Tim MacMahon, ESPN Staff Writer 10y

DeMarco Murray 'disappointed' in fumbles streak

ST. LOUIS -- It seems as if you can count on three things with DeMarco Murray each game.

Murray will rush for at least 100 yards. He will score a touchdown. And he will fumble on the Dallas Cowboys' first series of the game.

As pleased as Murray might be about his production, he’s awfully frustrated about his problems holding on to the football.

“It’s very disappointing,” Murray said. “I’m very disappointed in letting that one go. I’ve got to get it fixed and I will get it fixed.”

Murray, who had only three lost fumbles in his first three NFL seasons, thought he fixed the problem with his decision during the week to go back to using his right hand to hold the ball. He held the ball primarily with his left hand in the first two games, a change he made before this season to free up his strong hand for stiff-arming.

But Murray was holding the ball with his right hand when Rams linebacker Alec Ogletree stripped it Sunday, knocking it loose as Murray was falling to the ground after being tripped.

“Great play by them,” said Murray, who has lost fumbles in four straight games dating to last season. “I think 52 came back and made the fumble happen. I’ve just got to hold it high and tight.”

Coach Jason Garrett clearly doesn’t consider benching Murray to be a reasonable response to his repeated fumbles. It’s hard to blame Garrett, considering that Murray is the NFL’s leading rusher with 385 yards after becoming the first Dallas back with three consecutive 100-yard games since Emmitt Smith.

“We’re going to continue to give him the ball and he’s got to get it right,” Garrett said. “He’s going to get it right.”

^ Back to Top ^