Bills sign Latavius Murray to a one-year deal

[ColoradoBills]

10 hours ago, BillsFanForever19 said:

 

Guaranteed he won't if Cook, Harris, and Hines all stay healthy.

 

Like I said, Beane dresses 3 RB's. And Murray will not play in place of Cook, Harris, or Hines.

 

Murray was a Practice Squad RB all of last season. He only saw the field because of injuries. It will be the same thing here. If there's an injury to any of the 3 - he'll be dressed and playing. Barring an injury, he will not.

 

Murray was signed off the Saints PS by the Broncos 53 in early October.  He stayed on the team all year.

[Shaw66]

Just came to this thread and haven't read much of it. 

 

Having watched the Murray press conference, it's now clear that Murray is, as someone said, the veteran presence in the running back room.  He may be there just to mentor Cook.   He's known Cook a long time, because he played with Dalvin and followed James's career in college with Dalvin.   Listen to the presser, and you can hear how serious he is about football. 

 

He isn't retired for only one reason:  He wants a ring.  That's it.   He's in Buffalo to do whatever he can to win the ring.   I think he wouldn't care if he didn't get one carry.    I think he'll get plenty, because he is a solid NFL back, but we'll see.  The Bills told him that he had to wait until after the draft, because if the Bills drafted a running back he was out.   He's been around the league long enough to understand that, and he was willing to wait to see what happened in the draft.   It's interesting that Beane called his agent during the draft to ask if Murray would sign with Buffalo if the Bills wanted him.   Beane wanted to know he didn't need to draft a running back.  Agent said yes, Murray will sign, so Beane did day three of the draft knowing the running backs were off his list.  

 

All interesting stuff. 

 

I think Beane has had a great off season. 

 

 

[Shaw66]

By the way, Murray is 15+ years out of Syracuse, but he still has ties there.   He raising money to build a community center in his small town.  I sent a donation.   He's a serious guy, and he's committed to doing good things.  

[Kaenon]

Had one of his best statistical years last year, but he's 33.

Vet presence? Idk...

[Straight Hucklebuck]

Will the Bills stay determined to run the ball more?

 

[The Frankish Reich]

13 minutes ago, Kaenon said:

Had one of his best statistical years last year, but he's 33.

Vet presence? Idk...

He was effective last year, and while he's definitely old, I see no reason to expect a significant drop-off this year, particularly (barring injury to the key guys!) with limited usage. I like the signing.

[MikePJ76]

Signing Murray and now Poona Ford is a big help.  Love both of these signings.

[Shaw66]

2 hours ago, Straight Hucklebuck said:

Will the Bills stay determined to run the ball more?

 

Well, of course, we will know the answer to that only as the season plays out, but they couldn't have done much more to show their determination beyond what they've done already.   Clear upgrades at guard, and more depth as a result, and the addition of two guys who have been successful power running backs.   Harris and Murray aren't tweeners like Motor.   They are full-fledged modern power running backs, guys with power to push the pile AND enough speed and mobility to take advantage of seems.  It's possible that by December they will be after-thoughts in the lineup, but I doubt it.   I think the evidence says that Dorsey and McDermott want a running game that can punish you, a running game that forces you to respect the run, game in and game out.   If they can dominate with run at times, play action suddenly becomes a real weapon, too.  Draw the defense into the box and let your spiffy new tight end get behind the linebackers.  

[GreggTX]

Solid move. If Harris can't go, we still have a capable power funner.

[Straight Hucklebuck]

17 minutes ago, Shaw66 said:

Well, of course, we will know the answer to that only as the season plays out, but they couldn't have done much more to show their determination beyond what they've done already.   Clear upgrades at guard, and more depth as a result, and the addition of two guys who have been successful power running backs.   Harris and Murray aren't tweeners like Motor.   They are full-fledged modern power running backs, guys with power to push the pile AND enough speed and mobility to take advantage of seems.  It's possible that by December they will be after-thoughts in the lineup, but I doubt it.   I think the evidence says that Dorsey and McDermott want a running game that can punish you, a running game that forces you to respect the run, game in and game out.   If they can dominate with run at times, play action suddenly becomes a real weapon, too.  Draw the defense into the box and let your spiffy new tight end get behind the linebackers.  

