After getting just two carries, DeMarco Murray says “I want to play”

DeMarco Murray ran the ball just two times Sunday night in a 40-17 loss to the Cardinals and gained three total yards.

He did not catch a pass, and was passed over on a key fourth and one late in the first half.

“We had Ryan [Mathews] in there,” Chip Kelly said of the squandered red zone opportunity.”He’s a 230 pound back, we thought we were going to get it on fourth and one… that waskind of the game there.”

Instead of going into the locker room tied at 17, the Eagles trailed by a touchdown and things spiraled out of control in the second half.

But one thing was undeniable, Murray, who is owed $18 million in guaranteed money, wasn’t there.

“Obviously you want to try and help theteam if you can,” Murray said Sunday night, during an attempt to make a quick exit from the stadium.”Iwant to play, I enjoy playing football.”

Kelly, in his post-game press conference said the reason Murray didn’t receive more touches is because the team did not run the ball well (they gained 74 yards on 20 carries), and that the plan was to swap the three running back through all game (Mathews had 11 carries for 58 yards while Darren Sproles had six carries for nine)

Will Murray, who has just 22 carries combined in his last three games, be willing to come back to Philly next season?

He signed a five-year contract in the spring, but rumors of the running back being unhappy took the media by storm when it was revealed he had met with owner Jeffrey Lurie to discuss his playing time (Kelly later said it was just a chat on the airplane on the flight back from New England).

“Whoever is willing to have me, this is what Isigned up for,” Murray said. “I signed up to come here and have an opportunity to make the playoffs.”

Even after losing three of their last five games by scores of 45-17, 45-14 and 40-17, the Eagles can still clinch a playoff spot by beating the Redskins and Giants in the season’s final two weeks.