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DeMarco Murray

Retirement for one of last five years' best backs

DeMarco Murray retired late last week. There was immediately speculation that he'll sign on with some team once a starter gets hurt in the preseason, which I guess is possible. But unlike say Marshawn Lynch, who was under contract with Seattle when he retired a couple of years ago, Murray was a free agent -- no reason to retire if he actually still wants to play football. Good chance, I think, that he's done.

If it is the end, it's goodbye to a runner who's fairly quietly been one of the league's most productive running backs over the past five years. He did it with three different teams, but since 2013, only two running backs have put up more total yards.

TOTAL YARDS, RUNNING BACKS, 2013-2017
Player20132014201520162017Tot
LeSean McCoy, Buff.214614741187162315868016
LeVeon Bell, Pitt.12592215692188419467996
DeMarco Murray, 3TM14712261102416649257345
Matt Forte, NYJ19331846128710766746816
Frank Gore, Ind.126912171234130212066228
Lamar Miller, Hou.87913741269126112155998
Mark Ingram, N.O.45411091174136215405639
Giovani Bernard, Cin.1209102912026738474960
Devonta Freeman, Atl.-4731634154111824830
Marshawn Lynch, Oak.15731673497-10424785
Todd Gurley, LAR--1294121220934599
Eddie Lacy, Sea.143515669463882264561
Jamaal Charles, Den.19801324541544254324
Chris Ivory, Jac.84394412876255574256
Alfred Morris, Dall.135312298062545924234
LeGarrette Blount, Phil.81060174611998164172
Bilal Powell, NYJ96923370111109423955
Jonathan Stewart, Car.22499010888847323918
Adrian Peterson, N.O.-Ariz.1437931707805993916
C.J. Anderson, Den.38117390356512313910
Isaiah Crowell, Clev.-694888127110353888
Latavius Murray, Minn.-567129810529453862
Rashad Jennings, NYG10258651159794-3843
Melvin Gordon, LAC--833141615813830
Doug Martin, T.B.52255816735554903798
Carlos Hyde, S.F.-401523115112883363
Chris Johnson, Ariz.1422814872951573360
Jeremy Hill, Cin.-133987310131323357
Ryan Mathews, Phil.1444399685776-3304
Ezekiel Elliott, Dall.---199412523246
David Johnson, Ariz.--10382118903246
Darren Sproles, Phil.8247167058651343244
DeAngelo Williams, Pitt.11762631274461-3174
Andre Ellington, Ariz.-Hou.102310554371814243120
Joique Bell, 2TM119711825974-2980
Jerick McKinnon, Minn.-6734447949912902
Shane Vereen, NYG6358387552524172897
Jordan Howard, Chi.---161112472858
Duke Johnson, Clev.--91387210412826
Arian Foster, Mia.7251573390133-2821

Murray said last week he had interest from multiple teams, and there was some skepticism; if so, why hadn't he signed anywhere? But his retirement suggests he was burned out mentally, even if physically he's still pretty capable. But we'll see. Note that a couple of the other backs near the top of the list have some contract or off-field questions surrounding them. Those teams might need a capable lead back, and very possible Murray's phone rings.

For now, though, he's walking away.

--Andy Richardson

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