CHANGING THE GAA championship structure, James McCarthy’s importance to Dublin, and Peter Harte’s Ulster final wonder point.
These are not topics you would be expecting to have with an NFL player who has just signed for the Cleveland Browns.
Rather you would expect the general angle of discussion to follow lines relating to the Super Bowl, pre-season training and dealing with the pressure of playing in the most lucrative league in the world.
But when you speak to Patrick Murray, the Monaghan native turned NFL kicker, you soon find the conversation swerving in the direction of a different brand of football.
“I was heartbroken to see Monaghan go out,” the 25-year old told The42.
“But it’s tough playing three games in 13 days and I think that system could be changed there. But sure look, there’s been some great games.
“Peter Harte’s score last weekend - the left foot, outside of the boot, over the bar. I mean that was pure magic. Other people can learn from the way Mickey Harte has been training that team for so long.
“As you can tell, I have a little bit of an interest in GAA,” he added.
It's an honor to be a part of the Cleveland @Browns organization! Can't wait to get to work with my teammates! #DawgPound
Murray elaborates on his long journey back from an ACL injury, with his salient colloquial tongue evident throughout reaffirming his Irish roots.
“Unfortunately it was an ACL so it required surgery and a seriously long rehab,” continued the former Fordham University kicker.
“The rehab went very well though. I have absolutely no issues now.
“In fact, I feel like I’ve come back stronger, and it’s due to the fantastic support system that I had and the fantastic rehab system that I had, and also getting a few tips from my uncle Ciarán who is the Irish physio. We had a lot of people in my corner.”
Unfortunately for Murray his injury saw him released from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but not short of confidence, he remained positive and set out in pursuit of a new home.
“When I was released, my agent then hopped on the line to a bunch of different teams and figured out which teams were the most interested.
“From there, we had three workouts. First with the Tennessee Titans, then with the Jacksonville Jaguars, and the third one was with the Cleveland Browns.
“The difference with the Cleveland Browns was I tried out there for three days. The other two tryouts were only one day. They got to see me kick a lot more and obviously they liked what they saw and I signed with them.”
- Moneyball Factor -
The presence of Paul DePodesta, portrayed by Jonah Hill in the Hollywood blockbuster Moneyball, may also have been an luring factor in the Irishman’s decision to pursue the Browns.
DePodesta is well-noted for his tactical astuteness in baseball but earlier this year, he crossed codes by joining up with the team at the FirstEnergy Stadium.
DePodesta’s presence in Cleveland suggests that Murray’s signing may have been more than just a casual acquisition but Murray himself doesn’t speculate and remains focused on the job at hand.
He is, however, looking forward to meeting the man behind the reputation.
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“I haven’t had the pleasure but over the next couple of days I can’t wait to meet him.
“I don’t know what goes on behind the scenes. All I know is I can control kicking the ball, and I’m pretty good at that so that’s what I’ll stick to.”
Cleveland Browns Chief Strategy Officer Paul DePodesta, left, talks during a press conference at the team's training camp facility. Tony Dejak
Tony Dejak
DePodesta is by no means the star attraction on the Browns’ payroll with names like Isaiah Crowell, Gary Barnidge and Heismann Trophy winner Robert Griffin III heading up the playing roster.
Training starts this week and although his new team finished as the second worst team in the league last season, the kicker is optimistic about their chances going forward after spending only a short amount of time with them.
“When I was there trying out for three days, you’re obviously practicing with these lads and you get to meet them.
They’re all really very hard-working guys and just the Cleveland Browns organisation, as a whole, is unlike any other organisation I’ve met with or spoken with.
“They’re very, very professional. They do things the right way. That’s why they’re one of the most well-known organisations in the NFL.”
- Prediction -
The conversation takes yet another swerve back towards the topic of GAA and Murray outlines his predictions for the remainder of the football championship.
“Obviously, Dublin lost a big player (in James McCarthy).
“Tyrone are going strong at the moment. It will be hard to see anyone beating them.
“You never know with Donegal. I thought Monaghan would handle Donegal but obviously they’re a very, very fit team.
Patrick Murray punts the ball while playing for Fordham in an NCAA college football game. AP / Press Association Images
AP / Press Association Images / Press Association Images
“It will be interesting to see if Michael Murphy catches a little bit of fire because we obviously know he’s very dangerous. But to be honest, I think Tyrone are going to win the All-Ireland.
“Also the way Kerry is, they’ll walk into an All-Ireland semi-final. I think that system needs to be changed as well. The teams up in Ulster are hammering each other all year and Kerry are going to go in there flying fit.
I think Tyrone will still win it.
The question regarding whether or not a so-called easy route to the semi-final actually benefits the men from the Kingdom is posed to the Monaghan man.
“It absolutely benefits Kerry.
“These lads are hitting each other and hurting each other. Tyrone might not go in with their full squad but Kerry will definitely go in with their full squad, aside from maybe Gooch.
“I think obviously Kerry being as strong as they possibly can be, it can only be an advantage to them.”