Yes I agree with this. 

 

Right now I'd wager the Bills take more risks on defense, and they pull back the offense from the dependence on the big play. The offense may look more like 2019. 

Edited May 2, 2023 by Straight Hucklebuck

[HappyDays]

 

[No_Matter_What]

52 minutes ago, HappyDays said:

 

Details are also on Sportrac https://www.spotrac.com/nfl/buffalo-bills/latavius-murray-12463/

 

Cap hit less than $1.1M, dead cap if cut 800k. So great signing if he makes the roster, costly one if he doesn't.

[ColoradoBills]

1 hour ago, No_Matter_What said:

Details are also on Sportrac https://www.spotrac.com/nfl/buffalo-bills/latavius-murray-12463/

 

Cap hit less than $1.1M, dead cap if cut 800k. So great signing if he makes the roster, costly one if he doesn't.

 

I think he is committed to being a Buffalo Bill.  The 800k dead cap could mean if needed to for a while, he is happy to go the PS.

He stays in Buffalo all year, one way or another.

[AuntieEm]

On 5/2/2023 at 12:56 PM, Shaw66 said:

Just came to this thread and haven't read much of it. 

 

Having watched the Murray press conference, it's now clear that Murray is, as someone said, the veteran presence in the running back room.  He may be there just to mentor Cook.   He's known Cook a long time, because he played with Dalvin and followed James's career in college with Dalvin.   Listen to the presser, and you can hear how serious he is about football. 

 

He isn't retired for only one reason:  He wants a ring.  That's it.   He's in Buffalo to do whatever he can to win the ring.   I think he wouldn't care if he didn't get one carry.    I think he'll get plenty, because he is a solid NFL back, but we'll see.  The Bills told him that he had to wait until after the draft, because if the Bills drafted a running back he was out.   He's been around the league long enough to understand that, and he was willing to wait to see what happened in the draft.   It's interesting that Beane called his agent during the draft to ask if Murray would sign with Buffalo if the Bills wanted him.   Beane wanted to know he didn't need to draft a running back.  Agent said yes, Murray will sign, so Beane did day three of the draft knowing the running backs were off his list.  

 

All interesting stuff. 

 

I think Beane has had a great off season. 

 

 

 

I also love to see there is good communication between Beane and some agents so this type of conversation can take place.  After seeing that fiasco last year with that rb from Washington and being used as leverage just to have him sign back with WFT.

 

Also helps that Buffalo does have a good reputation with the entire organization being well run and when anything Bills related goes viral its generally something very positive.  

 

Often overlooked is that the Bills have a top notch PR team.  While other teams may promote their top stars the Bills seem to help promote all of their players.  Other teams PR hoping they don't have to clean up any media mess from a players actions, Bills PR works with various players to let them showcase their personalities. Those Keenum undercover videos were great and I wish him well with his new team unless it's vs us.  Not a bad thing to have a team with good PR help you when you will be likely retiring soon and transitioning to another career. 

 

Of course in the case I imagine that being so close to his hometown is a big factor.  I mean he could have his closest family popping in to visit on a regular basis being a reasonably short road trip from the Syracuse area.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Shaw66]

14 minutes ago, AuntieEm said:

 

I also love to see there is good communication between Beane and some agents so this type of conversation can take place.  After seeing that fiasco last year with that rb from Washington and being used as leverage just to have him sign back with WFT.

 

Also helps that Buffalo does have a good reputation with the entire organization being well run and when anything Bills related goes viral its generally something very positive.  

 

Often overlooked is that the Bills have a top notch PR team.  While other teams may promote their top stars the Bills seem to help promote all of their players.  Other teams PR hoping they don't have to clean up any media mess from a players actions, Bills PR works with various players to let them showcase their personalities. Those Keenum undercover videos were great and I wish him well with his new team unless it's vs us.  Not a bad thing to have a team with good PR help you when you will be likely retiring soon and transitioning to another career. 

