Cowboys, Murray set to tangle
Could DeMarco Murray have prevented the Dallas Cowboys’ free fall?
That’s probably an oversimplification of the issues that have plagued the Cowboys in a fivegame losing streak since quarterback Tony Romo got hurt. But Murray’s return to Dallas with the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday night is a reminder of what remains a curious decision.
It was the Cowboys, not Murray, who triggered the exit of the NFL’s leading rusher by not coming close to the five-year, $40 million deal Murray got from the Eagles in March.
For a third-round draft pick whose rookie deal paid him about $3.6 million, the difference in guarantees — $21 million from the Eagles, compared with the $12 million to $14 million offered by the Cowboys — made it a nobrainer for Murray. That’s lifechanging money.
To use the Cowboys’ own logic, Murray, 27, plays a position that depreciates quickly, so he would’ve been a fool to take substantially less, no matter how badly he wanted to stay. And with Dallas executive Stephen Jones, not father Jerry Jones, making the call, there was no emotional override on the team’s side either.
So Murray moved on, leaving Joseph Randle (since released while awaiting punishment on a personal-conduct violation), Lance Dunbar (on injured reserve) and ever-brittle Darren McFadden to shoulder the load once Romo’s broken collarbone forced Brandon Weeden and then Matt Cassel into action.
McFadden has been OK. The offensive line is solid. The Cowboys are averaging 4.5 yards a rush and 127.9 yards a game, sixth in the league in both categories. Meanwhile, Murray has 307 yards on 88 carries (a 3.5 average) through six games and is trying to settle into Chip Kelly’s shotgun-based attack, which could see tweaks coming out of the bye.
But together they redefined the Cowboys’ offense in 2014. In- cluding two playoff games, Murray amassed 2,486 yards from scrimmage and 15 touchdowns on 497 touches despite finishing the season with pins holding together his broken hand.
Why would the Cowboys disrupt that at a time they think their team is Super Bowl-ready? Why wouldn’t they do what it took to keep their offensive core intact once it became clear the market for Murray exceeded their projection?
At the time, Jerry Jones said if not for the salary cap, “DeMarco would be a Cowboy.” The team needed resources to lock up receiver Dez Bryant, who signed a five-year, $70 million contract with $45 million in guarantees in July, and restructured the contracts of Romo, left tackle Tyron Smith and tight end Jason Witten to create short-term cap space.
But the Cowboys also found the money to give defensive end Greg Hardy a one-year deal worth more than $11.3 million ( before his suspension). They locked up defensive tackle Tyrone Crawford with a five-year, $45.7 million extension. They had about $8.3 million in 2015 cap space available as of Thursday, per NFL Players As- sociation records.
Dallas has other problems, and not just at quarterback. Bryant just came back from a broken foot. Top cornerback Orlando Scandrick was lost to a knee injury in camp. Linebacker Rolando McClain hasn’t been the same since returning from a drug suspension. The exit of assistant Bill Callahan, who sculpted the offensive line, can’t be overlooked.
There’s no way to know if Murray could have helped the Cowboys overcome it all and win a game or two without Romo, who’s eligible to return Nov. 22 at the Miami Dolphins. But having their bell cow sure wouldn’t have hurt.
INSIDE RUNS
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater’s raw numbers are virtually identical from Year 1 to Year 2. He has 20 touchdown passes and 19 turnovers in 20 career games. But the team continues to be encouraged by the way he handles critical situations, including late in games. “He’s got really good vision,” Vikings coach Mike Zimmer told USA TODAY Sports. “In some ways, he’s got very short-term memory. I do think as the game goes on, he processes really well. He starts to get a better understanding of exactly what the defense is trying to do that day.”
The firings of Joe Philbin (Miami) and Ken Whisenhunt (Tennessee Titans) matched the total of in-season head coaching changes from the previous three years combined (Gary Kubiak, Houston Texans, in 2013; Dennis Allen, Oakland Raiders, last year).
Add the firings of Detroit Lions executives Tom Lewand and Martin Mayhew on Thursday, and the in-season toll around the NFL is two head coaches, two offensive coordinators, one general manager and one team president — all before Week 9 kicked off.
Among the big questions facing the Lions’ next brain trust: How do quarterback Matthew Stafford and wideout Calvin Johnson fit in? Stafford, 27, has two years and $33.5 million left on his contract. Johnson, 30, has two non-voidable years and $32.5 million left. Together, they’re scheduled to count $89.9 million against the cap over the 2016 and ’17 seasons. None of the money is guaranteed, though a total of $23.9 million in bonus proration would count against the cap even if they’re not on the Lions’ roster.
The challenge for new Indianapolis Colts offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski is clear: Get quarterback Andrew Luck in a rhythm early. There’s no doubt Luck is capable, in spite of spotty decision-making and accuracy this season. When the Colts rallied Monday at the Carolina Panthers, Luck was on a roll.
One logical landing spot for quarterback Colin Kaepernick if the San Francisco 49ers move on: Philadelphia, provided Kelly is there. Remember, the Eagles acquired Sam Bradford in the last year of his deal. The athletic skill set of Kaepernick, 28, could open up parts of the offense Bradford can’t. And Kaepernick’s benching this week suggests there’s a real chance he’s out of San Francisco before April 1, when his $11.9 million base salary for 2016 would become fully guaranteed.
No surprise here: The New England Patriots have a leaguelow three giveaways (one interception, two lost fumbles).
Why are the Jacksonville Jaguars confident in their direction? Look who made the key plays in their win against the Buffalo Bills before the bye: running back T.J. Yeldon (first year), quarterback Blake Bortles (second), linebacker Telvin Smith (second), wideout Allen Robinson (second), wideout Allen Hurns (second), cornerback Aaron Colvin (second), safety Jonathan Cyprien (third). The young core is rising.