Michael Irvin Claims Cowboys Letting DeMarco Murray Walk Sends Wrong Message

Count former Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Michael Irvin among those who don't like that the team allowed DeMarco Murray to get away in free agency.  

Speaking to 105.3 The Fan, via CBS Dallas-Fort Worth, Irvin says the economics of a potential deal would have been worth it because of what it says to the other players.

"I don’t care if you pay him a little more than you wanted to," Irvin said. "I think that’s not a bad thing; that’s a good thing because it sends a better message to the locker room. You perform; you will get taken care of. I’m a little worried about the residual of this message that they’re sending."

Irvin also said he believes this was an instance of "poor decision-making" by the Cowboys front office. The deal certainly doesn't look good for Dallas right now, especially with the team responding by signing oft-injured Darren McFadden to a two-year contract. 

Yet it's also important to remember the bigger-picture perspective here. Everyone agreed the Cowboys had one of the best offensive lines in the NFL, supported by Pro Football Focus' rankings after the season. 

This is also a deep draft for running backs, which could allow the Cowboys to get a long-term replacement at a fraction of the cost, as speculated by former NFL general manager Phil Savage:

As great as Murray was last year, running for 1,845 yards and 13 touchdowns, it was also the first year he ever played 16 games in a season. This era of football isn't one where teams often break the bank for a player at that position. 

The Cowboys are hoping that a lower-cost option of veteran Darren McFadden, young backup Joseph Randle and potentially a back picked up in the draft are able to replace Murray's prodigious production in Dallas last season. 

The Eagles were more willing to give Murray a deal he wanted than the Cowboys. Irvin may end up being right that it's a move Dallas will regret, but it's impossible to say that before the team has played a game without him.