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Garrett gushes about RB Murray, but biz reality bites

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INDIANAPOLIS – Dallas Cowboys coach Jason Garrett said the imminent decisions on the future of wide receiver Dez Bryant and running back DeMarco Murray will be “organizational decisions.” But he wasn’t shy about sharing his ballot.

“These are big organizational decisions that really everybody is involved in. Certainly Dez and DeMarco are cornerstone players for our franchise,” Garrett said Wednesday at the NFL Scouting Combine. “Both of those guys know very strongly how much we care for them and how much we want them on our football team going forward.

“Each of those guys has a kind of different business opportunity. But, again,

the business of the NFL is real.”

Bryant said Tuesday that he wished the team felt the same way he did about a long-term deal as reports that Stephen Jones said the Cowboys were getting closer to using the $12-plus million franchise tag to retain the All-Pro receiver.

That could tip the scales against Murray, the NFL’s leading rusher in 2014. Murray said during Super Bowl week media appearances that he was offended by the notion the Cowboys could simply “plug in” another back via the draft or free agency.

“I don’t like that expression plug another back in there,” Garrett said with a furled brow. “He led the NFL in rushing by I think 500 yards. He was a big part of it. The value of being able to hand the ball to somebody 20-25 times a game is huge. Both sides are talking and we’re trying to get it done.”

Murray played in every game in 2014 for the first time in his career, including six days after surgery on a broken finger. Garrett downplayed questions about durability and any factor they would play in re-signing the NFL’s Offensive Player of the Year.

“The injury history for him is not a huge factor for us. Think about what he did for us this season … 511 touches,” Garrett said. “That’s a lot of football. The value of the guy you can give the football to again, and again, and again.

“DeMarco’s a heck of a football player and he has been since we drafted him a few years back. I think you’ll really find if you look at it, running the football is a vital part of championship teams. … The runner does matter.”

Garrett said any decision to use the franchise tag on Bryant, assuring him a one-year deal worth the average salary of the top-five players at the position, should not be read into as more than a basic business decision. He repeated Jones’ comments Tuesday that it would not prevent the two sides from the ultimate goal of a long-term deal.

In reality, the Cowboys likely don’t have the funds to extend Bryant’s deal until they clean up their salary cap picture. In the past two seasons, the franchise signed two players to $100-plus million contracts — left tackle Tyron Smith and quarterback Tony Romo — and also signed inside linebacker Sean Lee to a $46 million deal with more than $40 million in cap charges remaining.

“The biggest thing that everyone needs to know is how much we appreciate Dez Bryant and the kind of player he is,” Garrett said. “He’s the kind of guy that 60-65 times a game he breaks the huddle and the team is looking for No. 88. … We love Dez Bryant. We want him on our football team.”

Romo has an NFL-high $27.773 million cap figure in 2015 and is a candidate to restructure. Free agency begins March 10, which is the first day other teams can contact Murray. He said last month that he expects to test the open market.

The Cowboys’ initial offer to Murray was reportedly for four years and $16 million.

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Buccaneers admit mistake, boot Aguayo

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In the NFL, it’s always better to admit a mistake than to compound it. For the Buccaneers, the decision to burn a 2016 second-round pick on kicker Robert Aguayo has proven to be a mistake. The Buccaneers made the definitive admission of their error on Saturday, cutting Aguayo. He exits with $428,000 in fully-guaranteed salary [more]

Source: Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk

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Did Bucs put too much pressure on Aguayo?

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After the Buccaneers surprised everyone by taking a kicker with the 59th overall pick in the draft, G.M. Jason Licht explained the move by heaping superlatives on the player. “I was very excited along with my staff and coaches about Roberto for a very long time,” Licht told PFT Live in May 2016. “It’s not [more]

Source: Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk

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Broncos holding their breath on Derek Wolfe

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Only two days after losing Billy Winn for the year with a torn ACL, the Broncos are now sweating out another potentially serious injury along the defensive line. Via multiple reports, Broncos defensive lineman Derek Wolfe was carted off the field during practice on Saturday. It’s being described as a right ankle injury by coach [more]

Source: Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk

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