The Sports Xchange

IRVING, Texas – Jason Garrett and the Dallas Cowboys face the Philadelphia Eagles with former running back DeMarco Murray for the first time on Sunday.

But this game is not about friends. It’s about business.

Garrett and the Cowboys (1-0) are treating the Eagles (0-1) like any other nameless, faceless opponent.

“He’s a great player, always has been a great player in this league,” Garrett said. “[Murray] was always very productive for us. He’s a great human being and we were lucky to have him here when he was here.

“That’s the business of the NFL, guys move on to other teams. Now he’s a competitor. But we’re focused on ourselves, that’s what we need to do.”

The Cowboys wanted to keep Murray but they had a price they were not willing to budge from.

The Eagles money-whipped Murray in free agency, and he had no decision but to leave the only team he had known up to that point.

So he took his 1,845 yards from last year and moved to the division rival.

“It’s not the first time a player has left our organization for better financial opportunity and a better playing opportunity somewhere else,” Garrett said. “That’s just the nature of our business, it happens to 32 teams around this league. We’re appreciative of the years he had with us and everything he gave us and wish him nothing but the best in Philadelphia.”

But again the Cowboys are not making this game about Murray.

It’s about playing the Eagles.

Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo, who was one of Murray’s closest friends, avoided all questions about the former running back.

“I’m watching tape of [Philadelphia’s] defense,” Romo said. “And I’ve got to figure them out. They have a couple of new wrinkles that I’ve got to get down by the end of the week. And they’re a great unit, so we’ve got to get prepared for them. As far as the other stuff, that’s for you guys really.”

Murray will be looking to make the Cowboys regret letting him go Sunday.

Darren McFadden, Lance Dunbar and Joseph Randle will be focused on showing Murray and the world the Cowboys can still run the ball.

“We players, we want to play,” Dunbar said. “We want to get a chance to show what we can do. It wasn’t no pressure, you just get a chance to go out there and show what you can do. A lot of people don’t believe, we’ve just got a chance to get out there and show [them].”

SERIES HISTORY: 113th meeting. Cowboys lead series, 63-49. Dallas has won four of the last six. Dallas has won three straight in Philadelphia. Dallas has faced no team more than the Eagles and has defeated them more times than any other team except the Redskins (65).

INJURY NOTES

–LB Ronald Leary (groin) didn’t practice Wednesday and is questionable for Sunday’s game. If he doesn’t go, look for rookie La’el Colllins to start in his place.

–QB Tony Romo didn’t practice in keeping with his normal Wednesday off during the season to strengthen his back.

–DE Ryan Russell will get increased playing time at defensive end in place of the injured Randy Gregory, who is out with a high ankle sprain.