Although DeMarco Murray has publicly stated that he’s committed to the Eagles, the message teams are receiving this week at the combine is that Murray is still not happy in Philadelphia, says Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter links). According to Rapoport, it will be difficult for the Eagles to accommodate a trade, but rival teams know his situation is “unsettled” and Philadelphia is willing to listen.
[RELATED: PFR previews the Eagles’ offseason]
Murray, 28, rushed for just 702 yards and six touchdowns in 2015 after establishing career-highs of 1,845 yards and 13 TDs in his final season in Dallas. The former third-round pick, who never seemed to get comfortable in Chip Kelly‘s offense during his first year in Philadelphia, averaged a career-worst 3.6 yards per carry.
A report earlier this month, also from Rapoport, indicated that the Eagles and Murray were headed for a “stare-down” regarding his future with the team. At the time, Rapoport noted that the former Cowboys running back would likely welcome the opportunity to return to Dallas, a point that the NFL.com scribe repeats today. However, in the wake of that initial report, Murray stressed that he would be content to play the 2016 season in Philadelphia.
“I’m signed there for the next four years. I don’t know where that story is coming from,” Murray said during a PFT Live appearance. “It’s a little crazy. Every week I feel like there’s something new. It’s a little weird. I can’t worry about what people are saying. I’ll just continue to work hard. I’m signed for four years and I’m committed.”
Within that interview, Murray admitted it was “hard to get comfortable” in Kelly’s scheme, but claimed that the perception of problems with the coach were “blown out of proportion” over the course of the season. Murray said at the time that he had spoken to new Eagles coach Doug Pederson and was expecting a “more conventional” offensive scheme in 2016.
Whether or not Murray is happy with the Eagles, it may not make much of a difference in the short term, since his contract makes it so hard to do anything with him. Murray’s $7MM base salary for 2016 is fully guaranteed, as is $2MM of his $7.5MM salary for 2017. The Oklahoma product also has $4MM in additional dead money on his deal that would accelerate onto the current year if he’s traded or released.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.