UPDATE: Rico Murray Isn't Signing With Anyone

by Josh Kirkendall on Sep 16, 2011 11:43 AM EDT

+ Former Bengals defensive back Rico Murray wasn't "former" for very long. After the Bengals signed tight end Donald Lee to give them a compliment of three players, Cincinnati released Murray to make room on their 53-man roster.

It was believed that Murray would return in some capacity to Cincinnati, either somehow forged back into the 53-man roster at the very least, back to the team's practice squad.

There's little chance for that now. According to Rico Murray's twitter account, the former defensive back is joining the Dallas Cowboys.

Unfortunately for Murray, it was a numbers game. The team liked his versatility and his special teams play. However the team, like every NFL team in the league, is forced to juggle components around to make room for the roster they believe gives them the best chance to win.

However in reality the likelihood of Murray return was slim, especially after Adam Jones was recently cleared by doctors after a lengthy rehabilitation with his neck.

UPDATE:Rico Murray was singing a song with apparently the lyrics stating, "I am a Cowboy." Sigh, tease.

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Comments

Donald Lee

Better be worth losing this kid.

Sure. Everyone has a plan, until they get punched in the mouth - Mike Tyson

by UpStateMike on Sep 16, 2011 11:56 AM EDT reply actions

True

by quickslant on Sep 16, 2011 12:19 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

!!!!!

He definitly will b missed here, they shuld of made room for him somewhere.. Another player we are gonna regret not signing to the roster… A la Briscoe

by BengalNation on Sep 16, 2011 11:58 AM EDT reply actions

Missed yes, But no real regrets..

It’s the NFL and an ever changing field.. They come, they go…

2012 - Playoff bound!!!

by Law1951 on Sep 16, 2011 12:03 PM EDT up reply actions

Briscoe

Was a loss but has he put up numbers yet? I don’t watch Tampa so I don’t know but I’m in three Fantasy leagues and have no ever heard his name as a sleeper

by Toasted_Orange_Monster on Sep 16, 2011 2:30 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Good Luck Rico!

In my mind he was a solid asset to us so I wish him success. God knows Dallas could use his skills…

2012 - Playoff bound!!!

by Law1951 on Sep 16, 2011 12:02 PM EDT reply actions

let's not look back

From here on out can we agree not to refer to the ‘dark ages’ (11 years of Brat making decisions)…. Matt Ryan looked great in his first game under new QB coach????

by snake19 on Sep 16, 2011 12:13 PM EDT via iPhone app reply actions 1 recs

I never expected him back after this most recent cut

can’t rely on the ‘hometown discount’ forever Mikey Boy. Take enough dumps on a guy and he’ll walk the first chance he gets.

Sorry for the negativity, but i really liked Murray, and think he was an asset to this team- unfortunately i’m not a coach and my opinion doesn’t matter.

Best of luck to him our in the big D

The Curse of Bo Jackson: Jan 13th,1991- present day

by TruWhoDey on Sep 16, 2011 12:13 PM EDT reply actions

I still wish they would have cut Roland

and kept Murray. Murray was special teams stud and one of the most versatile guys in the NFL. There are not a lot of guys who can play every position in the secondary. Murray was one of those guys.

Collins can back up both tackles and the new guy from Philly was a tackle before moving inside (sorry I’m terrible with names). Roland is expendable.

by WOOD98 on Sep 16, 2011 12:18 PM EDT reply actions

Why so much criticism ?

if he was that good, they would have kept him. If they had an opening at DB I think they would sign Lindley the UK product they brought in this week. In two more weeks Williams will be back, Roland will probably get cut then.

by redberkey on Sep 16, 2011 12:39 PM EDT up reply actions

separation anxiety

I think people just get a little anxious when the Bengals release someone and then another team picks them up real quick. It’s like, “wait, did we miss something?” And the fear of the guy being really good takes over and there’s a wide spread panic among Bengals fans.

by M Shop on Sep 16, 2011 12:51 PM EDT up reply actions

Agreed.

You have to give something to get something. A lot of folks seemed happy that we added Lee. But then they get upset when we have to let somebody else go to make room for him.

Most fans often overvalue the players that are on their team, thinking they are better than they really are.
That’s how you can tell a player is really bad…when fans are quick to want to give them away
(Eric Guysuck, Daniel Coats, Chris Perry, etc…).

Rico is a good player, yes. He’s a local kid, yes. But he’s not a great player. He’s not Leon Hall or Jonathan Joseph or Adam Jones or Reggie Nelson or Chris Crocker or Nate Clements. Heck, he couldn’t even beat out Trent or Jennings. Unless we switch defenses from the 4-3-4 to the 2-2-7 he was likely never to see any real playing time anyway.

by ephram on Sep 16, 2011 1:49 PM EDT up reply actions

I do the same with my Fantasy Players

Sure. Everyone has a plan, until they get punched in the mouth - Mike Tyson

by UpStateMike on Sep 16, 2011 2:54 PM EDT up reply actions

me too

that’s why it’s so dang hard to ever get any trades made in fantasy football.

even cutting guys is 10x more difficult when they are already on your roster.

by ephram on Sep 16, 2011 2:58 PM EDT up reply actions

+1 on the separation anxiety

“Wish him well? No. No way. I wish him good health, but I don’t wish him to play well.”

by keithster on Sep 16, 2011 2:47 PM EDT up reply actions

How did you get criticism or "separation anxiety" from my post???

I was simply making a point. Murray is versatile, which, right now, is huge for this team. Sure, he probably gets cut when Jones comes back, but why do you cut him to add a TE when that TE is going to take the place of Roland as the third TE in sets AND the Bengals have a quality back-up tackle who can play both sides and a versatile G/C who can bump out to tackle in an emergency?

Just saying it didn’t make much sense when you look at from that perspective.

by WOOD98 on Sep 16, 2011 11:40 PM EDT up reply actions