National Football League

Randle, Murray trade barbs as Cowboys and Eagles open OTAs

Published May. 28, 2015 5:19 p.m. ET

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IRVING, Texas -- The Cowboys have tried awfully hard to avoid bulletin board material during Jason Garrett's tenure as head coach, but some good, old fashioned division trash talk has reared its head in the NFC East.

Wednesday marked the first day of media access during the Cowboys' OTAs, and Joseph Randle was a popular interview as the team's top returning running back. Naturally, the third-year back was asked about replacing the hole left by All-Pro DeMarco Murray.

Given that Murray ran for 1,845 yards and 13 touchdowns, and he won NFL Offensive Player of the Year, Randle's response raised some eyebrows.

"He had a good year last year," he said. "But I got to sit back and watch a lot and I felt like there was a lot of meat left on the bone. I'm going to try to go out there and grind as hard as I can."

With Philadelphia firing up its own OTAs this week, Murray -- who signed a six-year, $42 million contract with the Eagles in March -- was bound to be asked for a reply, and he did not disappoint.

"Hopefully he can taste some of that meat this year," Murray said to Philadelphia reporters. "They're a good team. Hopefully he gets a chance to run behind that line and do some good things."

Murray laughed off the comments to reporters, saying he hadn't heard Randle's comments before he talked to media.

"I'm not worried about it. I didn't hear about it until now. It's not a big deal," he said.

But the story is bound to carry forward -- especially considering that the Cowboys and Eagles have fought for NFC East supremacy in each of the past two seasons. The fact that Murray, one of Dallas' best players the past two seasons, left the Cowboys for a division rival was already a big enough story.

Chalk this exchange up as another big talking point when the Cowboys travel to Lincoln Financial Field to face the Eagles for their Week 2 division tilt on Sept. 20. It's only May, so there's no telling what else is in store.

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