DeMarco Murray And The Evasive Tampering Charge
By Matt Giraldi
By now you’ve all seen the tweet about Philadelphia Eagles running back DeMarco Murray. Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant wants him to come back home. Fellow Cowboys receiver Terrence Williams agreed wholeheartedly with Bryant. When CBS broadcaster Doug Gottlieb interviewed Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo, Romo was much wiser than his teammates and evaded the topic in fear of tampering charges.
@JasonWitten @tonyromo @DeMarcoMurray come on home https://t.co/06hHKWBJ87 #cowboys
— Dez Bryant (@DezBryant) February 4, 2016
What the NFL defines as tampering features more empty words than a Roger Goodell press conference. Back in 2008, NFL senior vice president of public relations Greg Aiello defined tampering as:
"“Out of our anti-tampering policy, the term tampering as used within the NFL refers to any interference by a member club with the employer/employee relationship of another club or any attempt by a club to impermissibly induce the person to seek employment with that club or with the NFL.”"
Live Feed
Betsided
I don’t know about the rest of you, but Aiello’s words rung hollow to me then, and they still do. In particular, the fact that tampering is predominantly relegated to team executives rather than anyone affiliated with the team, in this case, the players.
Tampering clearly happens each and every offseason. Players sign contracts minutes after free agency begins. Rumor mongers correctly predict the destination of so many players. Not all information stems from the player’s camp however. There is even a time period known as “legal tampering.” The issue in this particular case is that these rules primarily pertain to players that are not under contract. DeMarco Murray is signed with the Eagles through the 2019 season.
A recent report by Ian Rapoport that stated DeMarco Murray and the Philadelphia Eagles would be headed for a “stare-down“. This makes the timing of Bryant’s tweet much more intriguing. In addition to Rapoport’s article, Todd Archer of ESPN entertained a rather interesting tweet during a Q&A session on Twitter. If you’re unfamiliar with Archer, this isn’t his first attempt to drudge up a hypothetical situation where Murray finds his way back to Dallas.
Regardless whether players or executives are doing the recruiting, the fact is that the Cowboys are clearly trying to add gasoline to an already simmering fire. Rapoport’s report (try saying that five times fast) linked Murray to the Cowboys, Seattle Seahawks, and Oakland Raiders. Both the Cowboys and Seahawks finished the 2015 season with top ten rushing offenses. The Raiders struggled to run the ball however. Unlike the Cowboys, Seahawks and Raiders players are not actively attempting to recruit players that are signed to other teams.
Because of the timing of this release, that the Eagles should consider filing tampering charges against the Cowboys. Both Archer and Rapoport are well-respected journalists covering the NFL. Both also have ties within the NFL infrastructure. So when multiple journalists are discussing the possibility of the Eagles and DeMarco Murray’s relationship reaching the crossroads, I think it only fair that the Eagles cover their own backside.
This is particularly true due to wording the NFL has in place surrounding tampering situations. One such example includes a dispute with a player and their current team. In the event that the Eagles are in fact heading for a stare-down, the Eagles could point to Cowboys players amplifying the situation.
It’s been nearly six years since Lebron James made “The Decision“. A large level of criticism for that blunder fell on all three involved players, not just James. The infamous dinner picture led many to believe that all three players had arranged their rendez-vous in Miami long before the summer of 2010. Players actively recruiting other players who are under contract is a disheartening process. It’s also another layer of criticism that the NFL needs to avoid.
It’s likely safe to say that DeMarco Murray will be a member of the Eagles next season despite building a new home in Dallas. It’s also safe to say that tampering is going to happen around the league. I’m not blind nor am I gullible that franchises and their personnel will abide by the rules. My suggestion for the Philadelphia Eagles is to make sure that Murray, Bryant, Romo, Williams, and the entire Cowboys organization are fully aware that Murray is under contract for one team before any other shenanigans ensue. If they choose to continue to recruit Murray, hopefully Jerry Jones will be writing a handsome check to the league offices in New York.