It's make or break for DeMarco Murray
Published: 2/24/2011 10:44 AM
Last Modified: 2/24/2011 10:44 AM
How would you like to be DeMarco Murray this week?
Oklahoma's all-time all-purpose yardage leader is at the NFL combine this week, trying to get pro personnel to notice him. That's tough enough, as any rookie can attest. Making Murray's job tougher is the looming work stoppage, which is tying general managers' 2011 plans into knots.
At least he has some resources to help him through.
"I've talked to Sam, Trent and Gerald," Murray told buffalobills.com, referencing 2010 first-rounders Bradford, Williams and McCoy "They all told me the same thing, go to Indy and be yourself and have fun. But the number one goal is to compete. This is the biggest job interview that I'll ever have in my life.
"It all comes down to performing well and going hard."
Murray said he sought advice from Bradford about handling the durability questions he's sure to get. A good idea, since the issue dogged the running back throughout his OU career.
As far as actual prospects this week, Murray showed up in a Miami Herald article mentioning him as a Dolphins possibility. Mike Reiss of ESPNBoston considered Murray as a possible complement to New England backs BenJarvus Green-Ellis and Danny Woodhead. The Akron Beacon Journal included Murray among those the Browns could consider as a backup to Peyton Hillis.
Either way, the point remains – Murray needs to turn some heads in Indianapolis, something that apparently did not happen the week of the Senior Bowl last month.
"Coming into the week, some considered Murray a high second-round pick," wrote Russ Lande of The Sporting News, "but his play in Mobile could drop him as far as the fourth round. He looked stiff and didn't show the ability to stick his foot in the ground and explode off his cuts."
-- Guerin Emig
Written by
Guerin Emig
Sports Writer
