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Should DeMarco Murray run back home to the Cowboys?

By Michael H. Vu

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Should the Dallas Cowboys welcome back running back DeMarco Murray after things have gone south for him in Philadelphia?

If only UFC fighter Conor McGregor could swing his left jab at the Dallas Cowboys, as he did with José Aldo last Saturday night in Las Vegas. The fight ended in 13 seconds, which would be good for Dallas right now who is clinging to a false sense of hope at 4-9.

Pull the power plug.

This 2015 ride is done. The show is officially over for the Boys.

Whether you want to discuss this or not, the honest truth is that Philadelphia Eagles running back DeMarco Murray has a lot to do with the 2015 Cowboys team — despite suiting up for another squad.

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I’ll admit it: I was wrong in my belief that any back could suit up in the backfield. I bought into the idea that Murray left yards on the table, and that backup running back Joseph Randle could pick up the running attack just fine.

Randle, the guy who stole underwear (friendly reminder), who made a declaration of Cowboys independence that Murray left meat on the bone in 2014, turned out to be the back who tripped up and became a TMZ laughing-stock without a job.

The fifth rounder out of Oklahoma State carried the ball 76 times, with 315 rushing yards and four scores in six contests. Randle, who turns 24 on December 29th, was cut after a 13-12 loss to the Seattle Seahawks.

Fortunately for him, retail shops are hiring for the holidays. (Ouch.)

Flipping the script back to the offseason, DeMarco Murray and the Cowboys both got it right for themselves, but collectively both ended up very wrong.

The Cowboys needed Murray just as much he needed the them.

And while I would never dish out a lucrative contract in the form of $40 million over five years ($18 million guaranteed) to a beat up, aging back, I do recognize the value of Murray’s game. And though he crossed over to enemy lines, joining forces with a rival organization, this does not change the fact that behind this quality offensive line, Murray and the Boys were designated for bigger accomplishments in the near future.

Instead, both are on the sidelines, so to speak, regretting the turn of events that led their marriage to this predicament. Per Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, Murray had a meeting with owner Jeffrey Lurie about his role on the team, which ignited numerous reports about his possible desire to return home in Dallas.

The meeting backfired.

Last Sunday, Murray ran the ball 11 times for 34 yards. He did not score. As a team, the Eagles had 34 carries for 116 yards in a much-needed win to stay in the NFC East race.

The Dallas Cowboys can roll the 2015 tape and blame the season on poor coaching, on Tony Romo‘s left collarbone, or on an inconsistent offensive line.

But the fact is Murray’s absence is part of the Cowboys 4-9 narrative, a season that is turning out to be worse than the 1989 season because this team was actually part of Super Bowl conversations.

With the best offensive line last year, Murray accomplished one of the best running campaigns ever in football. After 16 games, Murray rushed for 1,845 yards on nearly 400 carries. He had 13 scores and caught the ball 57 times, bringing his total touches to 449. In the playoffs last year he added another 198 rushing yards and two touchdowns to his stats sheet.

In 14 quarters of football, Romo was left to his own devices, becoming the main operator that forced him to make more plays in the air over trusting the ground game with a quality, consistent running back in the backfield.

Romo lost a friend, a guy who is known around the league for his blocking skills, which may or may not have led to his two injuries this season.

No matter how you stack it, Murray’s running attacked helped everyone, including Romo. He made the offensive line better. He made Dez Bryant and Terrance Williams better. He doesn’t play defense, but he sure as heck made that unit better in 2014 by keeping them on the sidelines.

For the first time in his career, Romo will finish the regular season without a 90 plus quarterback rating. He will also finish the season with more interceptions (seven) than touchdowns (five), also a first.

As the Cowboys turn the corner, and head to a 2016 offseason, discussions of Murray returning home will be the spotlight of conversations.

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The Cowboys could go young by heading to the draft. Or they could read into Murray’s mileage meter in Philly, which stands at 174 carries in 12 games. The low usage should keep his legs fresh, as he turns 28 in February.

He is also familiar with the city, the players and coaches, and the playbook, which means he wouldn’t require a meeting with the owner any time soon either.

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