DeMarco Murray professes commitment to Eagles

WITH REPORTERS nearly climbing atop one another to hear his words - like a crowd of standbys vying for the last boarding pass on the final flight of the night - DeMarco Murray, Philadelphia's first-class passenger of the week, said he doesn't want to play anywhere else.

Murray refused to divulge anything about his much-discussed conversation with Eagles chairman Jeffrey Lurie on the team charter back from New England last Sunday evening. But Murray denied he was frustrated with anything other than losing, and expressed no longing for Dallas, where he led the NFL in rushing a year ago.

Murray's confab with Lurie became public through tweets and a story by ESPN's Ed Werder, who is based in Dallas and knows a lot of former Cowboys, their family members, agents and friends. It could have been the start of a campaign to get Murray traded or released, but Murray, who signed here for $40 million over five years last March, vehemently denied entertaining such thoughts. Asked whether he wants to be here next season, Murray said: "100 percent yes."

Asked whether he would rather be in Dallas, Murray said: "Not at all. I made a commitment to Jeff and Chip (Kelly) and these guys in this locker room. I love this team, I love playing for this team. I love the fans. When I signed on that dotted line, I knew I was going to be here for a long time and I'm committed to winning a lot of games here. Obviously, it's a tough year for myself and the team so far, but we've still got a chance . . . we're tied for first place in the division. Still got a chance to do some special things."

In response to another question, Murray said: "Yeah, I'm very happy here. These are my teammates, my guys. I have a lot of respect for everyone in this locker room - the coaching staff, the ownership. I love it here."

One aspect of the Murray-Lurie business that seemed especially untoward was that Murray presumably expressed disappointment over getting only 14 snaps and eight carries, a few hours after the team's biggest victory of the season. Murray said that wasn't exactly the case.

"I wouldn't say I was disappointed. Obviously, we won the game. I was happy for that, but I think every competitor wants an opportunity to contribute to the team . . . It was a little different, but we won the game. That was the biggest thing."

Murray said he has been seated next to Lurie on flights before, and has spoken with him before. Murray said he didn't know how this conversation became public, in a story and tweets that expressed sympathy for Murray's plight and indicated he hadn't been used the way the team promised.

Murray cast his frustration in terms of the team's three-game losing streak before the New England game.

"I think everyone's frustrated when you're losing two or three games the way we lost. Obviously, the record isn't where it needs to be . . . I think everyone's a little frustrated, including myself," he said. "You got to come to work every day and battle and fight through it and try to get better.

"We were passing the ball a lot (while getting blown out). I've never been one to talk to (Kelly) or Jeffrey about, 'I need more carries.' "

Does Murray have any insight into why he has the lowest yards per carry - 3.5 - of any Eagles running back this season?

"They're doing well, they're doing well," he said of Ryan Mathews (5.7), Darren Sproles (3.8) and Kenjon Barner (4.6). "Obviously, the offensive line is doing well and those guys are running well."

Murray talked about still being new to the offense (though he isn't any newer to it than Mathews). Murray didn't want to talk about what he'd been told about his role when he signed.

"Obviously, it's hard. I've never been in this situation before. You kind of deal with it as best you can. Every guy in this locker room wants the ball. It's not just me . . . I want to contribute to this team," he said.

Asked whether he feels he's a good fit here, Murray said: "Of course I do," though in response to a later question about whether the offense could be better-tailored to his straight-ahead skills, Murray said, "I don't call the plays." Then he added that he's been given chances to make plays.

Does he envision a bigger role against Buffalo?

"We'll find out Sunday," he said.

Tyrod Taylor's emergence as a successful starting quarterback in Buffalo after four years as Joe Flacco's little-used backup in Baltimore is one of the NFL's more intriguing stories this season.

Among those not surprised is the newest Eagle, outside linebacker Steven Means, who toiled on the Ravens' scout team with Taylor last year.

"He practiced like he was the starter, every day," Means said. Sometimes scout team QBs are asked to give the opponent's offensive look, but to lob passes the defense can intercept. Means said Taylor wouldn't do that.

"He tried to make all his passes. When he didn't, he got mad. He got out and scrambled and ran."

Also familiar with Taylor is Eagles corner Jaylen Watkins, signed off the Bills' practice squad after Nolan Carroll broke his fibula at Detroit on Thanksgiving.

"He's a very, very good athlete," Watkins said. "Most guys like that aren't as accurate, they don't throw a good deep ball . . . They might not have the right mechanics, they may move a little bit too much. But, no, he's sitting in the pocket making the craziest throws . . . In his case, he's very accurate, patient, and he manages the game well."