Report: Murray to meet with Eagles
Running back DeMarco Murray contacted Philadelphia Eagles coach Chip Kelly on Wednesday morning to express his interest in playing for the Eagles, ESPN reported Wednesday.
According to the report, a desire to play in Kelly’s spread offense and the presence of quarterback Sam Bradford, who was Murray’s roommate at the University of Oklahoma, were the reasons for his interest.
Whether the Eagles have significant interest in the former Bishop Gorman star is unclear, but ESPN reported Wednesday night that Murray would travel to Philadelphia on Thursday to meet with team officials.
The Eagles needed a replacement for running back LeSean McCoy after he was traded to the Buffalo Bills, but the Eagles signed free-agent running back Ryan Mathews on Wednesday.
Kelly has said he and the Eagles will be financially prudent, so they may not be willing to offer the money Murray is seeking.
Bradford said he has been trying to recruit Murray.
“Absolutely. I’ve been trying my hardest,” Bradford told ESPN. “I’ve called him. I’ve texted him. I’ve done everything. We’ve been in communication. If we can somehow land him, it would be a great pickup. Not only is he a great player, he’s a great person. He’s a really close friend of mine, too. I think he can really help this ball club.”
Murray, 27, led the NFL in rushing last season, gaining 1,845 yards for the Dallas Cowboys, who would like to re-sign him.
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The Eagles’ reshaping of their roster continued on Wednesday with the arrivals of two former Seattle Seahawks cornerbacks, Byron Maxwell and Walter Thurmond, as well as running back Ryan Mathews.
Maxwell could make as much as $60 million on a six-year contract, while Thurmond signed a one-year deal worth $3.25 million. Mathews left San Diego for a three-year, $12 million deal with Philadelphia.
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The Miami Dolphins officially made defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh the highest-paid defender in NFL history.
The sides came to agreement Sunday on a six-year deal that reportedly is worth $114 million and includes $60 million in guaranteed money. Suh arrived in Miami on Wednesday and signed the deal.
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The Indianapolis Colts signed wide receiver Andre Johnson in a deal that ESPN reported was worth $21 million for three years.
It is the Colts’ second major move to shore up their offense and add some pieces around quarterback Andrew Luck following a three-year, $12 million deal for free-agent running back Frank Gore.
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Quarterback Jay Cutler’s future is with the Chicago Bears.
“We’ve made that decision,” first-year general manager Ryan Pace said Wednesday. “We’re moving forward with Jay Cutler as our starting quarterback.”
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The Oakland Raiders reportedly agreed to contracts with defensive tackle Dan Williams and linebacker Curtis Lofton.
Terms were not available for Williams, but Lofton will make $18 million over three years, with $10 million guaranteed, according to the Baltimore Sun.
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Ryan Fitzpatrick has been reunited with Chan Gailey, who guided the quarterback’s best years with the Buffalo Bills.
Fitzpatrick was traded from the Houston Texans to the New York Jets for a conditional late-round pick on Wednesday, according to ESPN.
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The Texans concluded their game of musical quarterbacks, agreeing to a deal with Brian Hoyer that reportedly is worth $10.5 million over two years.
Houston traded No. 4 quarterback Case Keenum to the St. Louis Rams on Tuesday and dealt Ryan Fitzpatrick to the Jets.
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The Tampa Bay Buccaneers announced that they signed linebacker Bruce Carter and released defensive end Michael Johnson.
No details of Carter’s deal were announced.
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The Kansas City Chiefs signed Jeremy Maclin, bringing the wide receiver back to his home state of Missouri and reuniting him with coach Andy Reid, who coached him in Philadelphia.
Maclin’s deal has been reported as worth $55 million over five years, with $22.5 million guaranteed.
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Torrey Smith signed a five-year, $40 million deal with the San Francisco 49ers.
The former Baltimore Ravens wide receiver was heavily recruited by Anquan Boldin, who played with Smith in Super Bowl 47, when the Ravens beat the 49ers in New Orleans.
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The Arizona Cardinals agreed to terms with guard Mike Iupati on a five-year contract, defensive tackle Corey Peters on a three-year deal, defensive lineman Cory Redding on a two-year deal and linebacker Sean Weatherspoon for one year.
Terms were not disclosed, but ESPN.com reported Iupati’s deal is worth $40 million over five years, with $22.5 million guaranteed.
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The Minnesota Vikings officially signed quarterback Shaun Hill.
The 35-year-old Hill’s deal reportedly is for two years and $6.5 million, and he likely will serve as backup for second-year quarterback Teddy Bridgewater.
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The New York Giants agreed to terms on two-year deals to keep linebacker Mark Herzlich and fullback Henry Hynoski.
Herzlich was diagnosed with Ewing’s Sarcoma — a form of bone cancer — and missed the entire 2009 season while at Boston College. He went undrafted in 2011 and signed with the Giants as a free agent after the draft.
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The Cincinnati Bengals re-signed guard Clint Boling and offensive tackle Eric Winston and signed linebacker A.J. Hawk.
The Bengals also re-signed cornerback Chris Lewis-Harris.
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The Cleveland Browns re-signed top special teams player Marlon Moore.
Moore was the team’s leading kick returner in 2014, averaging 24.8 yards on 13 attempts.
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The Chicago Bears signed linebacker Pernell McPhee.
The Bears and McPhee, formerly of the Ravens, agreed to a five-year, $40 million deal, including $16 million guaranteed.
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Potential No. 1 overall draft pick Jameis Winston reportedly met with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell last week.
Peter King of TheMMQB.com reported that Winston requested to see Goodell, flying to New York for the meeting, which lasted five to six hours. The report said he also met with NFL executive vice president of football operations Troy Vincent.
