|
IRVING, Texas -- Adrian Peterson has been hit at least 1,100 more times than DeMarco Murray. Peterson, who turns 30 in March, is scheduled to earn $12.7 million this year, which is more than any other NFL running back. And just so you know, he has carried the ball more than 300 times only once in the past four seasons, which is important because this Dallas Cowboys offense requires a workhorse. Oh, and Peterson still must be reinstated to the NFL by commissioner Roger Goodell after last season's child-abuse scandal forced him to the sidelines for the final 15 games. Regardless of whether the Cowboys sign the 26-year-old Murray to a long-term deal, which should be their top priority, signing Peterson would be the kind of dumb, high-profile, headline-generating move the Cowboys used to make, when owner Jerry Jones had the loudest voice at Valley Ranch. Now, he doesn't.  Vice president Stephen Jones, coach Jason Garrett and scouting director Will McClay just let him think he does. Hey, whatever works. Obviously, Peterson will have a bronze bust in the Pro Football Hall of Fame one day, but good organizations resist the temptation to fall in love with the name on the back of the jersey. That's another mistake Jerry has made over the years. He has paid players for what they've done instead of paying them for what they will do. Good organizations focus on the future -- not the past -- and they deal in reality, not what they want reality to be. So the 2,097 yards Murray gained two years ago isn't really part of his discussion, though it speaks to his overall talent. Neither are his 91 career touchdowns or his 5.0 career average per carry. What's important is figuring out whether Peterson, Murray or some college running back is the best player to help these Cowboys win a championship in the next three years. Somehow, the Cowboys have cracked open a window to win a championship that seemed hopelessly locked after three straight 8-8 seasons and back surgeries in consecutive years for Tony Romo. But they have to do it soon because Romo will be 35 when the 2015 season starts, and we all know that once he retires, you won't even be able to get favorable betting odds on the Cowboys winning the Super Bowl. Since Peterson is having off-the-field issues and seems chummy with Jerry these days, the natural inclination of some folks and fans is to create a scenario where Peterson winds up in Dallas. Jerry was named the NFL's executive of the year by the Pro Football Writers of America because he listens to a trusted few and no longer gives into his wanton urges; otherwise defensive linemen DeMarcus Ware and Jason Hatcher would still be playing for the Cowboys. The first tenet of being a good team is to avoid paying age because older players get hurt more often and take longer to recover. For those of you who think Murray is going to struggle after carrying the ball a league-leading 392 times, we've all heard the chatter and seen the evidence that most runners decline sharply once they hit 30. That's because they can still get to the hole but can no longer consistently accelerate through it.  Peterson's year away from the game raises additional questions because we have no idea if it has energized him or made his talent atrophy. Plus, Peterson still plays for the Minnesota Vikings, who have given no indication they want to get rid of him. Heck, coach Mike Zimmer won seven games without him while using a rookie quarterback. He probably figures he can get to 10 wins with Peterson. Even if the Vikings did release Peterson, do you think he's going to cost less than Murray? He's not. Even if he gave the Cowboys a discount because he grew up in Palestine, 113 miles southeast of Dallas, and his father lives here in Dallas, Peterson is going to want the money commensurate with his reputation. After all, he's scheduled to be the NFL's highest-paid running back, earning $3 million more than Philadelphia's LeSean McCoy, the second-highest paid runner. More important, at this stage of their careers, there's not nearly as much difference between Peterson and Murray as you think. In his past three full seasons, Peterson has 835 carries for 4,333 yards, a 5.1 average per carry, and 34 touchdowns. He also missed six games. In Murray's past three seasons, he has 3,629 yards on 771 carries, a 4.7 average per carry, and 26 touchdowns. He has missed eight games. Peterson has to be one of the best running backs in NFL history, but this is a young man's game and he no longer falls into that category. If the Cowboys must eventually choose between Peterson and Murray, then they should spend their money on the player who has been tackled a thousand fewer times.
|
