Cowboys VP: Running the Ball Remains Top Priority

The Cowboys surprised many when they walked away from the draft last weekend without a running back

The Dallas Cowboys watched the NFL’s leading rusher DeMarco Murray walk away in free agency, all the way to the rival Philadelphia Eagles, and they filled his spot on the depth chart with Darren McFadden--a man who has a long history of injury issues and has rushed for 1,000-plus yards exactly once in seven NFL seasons. Then, last weekend, they left the draft without a running back.

According to executive vice president Stephen Jones, this speaks to the team’s confidence in the group of running backs already in place and the offensive line, and not any diminishment of their commitment to running the ball. In fact, Jones told season ticket-holders during a conference call on Wednesday, the team is more committed than ever to running the football.

“We think it’s very important with this offensive line we have that it’s become really a part of what we’re about,” Jones said, per Jon Machota of the Dallas Morning News. “Part of our culture, part of our team toughness is to run the ball.

“Talking to Coach Garrett, talking to Coach Linehan, they’re more committed than ever, after watching the tape this year and really going back and reviewing the season, that running the football is a huge priority for us."

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