Murphy’s Rise
November 29th, 2014
Louis Murphy has resurrected his career
It’s fashionable to say the Buccaneers’ giant free agent class has been one thorough bust.
But that’s inaccurate. There have been positives.
Take Louis Murphy. His career was circling the drain after two rough seasons with the Panthers and Giants. He had just 31 catches combined for those teams in 2012 and 2013.
Plucked off the streets this spring by Tampa Bay, and then cut just before opening day. Murphy again was snatched off his St. Petersburg couch and has delivered.
Nobody will confuse Murphy with a Pro Bowler, but in eight games, his 27 catches for 355 yards and two touchdowns is excellent production. Murphy has proven to be a solid, versatile No. 3 receiver. Not great. Solid.
And he’s resurrected his career. At 27 years old, the former Gators standout still has promise. He also plays special teams.
Joe hopes Murphy finishes strong. Yeah, he had a drop in the end zone against the Bears and a dumb personal foul. But he also had his first 100+ yards game in years.
Murphy represents excellent depth, something found on every good team.
November 29th, 2014 at 6:25 pm
Well, he’s one Gator who is still producing yardage, good job Murphy.
November 29th, 2014 at 7:11 pm
One of the more under appreciated players on the team, IMO. Even the week Evans was out, he filled in WR #2 admirably.
November 29th, 2014 at 8:11 pm
How is it he’s resurrected his career again? Only in Tampa…. All you have to do is have a good game ever once in a while and this media will paint you as a champion. Resurrected his career with 355? Don’t you think your going overboard once again
November 29th, 2014 at 8:47 pm
this reminds me of when Joe thought Mason Foster was a pro-bowler because he had 2 good games in a row against bad teams.
November 29th, 2014 at 8:59 pm
Murphy has done his job this year. In the words of a former Buc he has “earned his paycheck.” How many other Bucs can make that claim. He is a good complementary player to VJax and Evans.
Now if they plan on dumping VJax because of the $$$ I hope they don’t plan on moving Murphy up to number two. Evans can replace Vjax but we’d need another excellent receiver for that #2 position. In that case I agree with Joe that Murphy is an excellent guy for depth. He’s a veteran who has been around the block and is steady.
November 29th, 2014 at 9:03 pm
I think the writer said Murphy is good depth, something this team severely lacks. He was, inexplicably, cut by the Einstein duo of L&L, then brought back…I’d say he’s resurrected his career with some nice plays….is he a #2?…no, but he is quality depth, something we desparately need at WR.
November 29th, 2014 at 10:23 pm
Louis murphy might have resurrected his career. I think he will learn something on the sidelines sunday. he will learn a lot watching a.j. green shred the bucs secondary. I look for a.j. green to take the bucs secondary and the defensive coaching staff to school on sunday.
November 29th, 2014 at 11:44 pm
If the QB would look his way a bit more often, it would be nice.
November 29th, 2014 at 11:47 pm
Couple him with Russell Shepard and you have yourself and article especially if you talkin spc teams.
November 30th, 2014 at 1:40 am
HEY JOE…………CAN WE PLEASE GET A WINSTON POLL NOW??????
November 30th, 2014 at 1:44 am
We need to draft another wideout high in the next few years, there we so many in last years draft. I wish we would have taken Jarvis laundry at 2 instead of asj
November 30th, 2014 at 2:32 am
What a twisted way to look at it. Stop congratulating them for getting it wrong. The cut his ass in favor of Special Olympian Robert Herron. This eval staff may be the worst ever paid on this level. Yet they can come here to get an atta boy!
November 30th, 2014 at 3:34 am
GO L. Murphey AND C. McDonald! 2 best signing’s we got this offseason. Can’t remember the names of the others we signed. Haven’t seen them in so Looong, starting to wonder if they got back door traded or something.
November 30th, 2014 at 3:48 am
If we didn’t need a Qb so bad this year. I would want Amari Cooper and combine him with Evans, Murphey, and ASJ. That would be a match up nightmare!
November 30th, 2014 at 8:21 am
Every team needs players like Murphy who compliment the “stars” with consistant solid performance.
November 30th, 2014 at 8:50 am
buc4lyfe Says
“How is it he’s resurrected his career again? Only in Tampa…. All you have to do is have a good game ever once in a while and this media will paint you as a champion. Resurrected his career with 355? Don’t you think your going overboard once again.”
I’m not going to call you stupid, because to be honest that was my first thought as well. But then I thought about it. It is over an 8 game stretch…which puts him on a course for 710 yards for a 16 game season.
That’s actually not bad at all for a #3.
I think sometimes we leap to judgement too quickly.
November 30th, 2014 at 8:53 am
DallasBuc Says
“This eval staff may be the worst ever paid on this level.”
How soon you forget Mark Dominick.
Personally, I never thought Jason Licht would be any good. His trade negotiations suck, his FA evaluation sucks, and frankly, I’m not impressed with his contract negotiations and cap management either.
At least Mark Dominick could work amazing trade deals and contracts and do the cap well. So maybe you are right.
November 30th, 2014 at 9:59 am
Murphy is a good # 3 and should be targeted more often…..that being said, its time to see Herron get significant action to see if he should remain next year.