DeMarco Murray: Running back and comedian?
By Dani Bostick
Philadelphia Eagles running back DeMarco Murray has some hidden talents.
Lately, Philadelphia Eagles running back DeMarco Murray has been in the news for being underutilized. He complained to ESPN, “Do I think I’m touching the ball (enough)? No, I’m not. I don’t think I am. But it’s the plays that are being called. I love this offense. I love playing with these guys. It’s just how it is.”
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Eagles coach Chip Kelly strung some football-sounding words together in response, saying, “Everyone needs the ball more. We need to play more on offense.” A very Madden-esque statement that didn’t address Murray’s concerns at all.
Murray is best known as one of the league’s most talented running backs, but he is a man of many talents. Recently Murray teamed up with Ben Schwartz from Parks and Rec and House of Lies for an absolutely hilarious and what???-you-haven’t-seen-it-yet-seriously-what-are-you-waiting-for? promotion for Courtyard.
Thank goodness there were two. The first one was so short I felt cheated, so it was a huge relief to realize they had done another.
Schwartz is hilarious, and Murray was so good that I thought that acting was some side-passion he has had forever. Turns out, that was his first time doing that sort of comedy and it was completely improvised. Murray explained, “Ben made it so easy for me. I’m not very funny.” I’m not sure Murray is using the same definition of “funny” the rest of us are. Or, he could just be a really modest dude.
While Schwartz and Murray have very different careers, they do have something in common (aside from hilarity). Both were caught off guard by their success. Schwartz explained, “I never thought it was going to happen. It was a lovely surprise. I put my head down, worked my butt off, and hoped to get a big lucky. The things I get to do weren’t even on my bucket list. It wasn’t even something I dreamed about when I was a kid.”
Murray said he didn’t know that he was good at football until he was able to make a career of it. “I didn’t know I was good until I got drafted,” he shared. Hopefully, he’ll realize he’s funny some time before he wins an Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series.
Meanwhile, Schwartz has kept himself busy with House of Lies, his new movie The Walk, and pumpkin-flavored treats. If he wakes up one day with Murray’s athleticism he may take a break from comedy to spend some time running fast and agile, showing off how fast he is while doing spin moves around hapless pedestrians. If that ever happens, let’s hope there’s a camera on hand.
Next up for Schwartz and Murray? With Key and Peele retired, Schwartz and Murray could be the next great comedic duo. Before that happens, however, Ben plans to take Murray out for his very first Philly cheesesteak.
Hopefully that landmark event will coincide with more playing time for Murray.