ORLANDO, Fla. -- It's easier for Titans running back DeMarco Murray to share the spotlight with Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott these days now that Murray's own career is back on track.
Murray called Elliott shortly after he was drafted and offered up some encouragement. He spoke glowingly about all of his old Cowboys teammates following NFC Pro Bowl practice on Thursday and blamed himself for the debacle of a season in Philadelphia, which led many to believe that Murray's best seasons were behind him.
Totaling 1,287 yards, 12 total touchdowns and more than 80 yards per game at 28 while playing in a fun, next-gen offense led by one of the league's most exciting young quarterbacks, tends to add perspective.
"I thought it was a situation that I was kind of used to; the familiarity with the playbook and system and terminology was just perfect for me," Murray said. "I was thankful enough to get something done and let them give me a chance to come there and be the guy I can be."
Given Elliott's incredible rookie season and the emergence of a new, dominant offensive trio in Dallas, some view Murray as just another footnote in the franchise's history. Out with the old and in with the new.
But Murray's franchise record of 1,845 single season yards still stands. Elliott, who finished with 1,631 and 15 touchdowns, came close.
Murray sees his record going down very soon and sounded glad that a back of Elliott's caliber would be the one taking his name from the record book.
"Nah, he'll get it someday. He'll get it someday. That ain't gonna last too long."
"He's a tough guy. A tough guy," Murray said of Elliott. "As running backs we're supposed to run the ball but I'm really impressed with his catching ability and blocking. Those are two things for me, where I got a lot of respect for him."
It's interesting to see that the Titans' trade for Murray, which seemed like a flier at the time, worked out and revived the career of a player that Cowboys coach Jason Garrett had presumably run into the ground. Murray had a 392-carry season in 2014, and that many carries often can be the kiss of death for running backs.
Instead, it was more than a viable placeholder for Titans second-round pick Derrick Henry. Dallas and Tennessee finished second and third, respectively, in rushing yards per game this season behind only the one-dimensional Bills. In both cases, Murray's rushing style, which is evident in Elliott's game, was the key to unlocking so much of the offense.
