 loss to the Atlanta Falcons in Week 10 last season underscored Smith’s importance to the team.
Catching up with former LB Cameron Lawrence - Drew Davison, Fort Worth Star-Telegram
Former Dallas Cowboys linebacker Cameron Lawrence lasted three seasons in the NFL as a UDFA out of Mississippi State. Since then he’s seen 11 surgeons, is 27 ‘but feels 47,’ but wouldn’t change a thing.
Lawrence was part of the Cowboys’ playoff run in 2014 with his final game coming in a playoff loss to the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field.
“Like everybody else, I would’ve rather hung my cleats up with a Super Bowl ring,” Lawrence said. “But to go into Lambeau and play against Aaron Rodgers and just the history of Lambeau — it was like 12 degrees that day. I cherish every single one of those moments.
“I wouldn’t change a thing. My physical limitations, I’m 27 and feel like I’m 47, but that’s just the price you pay for playing the game. The lessons I learned playing the game is just as valuable. You’ve got to take the good with the bad and sometimes that’s lifelong injuries.”
Lawrence isn’t sure if he’ll eventually find his way back to football. He’s had opportunities to stay in the game as a coach at lower levels and might pursue that some day, but has wanted to challenge himself to do something outside the game early in his post-playing days.
So, for now, that’s the daily grind of being in the steam boiler systems world.
“It’s a different industry,” Lawrence said. “I didn’t know much about steam boilers, but I have learned a lot. I’m used to tackling people for a living, so anything outside of that is new to me.
“But I wanted to see how successful I could be outside of a football field.”
Head of NFL officiating Al Riveron, characterizing the new catch rule: "Yes, Dez caught it."
— Kevin Sherrington (@KSherringtonDMN) July 13, 2018
You're a little late, Al.
Here's the catch: NFL refs thought they were right all along - Shuyler Dixon, Associated Press
Walt Coleman, getting ready for his 30th NFL season as a referee, beautifully throws the technocrats in the NFL head office under the bus.
“Most of the calls that seemed to create the most controversy, we ruled them correctly and then they were overturned on replay,” Coleman said Friday as officials gathered for their annual preseason meeting in the Dallas area. “From our standpoint, we’re just going to continue to officiate the plays like we have.”
How the Dallas Cowboys Built a World-Class Art Collection - Felix Salmon, Departures
Felix Salmon offers a fascinating look at how Gene and Jerry Jones built one of the most fascinating collections of contemporary art for the $1.2 billion AT&T stadium. When the Joneses, who had little interest in art beyond the football-themed Norman Rockwell paintings that decorate their home, first approached top art advisor Mary Zlot about helping to commission cutting-edge work at any cost, she replied that she “didn’t do stadiums.” Then, she realized they were serious.
It was only when the information arrived—in a trunk, complete with plans, elevations, virtual tours—that Zlot finally understood just how serious Gene was. Before long, Zlot found herself in Dallas, walking the Jones family through a PowerPoint presentation of artists whom she knew could work successfully at enormous scale. Zlot fully expected the Jones family to take her ideas, commission some works from the artists she had listed, and leave her to her Silicon Valley billionaires. Instead, Gene hired her on the spot.
Zlot’s biggest problem was one the Jones family wasn’t used to: the ridiculously snobbish nature of the art world. You need to be somebody, and Gene Jones, in the art world at least, was a nobody. To make things even harder, galleries are likely to react to the word stadium much as Lady Bracknell does to the mention of a handbag.
So Zlot brought together some of the biggest guns she could find: Stoffel, Dallas mega-collector Howard Rachofsky, and representatives from both the Dallas Museum of Art and the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth. They all agreed to join a quasi art council that would advise the Jones family.
The article is not your usual football fare, but well worth a read anyway.