A day after reaching an agreement with former San Diego Chargers running back Ryan Matthews, the Philadelphia Eagles added a the biggest running back in free agency. DeMarco Murray is expected to sign with the Eagles, getting a five-year, $42 million contract with $21 million guaranteed.
@DeMarcoMurray I wish you would have stayed but I understand your decision… Congrats bro you deserve it – #offenseMVPoftheyear
— Dez Bryant (@DezBryant) March 12, 2015
According to Chris Mortensen at ESPN, the deal was considerably better than the one the Dallas Cowboys offered to keep Murray in the fold. With Murray out of the picture for Dallas, it becomes even more likely that the Cowboys will seek to work out some sort of deal with Adrian Peterson.
While the Eagles had an agreement with Matthews, he can still back out and return to the free agent market by not signing. ESPN’s Adam Schefter is reporting that Matthews is still considering his options after news that Murray will sign with the Eagles broke.
Murray was roommates in college with new Eagles quarterback Sam Bradford, who the running back said was one of his best friends. Bradford had been actively recruiting Murray to join the Eagles since being traded by the Rams on Tuesday.
Murray texted some comments on the deal to ESPN’s Todd Archer.
“It was never about the money in any situation,” Murray said in the text. If it was the money, I could’ve taken that a long time ago on a very high deal. It’s about winning a Super Bowl and being fair.”
Justin Forsett returns to Ravens
The Ravens stuck gold with running back Justin Forsett last season, stepping in for a suspended Ray Rice. Thursday, they decided to make the marriage official, signing Forsett to a three-year, $9 million contract according to Adam Schefter.
With the Ravens Forsett had a break out season, rushing for 1,266 yards and eight touchdowns, averaging 5.4 yards per carry. Forsett was also a big part of the passing game, catching 44 passes for 263 yards.
“He (Forsett) fits well into what we do on offense, and he handles all parts of the job effectively, including blocking and receiving,” Ravens GM Ozzie Newsome said in a statement. “I mentioned this a few weeks ago when we met with the media: Justin is a tremendous leader by example and willing to step up as both a leader and mentor. He is truly a success story, and we’re happy he’ll continue that with us. He earned his new contract.”
Jets add Cromartie to defensive backfield
Two days after bringing back one of his best friends as a free agent, the New York Jets staged a cornerback reunion, signing free agent corner Antonio Cromartie to a four-year, $32 million contract. Cromartie and new Jets addition Darrelle Revis were teammates with the Jets from 2010-12.
New York is now loaded at cornerback. Not only have they signed Cromartie and Revis, but they added Buster Skrine as well. In all, the Jets have invested $127 million in improving their secondary.
Cromartie is coming off his fourth Pro Bowl season. In 2014 working under current Jets head coach Todd Bowles when he was the defensive coordinator for the Arizona Cardinals, Cromartie had 53 tackles, four interceptions and one defensive touchdown.
Browner heading to the Big Easy
The New England Patriots set cornerback Brandon Browner loose after declining to pick up his 2015 contract option on Monday, but he wasn’t out of work long. Browner signed a three-year contract with the New Orleans Saints Thursday. Financial details have not been disclosed.
https://twitter.com/bbrowner27/status/576093304728629249
Browner started nine games for New England last season, recording 25 tackles and one interception. Talented and big, at 6-foot-4 and 221 pounds, Browner was also a pass interference penalty waiting to happen and that limited his snaps with the Patriots. Rob Ryan may find a better way to use Browner that limits his downfield contact.
Browner was an original member of Seattle’s Legion of Boom defensive backfield, but missed out on the Seahawks Super Bowl run for violating the league’s substance abuse policy. He also missed the first four games of the 2014 season on that same suspension.
