DeMarco Murray flying to Philadelphia Eagles on five-year contract
Thursday 12 March 2015 23:37, UK
DeMarco Murray, the National Football League's leading rusher, is leaving the Dallas Cowboys to join the Philadelphia Eagles after agreeing to a five-year contract
Terms of the contract for the free-agent running back were not disclosed by the Eagles, although the deal is worth around £28m according to a number of reports.
Murray, 27, was named the NFL's offensive player of the year in 2014 after rushing for a Cowboys franchise-record 1,845 yards and catching 57 passes for another 416 yards.
He also tied for the league lead in rushing touchdowns with 13 and set the NFL record by opening the season with eight consecutive 100-yard rushing games.
Murray replaces running back LeSean McCoy, third in the NFL in rushing with 1,319 yards, who was traded to the Buffalo Bills for linebacker Kiko Alonso earlier this week.
Before signing Murray, the Eagles had appeared close to a deal with free-agent running back Frank Gore before he performed a U-turn and signed for the Indianapolis Colts.
Earlier on Thursday, the Eagles agreed to terms on a three-year contract with running back Ryan Mathews.
A first-round draft pick by San Diego in 2010, Mathews gained 4,061 yards and scored 23 touchdowns in five seasons. He also caught 146 passes for 1,110 yards and one touchdown.
Mathews, 27, twice eclipsed the 1,000-yard rushing mark and was named to the Pro Bowl in 2011.
The Eagles have been busy since free agency started, trading quarterback Nick Foles to the St Louis Rams for quarterback Sam Bradford, signing cornerback Walter Thurmond and re-signing quarterback Mark Sanchez.
