Jones on Murray: ‘We obviously want DeMarco on the team’

The Dallas Cowboys have been in contact with DeMarco Murray’s agent and still hope to re-sign their All-Pro running back.

“Just where we are right now, we obviously want DeMarco on the team. So we’ve tried to work to that end,” owner Jerry Jones said Tuesday.

Jones left the witness stand not long before the official start of free agency. He was forced to testify in the Super Bowl XLV seating trial.

Jones talked to the media briefly as he exited the courthouse after more than two hours on the stand.

The Cowboys have 14 free agents, with Murray the biggest name on the list of those the team would like to retain.

Murray created a buzz overnight by removing any Cowboys-related mention on his Twitter profile. Jones wouldn’t say whether he’s optimistic Murray returns, but the owner made it clear he wants the league’s leading rusher back.

“Yes,” Jones reiterated, “we’d like him back.”

With the Cowboys unable to get Murray signed before the start of free agency, they had expected his value to be set on the open market. But after a three-day negotiating period, no offers have surfaced, at least not publicly.

That might be good news for Dallas, which has watched as running backs Marshawn Lynch, Mark Ingram and LeSean McCoy have agreed to new deals.

This story was originally published March 10, 2015 at 2:17 PM.