Look who’s running to paydirt: DeMarco Murray, Justin Forsett and Ryan Mathews.
Running backs took their place at the head of the free agency class on Thursday, the third day of the NFL’s business year. Two of them, 2014 Offensive Player of the Year Murray, the league’s leading rusher, and Mathews wound up in Philadelphia. Forsett is staying right where he made his breakthrough last season, in Baltimore.
Murray, 27, helped the Cowboys win the NFC East while rushing for a franchise-record 1,845 yards, breaking NFL career rushing leader Emmitt Smith’s team mark. He also set a league record with eight straight 100-yard games to start the season.
He’ll combine with Mathews to replace two-time All-Pro LeSean McCoy, the NFL’s rushing leader in 2013 who was dealt to Buffalo by coach Chip Kelly.
Cowboys star receiver Dez Bryant tweeted: “@DeMarcoMurray I wish you would have stayed but I understand your decision… Congrats bro you deserve it -“
Kelly has been among the busiest barterers in rebuilding the Eagles, also dealing starting quarterback Nick Foles to St. Louis for Sam Bradford; getting linebacker Kiko Alonso from Buffalo for McCoy; signing cornerbacks Byron Maxwell and Walter Thurmond III; and releasing offensive lineman Todd Herremans, cornerback Cary Williams, linebacker Trent Cole and tight end James Casey.
Mathews, 27, leaves San Diego after an injury-plagued five seasons. A first-round draft pick in 2010, he played in all 16 regular-season games only in 2013, his best season with 1,255 yards rushing and seven total touchdowns.
Forsett, 29, agreed to a three-year contract with the Ravens. He comes off the finest season of his seven-year career, replacing Ray Rice and rushing 1,266 yards and eight touchdowns.
“Sometimes you have fortunate signings in this business and Justin was one of those,” Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome said. “We were fortunate because he became such a vital part of our on-field success and quickly became a steadying influence in the locker room at an uneasy time for us. He gave us more than we anticipated. From what we expected, he gave us unprecedented production.”
___
AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL
Comment count on this article reflects comments made on Breitbart.com and Facebook. Visit Breitbart's Facebook Page.