There was a lot of talk when DeMarco Murray went on the IR about who they were going to bring in to finish out the season as a Cowboys' running back. They were going to find someone because there is no way they could trust Felix Jones to finish out the year as the Cowboys' only running back. He is good, but he can't withstand the beating of an every down back with no one to share the carries with.
A lot of names came up as possible backups for Jones in the lineup. Washington released Clinton Portis and he never found a home. Larry Johnson is available after being dropped by Miami early in the season. They could go after Willie Parker, maybe? Tiki Barber wants to play in the NFL again, doesn't he?
Well, Dallas went for none of those options and pulled someone else off the waiver wire, an unexpected name to say the least.
Sammy Morris is the newest Dallas Cowboys' running back.
This was a move that came from nowhere. Sammy Morris played for Buffalo, Miami and New England over his 12-year career. In 2010, he played in 16 games but only finished the year with 56 rushing yards. Last time he played as a starter was 2009, where he started five games finished with 319 yards and two touchdowns in the season.
Sammy Morris has always been a role player and that is all he will be in 2011 for Dallas. There is familiarity here as Morris played for head coach Jason Garrett when he was a coordinator in Miami. He isn't a third down back, and at 34, he isn't a starter either. He is simply there to give Jones some rest.
There are people who wonder why Dallas chose Morris since any of those previously mentioned backs could fulfill the same position. The problem with the other free agents is they are not role players and Dallas needs someone who can give Jones some rest, no more and no less.
Besides, early in the season Dallas signed an oft-injured wide receiver to help out when Miles Austin was hurt. That receiver was Laurent Robinson, and while most fans knew nothing about him, he is one of the best Cowboys now.
Maybe Sammy Morris can do the same.
Author Shawn S. Lealos has a bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Oklahoma (2000) and has been a Dallas Cowboys' fan since he was a child. His favorite players range from Roger Staubach and Tony Dorsett to the Triplets of the 90s and he enjoys talking about all Cowboys' related news, good or bad
