The Philadelphia Eagles 2015 season was definitely forgettable. The team finished 7-9 after a huge free agent splurge and complete team makeover. The team ended their relationship with former head coach, Chip Kelly, prior to the end of the season, and the team rid themselves of the pieces he added during the offseason.
One of those pieces was disgruntled running back, DeMarco Murray, who fell flat on his face during his lone season in Kelly’s offense. The Eagles were reportedly ready to send him back to the division rival Dallas Cowboys, where they stole Murray from during the 2015 offseason.
“It was like 95 percent sure I was going back there,” Murray told Charean Williams of star-telegram.com.
“I have a lot of respect for those guys. The Jones family, coach Garrett obviously and Romo and Witten, all those guys. I still consider them a great franchise, and they’re great friends of mine.
“I was very close to going back there. There were some things that fell through and just didn’t happen. I think everything happens for a reason. I’m here, and I’m supposed to be here. They’ve got a pretty good young back over there as well.”
According to Williams’ source, the Eagles were close in trade discussions to send Murray back to the team that originally drafted him, where he had great success, especially during the 2014 season. The Eagles preferred to send Murray out of the division, and they ultimately did to the Tennesse Titans.
“I was very involved in the talks,” Murray said. “Once the season ended, I talked to Doug Pederson a little bit. My heart just wasn’t there. I felt it was a situation where I needed a fresh start, and I was granted that by Howie and Jeffery, who is a great guy. Really good people. I was fortunate to have that relationship with them, so I could tell them, ‘This is where it is. I think it would be best for both sides if I find a new home.”
This completely contradicts what Murray told the media earlier in February.
‘I do, I do want to be back,” Murray said, when asked if he wanted to be back in Philadelphia. “Obviously, it’s something for me, that’s not the lasting impression I want to leave in my mouth and the fans and my family, anyone. I take football very, very serious, it’s my life, I love it, besides my family and my faith, obviously. I never want to leave off on a note like I did last year, so I’m working tremendously harder to try and improve from an individual standpoint and a team standpoint as well.”
Murray ultimately couldn’t handle the city of Philadelphia and wanted an immediate change. Kelly ruined his impression of the city and maybe, just maybe, he signed with the Eagles to spite the Cowboys after lowballing him during contract negotiations prior to the start of 2015 free agency.
Murray is the NFL’s second leading rusher, coincidentally behind Cowboys rookie running back Ezekiel Elliott. Clearly, he wasn’t a fit in Kelly’s offense, or Philadelphia for that matter.
