Before the regular season started I didn’t think anything much about getting DeMarco Murray a contract extension, most probably didn’t either if they’re being honest. Afterall, Murray hasn’t been able to stay healthy, missed games, and just wasn’t effective enough to force defenses to fear our running game.
The preseason didn’t show us much either, but once the regular started we saw what this revamped, 1st round laden offensive line could do. As a result, Murray is looking like the second coming of Emmitt Smith and that is scary. When I mean scary, I mean, I hope Jerry Jones does not go off and open up the brinks truck with a bunch of cash.
Yes, I love our new found running attack, and it has opened up the passing game and let us become more balanced, but let’s be cognoscente about big pay days.
In past years the Cowboys offensive line could not match opposing defenses intensity, but now we can and we are. We are setting the tone and dictating our gameplan with our offensive line first, and that’s impressive.
Murray is now reaping the rewards with some solid blocking and now he’s the best back in the NFL right now. He’s in his final year of his rookie contract, so let’s keep him no matter what? Well, you don’t want to get in that “no matter what” mindset because that’s what get’s you in trouble. Murray is not a “no matter what” player. Am I saying he can be replaced with Randle or someone else? No. But he’s not a Dez Bryant or Tyron Smith either.
I want to see more from Murray, I want to see if he can handle the work load and I want to see if he can finish a 16-game season for once. And please stop fumbling the ball.
The last the thing the Cowboys want to do is wreck their salary cap, especially after some hard decisions they had to make last offseason. Let’s keep making smart contracts and protect ourselves. I don’t want to see another Marion Barber contract ever again. Remember that one? 7-yr deal for worth $45 million with $21 in the first three years? That was ridiculous.
Is Murray better than Barber? There could be arguments in favor of both players, they both brought nice skills in their game..
Murray will be 27 in February, so how long of a contract would you give him? 3-yr deal with a club option perhaps? You definitely don’t want to get anything over 4-yrs at the absolute max.
The other option could be to franchise tag Murray, and that could cost near $10 million in 2015. Either way, the Cowboys need to be smart on this potential extension, we still have other key guys in contract years that will be keeping the Cowboys busy with new contract decisions. We have other decisions on other Cowboys playing in contract year as well.
Jerry Jones has recently said there hasn’t been any movement at this time on a new contract for Dez or Murray.
What do you all think? Do you want Murray extended, and for what price?
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