Last Thursday, Eagles head coach Doug Pederson said he hadn't talked to DeMarco Murray. Therefore, he couldn't say whether or not the running back was happy in Philadelphia.
Well, Eagles vice president of football operations Howie Roseman has talked to Murray.
So, what does the running back have to say?
“My last conversation with him was just that,” Roseman said on NBC Sports Radio's PFT Live on Friday, via ProFootballTalk. “That he wants to be here and this is the place he wants to have a tremendous amount of success like he had in Dallas. I think sometimes we forget a year ago at this time he’s coming off the NFL offensive player of the year. I mean that’s a tremendous honor, tremendous accomplishment to be able to do that and we’re not talking about five, six years ago. We’re talking about one year ago.”
The issue of Murray's happiness is now a story because of an NFL Network report that said Murray was unhappy in Philadelphia and the Eagles would listen to trade proposals.
The Eagles can be ready to listen to trade proposals, but trading Murray would likely prove to be very, very difficult. The Eagles would save cap room if they traded the former Pro Bowler, but it will be hard to find a trade partner because of Murray's salary. He has a fully guaranteed base salary of $7 million and a cap hit of $8 million in 2016.
Murray, 28, led the Eagles in rushing in 2015, but had just 702 yards after leading the league in rushing in 2014.
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Quarterback Sam Bradford, who signed a two-year deal to remain with the Eagles, has talked to Murray several times recently, but not about football. Bradford claimed Murray never brought up being unhappy (see story).
Throughout the 2015 season, Murray acknowledged the year was difficult for him. He struggled to run the ball effectively and saw his role in the offense diminished. It was clear that Murray wasn't comfortable in former coach Chip Kelly's offensive scheme.
Just before the last game of the season, Murray said he expected to be back in Philadelphia in 2016: “I signed a … five-year deal and I think this is where I’ll be. As long as they want to keep me, I’m willing to stay.”
Just about a month ago, Murray said on an ESPN interview at the Super Bowl that he wanted to play for the Eagles in 2016 (see story). He said his performance in 2015 wasn't the lasting impression he wanted to leave.