TK Posted October 29, 2003 Share Posted October 29, 2003 http://www.dallascowboys.com/news.cfm?id=88DFC96B-FE52-BEBF-5A08EB8EE96836CD Murrell Re-Signed To Bolster Running Game Nick Eatman DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer October 29, 2003, 11:45 a.m. (CST) IRVING, Texas - Fresh off rushing for only 60 yards against the defending Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday, the Cowboys, looking to spark their running game, have signed veteran running back Adrian Murrell. To make room for the Murrell, the Cowboys will place center Gennaro DiNapoli on injured reserve after suffering a high ankle sprain against Tampa Bay that turned out to be much worse than originally anticipated. Murrell, a nine-year veteran, joined the Cowboys for nearly three weeks during training camp, playing in just the Pittsburgh preseason game. The Cowboys decided against keeping Murrell at the end of camp, but head coach Bill Parcells said at the time re-signing him during the regular season remained a possibility. The Cowboys signed Murrell to a one-year contract worth $755,000, although it will be pro-rated over the final nine weeks of the season. Signing veterans with at least five years of experience after the first week of the season does not guarantee a contract as it would if on the roster for the first week of the season. Had Murrell been on the roster in Week One, but released any time afterwards, he could have received his entire base salary. Murrell has not played in an NFL game since the 2000 season with the Redskins, who will be Sunday's opponent at Texas Stadium. Cowboys lead running back Troy Hambrick rushed for only 25 yards on 11 carries against the Bucs, causing his average per carry for the season to dip to a dismal 3.2 yards a carry. While the Cowboys produced enough rushing yards by committee in the previous six games, they have not remained consistent. Hambrick leads the team with 444 yards after seven games, a rather modest 63.4 yards a game. Murrell not only reunites with Parcells, who coached him one season with the Jets in 1997, but the veteran also knows offensive coordinator Maurice Carthon, a member of that Jets coaching staff, along with fullback Richie Anderson, who came into the NFL the same year as Murrell. When he joined the Cardinals in 1998, Murrell ran behind a line coached by George Warhop, the Cowboys current offensive line coach. In his two seasons with the Cardinals (1998-99) Murrell led Arizona in rushing. Murrell was a key factor in the Cardinals' 1998 upset win over the Cowboys in the NFC playoffs. Murrell rushed for 95 yards, including a 77-yard run in Arizona's 20-7 win at Texas Stadium. But he spent the majority of his career with the Jets, producing two consecutive 1,000-yard seasons in 1996 and 1997. For his career, Murrell has 5,082 rushing yards with 23 touchdowns, averaging just 3.8 yards a carry. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Riggo-toni Posted October 29, 2003 Share Posted October 29, 2003 Geez, the first bit of reassurance about Sunday's game Murrell is as washed up as a piece of driftwood at low tide. Now, I was never really on the Watson bandwagon, but even he has to be better than whatever vapor and fumes Murrell has left in the tank. Thank heaven's Marv picked him up b4 Dallas could give him a ring! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redskin56 Posted October 29, 2003 Share Posted October 29, 2003 Well maybe we will be on the receiving end of a fortuitous fumble this game. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MadMonkey Posted October 29, 2003 Share Posted October 29, 2003 I think Parcells brought Murrell back to keep a fire lit under Troy Hambricks' ass to motivate him to always play 100% every game Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.