Just because you win the AFC Rushing Title, it doesn’t mean you can’t be the product of the rumor mill.
Titans Pro Bowl running back Demarco Murray found that out earlier this week. With Ezekiel Elliot’s league-imposed six-game suspension for domestic violence likely to be upheld, there was speculation that Titans could trade Murray back to his old team: The Dallas Cowboys. (Murray was originally drafted by the Cowboys in 2011 and won the NFL rushing title as a member of the team back in 2014).
Murray, who’s in his second season with the Titans, was asked about those rumors after practice on Thursday.
“I think that was all just speculation by social media fans,” Murray said. “I’ve been happy here [with the Titans], I see myself retiring here and being a great asset [to the team] moving forward.”
It’s a good bet that a lot of those “social media fans” are also fans of the Southeastern Conference.
Despite Murray’s success, there are big pockets of Titans fans that would love to see Murray gone so that former Alabama star Derrick Henry could carry the load for the Titans rushing game.
Murray has remained focused on the task at hand despite all the outside talk.
“I wasn’t worried about it,” he said. “I’m happy to be here [in Tennessee] and [I want] to help this team win.”
Murray even managed to find a little humor in the situation.
“I think the chances of me going back [to Dallas] is about the same as [former Cowboys Hall-Of-Fame quarterback] Roger Staubach [who retired from football after the 1979 season] going back.”
Murray and the Titans return from the bye week this Sunday when they host the Baltimore Ravens. Kickoff is at noon on NewsChannel 5.
