Patrick Murray has just inked a $525,000, one-season deal with the Cleveland Browns. A tad better than the travel and food expenses he could have compiled as a Monaghan player.
America, and American sports, love a quirky narrative. Murray delivers all that and more.
The 25-year-old is from New Jersey but his place-kicking talents have taken him to the Bronx, Florida and now Cleveland. He signed with the four-time NFL champion Browns back in June and has impressed so much in the off season that, despite his No.2 jersey, he is pushing to be their main kicker.
Murray puts his prowess with the placed ball down to his Gaelic football background. His father, Aidan, is a proud Clones man and his uncles, Ciaran and Brendan, have turned out for Monaghan.
Despite his American upbringing, Murray declares that ‘Ireland’s home for me’.
Murray was profiled by Cleveland.com ahead of the 2016/17 season and the site’s explanation of GAA is entertaining:
‘Saying it is some combination of American football, soccer and rugby doesn’t nearly do it justice.’
Not exactly but nice try.
Murray lauds the amateur aspect of the game and the dedication involved in playing at the highest level. He also attempted to explain how a GAA game goes down:
“We play with a round ball, not a weird-shaped ball… It’s a heavy ball. You’re playing 15-on-15, it’s man marking… you’re sticking on [your man] the whole game and you’ve got to live in his pocket, simple as that.
“The scoring is done by kicking it in between posts for one point or kicking it into a net for three points. Full contact, you just can’t wrap up.”
Murray played his football for Rockland GAA, in New York. He was small then and, in sporting terms, is small now – five-foot-seven.
It was that diminutive nature that saw college coaches tell Murray he would not make it in the pro game. Perhaps it was the stubborn, Irish streak but he refused to listen and ploughed on. He made his name with Fordham Rams and was picked up, from college football, by Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
He had a solid first season for the Bucs – 20 successful field goals from 24 attempts and a 13-conversion streak – but a torn knee ligament ruined his 2015/16 season. He was released by the Bucs but given a chance by the Browns. He has grabbed it and will not let go.
“Full contact, you just can’t wrap up.”
Murray knows the drill. Gaelic football thought him that.
Exclusive interview with Paraic Duffy on the latest GAA Hour. Subscribe here on iTunes.
