New Titans running back DeMarco Murray had a rough season in Philadelphia. But he sees the glass as half full.
“I feel like I took a year off last year, so I am fresh,” Murray joked on Wednesday, via his new team’s official website.
Turning more serious, Murray said he’s motivated by the criticism he has absorbed for a subpar performance with the Eagles.
“I have never been one to pay attention to the critics, but you obviously hear stuff and are around people and you hear things that are said and it definitely fires you up and motivates you,’’ Murray said. “I’m 100 percent [motivated]. The NFL is a place where you have to make the best of your opportunities, and every day is a challenge, every day is a competition. I look forward to competing every day and getting back on track and running the ball the way I know I can, and running plays I am intrigued by.”
This implies that Murray wasn’t intrigued by the running plays he ran last year.
“I have seen what coach Mularkey has done with a guy like Michael Turner in Atlanta and that excites me,” Murray added. “Whatever they ask me to do I am willing to do it, whether it is carrying the ball 20 times, 30 times, whatever. I’m excited, and I am going to do my best to help this team out and do as much as I can.”
It all sounds good on the way through the door. It sounded the same way a year ago, when Murray arrived in Philadelphia. Time will tell whether Murray feels the same way once the real games start.