Rumors have already suggested Dallas Cowboys running back DeMarco Murray could be on his way out of Big D, likely in favor of wide receiver Dez Bryant. That’s something franchise owner and general manager Jerry Jones all but admitted on Thursday after signing head coach Jason Garrett to a five-year contract extension.
Both Bryant and Murray are free agents, though despite Murray leading the NFL in rushing (and breaking the Cowboys’ single season record previously held by Emmitt Smith), it appears as if Dez Bryant is the preferred choice when push comes to shove.
Knowing that, Jerry Jones knows re-signing both will be a ‘challenge’.
Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said today that it would be a “challenge” to bring back both WR Dez Bryant and RB DeMarco Murray in 2015.
— Brandon George (@DMN_George) January 15, 2015
While Murray was nothing short of phenomnal this past season, running backs have proven themselves to be mildly easy to replace. Add in what looks to be a decent free agent market (Adrian Peterson anybody?) and a deep draft class and you can understand the Dallas Cowboys line of reasoning a bit more if they do indeed pony up the cash for Dez Bryant and not DeMarco Murray.
That’s not to say both players can’t return, though it’s going to take some salary cap magic and possibly one or both taking a hometown discount for it to happen.
