Remembering DeMarco Murray's one weird season with Eagles

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The one thing I’ll always remember about DeMarco Murray is just how pissed off he always looked.

Every Thursday in the locker room was Murray’s day to speak to reporters. So a huge crowd would gather around and Murray would furrow his brow and power his way through the sessions with a tenacity we never really saw from him on the field while in Philly.

Murray, 30, has announced his retirement after a seven-year career in the NFL. 

*Shrugs shoulders*

Alright.

After the Eagles won a Super Bowl last season, it’s almost hard to remember when it was a big deal that Murray signed with the Eagles as a free agent. Just three years later, it all seems like a bad dream most of us have forgotten.

But if you give some effort, you’ll probably remember how Murray became an Eagle. It was the offseason before the 2015 season and Chip Kelly was now in control. Frank Gore was going to sign with the Eagles but backed out and went to Indianapolis instead. Then Kelly signed Murray and Ryan Mathews. The two former Pro Bowlers were actually in the building at the very same time.

That was a weird beginning for Murray in Philly and things never got any less weird.

He came off an 1,800-yard season in Dallas when he was named the Offensive Player of the Year, but he never really seemed happy in Philly. Maybe it was the rotation, maybe it was that Kelly unapologetically misused him, maybe he didn’t like that it got cold in the winter. Whatever the reason, Murray wasn’t a good fit on the field or off of it.

During that season, Murray rushed for just 702 yards and averaged 3.6 yards per carry. That season was sandwiched between an 1,800-yard year in Dallas and a 1,200-yard year in Tennessee.

Murray wasn’t very good in Philly, but that was his most lucrative season in the NFL. He earned $9 million in 2015 and his signing was a tick mark against Kelly, who was fired before the season even ended.

More than anything, Murray will be known for the slide against the Dolphins and for reportedly voicing his displeasure to owner Jeff Lurie. He also questioned the coaching staff, including Kelly, to Lurie.

So maybe Eagles fans should thank Murray. Eventually, the owner agreed and canned the head coach/GM and put Howie Roseman back in charge. Roseman then undid the signing and shipped Murray off to Tennessee and the Eagles won the Super Bowl two years later.

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