 

Of course in the case I imagine that being so close to his hometown is a big factor.  I mean he could have his closest family popping in to visit on a regular basis being a reasonably short road trip from the Syracuse area.  

 

All of this, especially the first paragraph.   Did you see the Bills video of the draft room for the first round pick?  Bills decide to move up for Kincaid, and as they're calling the Giants to make the deal, the Giants put their pick in, because their guy was still on the board.   So, Bean said to someone, "Get Jacksonville on the phone."  Completely calm and collected.   Then the conversation is totally no nonsense.   Beane only says about five words and hangs up.  It was clear that he was operating on trust with the guys he was talking (of course, one was Schoen).   

 

Everything about this organization makes them attractive.  The weight room.  The PR.  What the players say about the team.  Murray (and Poona) want to come to Buffalo.  Undrafted free agents want to come to Buffalo.  Kincaid was so happy the moment he got drafted, he looked like he would burst.  

 

It's quite impressive. 

[WotAGuy]

On 5/2/2023 at 1:09 PM, Shaw66 said:

By the way, Murray is 15+ years out of Syracuse, but he still has ties there.   He raising money to build a community center in his small town.  I sent a donation.   He's a serious guy, and he's committed to doing good things.  

The community center will be named for Jon Diaz who was shot and killed after an altercation in Syracuse on Thanksgiving Eve a few years ago.  Very sad ending for a young man, who by all accounts, was a really good guy. 

[hondo in seattle]

On 5/2/2023 at 10:28 AM, Straight Hucklebuck said:

Will the Bills stay determined to run the ball more?

 

 

I don't know if it's Dorsey's idea specifically to run the ball more.  My guess is that he wants RBs to run the ball more with Josh running it less.

 

I also think that he wants to be able to take advantage of teams who play against the pass with Nickel and Dime packages.  He wants to have the capability to disincentivize them from selling out to stop Josh.  

[WotAGuy]

1 minute ago, hondo in seattle said:

 

I don't know if it's Dorsey's idea specifically to run the ball more.  My guess is that he wants RBs to run the ball more with Josh running it less.

 

I also think that he wants to be able to take advantage of teams who play against the pass with Nickel and Dime packages.  He wants to have the capability to disincentivize them from selling out to stop Josh.  

Not to mention the Bills couldn’t punch over a short yardage TD or first down to save their lives the last few years. 

[Straight Hucklebuck]

19 hours ago, Shaw66 said:

All of this, especially the first paragraph.   Did you see the Bills video of the draft room for the first round pick?  Bills decide to move up for Kincaid, and as they're calling the Giants to make the deal, the Giants put their pick in, because their guy was still on the board.   So, Bean said to someone, "Get Jacksonville on the phone."  Completely calm and collected.   Then the conversation is totally no nonsense.   Beane only says about five words and hangs up.  It was clear that he was operating on trust with the guys he was talking (of course, one was Schoen).   

 

Everything about this organization makes them attractive.  The weight room.  The PR.  What the players say about the team.  Murray (and Poona) want to come to Buffalo.  Undrafted free agents want to come to Buffalo.  Kincaid was so happy the moment he got drafted, he looked like he would burst.  

 

It's quite impressive. 

For Beane to cram in this many FAs with the money he had available is impressive. 

 

Say for instance the Bengals? Week one of FA they don't try to get Hurst, Bates, Bell back. Pratt signs a below-market value contract to stay in Cincinnati. They get their LT, so props there, then Perine walks, and they done hardly anything else. 

 

After Poyer, the Bills continued on getting Rapp, Anderson, Phillips, Lawson, Harris, Murray and now Ford to sign, extending Bass. The Bills have seemingly had less than $10M to spend for weeks, and they're still getting veterans to sign. 

[Warriorspikes51]

Bills are finally getting more physical