Wednesday, April 8, 1998

Murrell: Trade just
part of business

The former Leilehua star says
he's looking forward to joining the
Arizona Cardinals

By Pat Bigold
Star-Bulletin

Adrian Murrell said last night he leaves the New York Jets with no ill feelings toward coach Bill Parcells.

Murrell, the 27-year-old former Leilehua High School and University of West Virginia running back, was traded along with his $1.5 million-a-year salary and the Jets' seventh-round draft pick yesterday to the Arizona Cardinals. In return, New York received a third-round draft pick.

It's a move that Murrell, the Jets' top rusher the past two seasons, said he expected after Parcells signed All-Pro running back Curtis Martin.

Parcells had said after signing Martin that he envisioned using both of the 1,000-yard rushers in his backfield.

"But there were not enough balls to go around for the both of us," Murrell said last night.

"I couldn't see that happening. It would've been a situation that would've been uncomfortable for everybody."

Murrell has rushed 3,447 yards and 15 touchdowns in his five-year NFL career. He has also caught 127 passes for 729 yards and three touchdowns.

He rushed for 1,249 in 1996 and 1,086 yards last season.

"There are no ill feelings on my part, it's definitely a part of business," Murrell said. "Life goes on.

"Things have been written that Martin is the guy he (Parcells) wanted all along but there's no knock on me about that. He had an opportunity to get a guy he went to the Super Bowl with, so I have no ill feelings about that."

Murrell, who is flying to Tempe, Ariz., today, said he spoke with Cardinals head coach Vince Tobin on the phone yesterday.

"I think he's a guy I could definitely love to work for," he said. "I would think my position will be the same as it has been the past several years in the NFL."

That's a good bet because the Cardinals were last in the NFL in rushing, averaging 78.4 yards per game. That's less than Murrell averaged in 1996.

Beyond his immediate move out west, Murrell said he's also looking forward to coming back here.

"I'm going to be back out there in Hawaii in June doing a camp," he said.

"I'm going to talk with Hugh Yoshida in a week or two and see if he can help me out with a site. And we'll see what happens. I'll bring a few other NFL guys with me."