While on the topic, Murray makes reference the the influence GAA has played in the development of his own kicking style as well as the major role models which have forged him into the player he is today.
“I don’t kick like a traditional American footballer would kick.
“A lot of guys would have a very rigid style while for me, I kick a field goal like I would kick a 45, only my steps are shorter. That’s just the style we came up with when we were very young.
“We were Gaelic football players and we tried to make everything as natural as possible so when we transitioned into kicking an American ball, we just took our style and adapted it to that.
My father was a good Gaelic player in his own right and a fantastic soccer player as well. We always had a ball at our feet.
“My uncles were as well. The way they approached the game of Gaelic football, the amount of work they put in, I mean, it drove me to be as good and I’m trying to be better than them.
“But in the NFL, a guy I always looked up to and I continue to look up to is Adam Vinatieri.
“He’s Mr Clutch for a reason. He’s been around so long for a reason. The guy gets the job done day in and day out, no matter the situation.
“If you could have half as good of career as Adam has, you’re doing very well for yourself.”
Most NFL analysts may be of the view that Murray will only serve as backup to current Browns kicker Travis Coons.
But there is no shortage of confidence in the recent signing and he refutes this opinion.
“You first have to make the team. You have to win the job and to do that, you have to make all your kicks.
“Take your kickoff well and help your team win football games.
“There is only one place for a kicker on the team. There is no backup.
You’re either on the team or you’re not on the team and I’ll be on the team.
“That’s the way you have to think about it. If you have any reservations, you might as well not even step out on the field.”
As for team ambitions, poor performances last season won’t deprive the player of dreaming of the ultimate prize.
“The ambition for this year is to win the Super Bowl.
“That’s the ambition for every year. At the end of the day, you’re chasing one thing. You’re chasing that Vince Lombardi trophy.”
The Vince Lombardi Trophy is awarded to the winners of the Super Bowl. Last season, the Denver Broncos won the trophy. Danny Moloshok
Danny Moloshok
It’s refreshing to see a man, on the same pitch as some of the biggest names in global sport, remembering his roots in Ireland. Murray has clearly cemented his feet to the sod and despite fame and glory, he dreams of a return to the GAA pitch some day.
“Football is my number one focus.
“In football, you have your season and you have your off-season but in the off-season, you better be training because there is always somebody coming to try and take your job.
But would I like to play Gaelic again after a long career? There’s no doubt about it.
“I would love to go and win the championship with Rocklands and hopefully, go and get on that New York panel and get that first win for them.”
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Patrick Murray: The Monaghan man joining the Moneyball revolution at the Cleveland Browns
CHANGING THE GAA championship structure, James McCarthy’s importance to Dublin, and Peter Harte’s Ulster final wonder point.
These are not topics you would be expecting to have with an NFL player who has just signed for the Cleveland Browns.
Rather you would expect the general angle of discussion to follow lines relating to the Super Bowl, pre-season training and dealing with the pressure of playing in the most lucrative league in the world.
But when you speak to Patrick Murray, the Monaghan native turned NFL kicker, you soon find the conversation swerving in the direction of a different brand of football.
“I was heartbroken to see Monaghan go out,” the 25-year old told The42.
“But it’s tough playing three games in 13 days and I think that system could be changed there. But sure look, there’s been some great games.
“Peter Harte’s score last weekend - the left foot, outside of the boot, over the bar. I mean that was pure magic. Other people can learn from the way Mickey Harte has been training that team for so long.
“As you can tell, I have a little bit of an interest in GAA,” he added.
- Comeback -
Murray elaborates on his long journey back from an ACL injury, with his salient colloquial tongue evident throughout reaffirming his Irish roots.
“Unfortunately it was an ACL so it required surgery and a seriously long rehab,” continued the former Fordham University kicker.
“The rehab went very well though. I have absolutely no issues now.
“In fact, I feel like I’ve come back stronger, and it’s due to the fantastic support system that I had and the fantastic rehab system that I had, and also getting a few tips from my uncle Ciarán who is the Irish physio. We had a lot of people in my corner.”
Unfortunately for Murray his injury saw him released from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but not short of confidence, he remained positive and set out in pursuit of a new home.
“When I was released, my agent then hopped on the line to a bunch of different teams and figured out which teams were the most interested.
“From there, we had three workouts. First with the Tennessee Titans, then with the Jacksonville Jaguars, and the third one was with the Cleveland Browns.
“The difference with the Cleveland Browns was I tried out there for three days. The other two tryouts were only one day. They got to see me kick a lot more and obviously they liked what they saw and I signed with them.”
- Moneyball Factor -
The presence of Paul DePodesta, portrayed by Jonah Hill in the Hollywood blockbuster Moneyball, may also have been an luring factor in the Irishman’s decision to pursue the Browns.
DePodesta is well-noted for his tactical astuteness in baseball but earlier this year, he crossed codes by joining up with the team at the FirstEnergy Stadium.
DePodesta’s presence in Cleveland suggests that Murray’s signing may have been more than just a casual acquisition but Murray himself doesn’t speculate and remains focused on the job at hand.
He is, however, looking forward to meeting the man behind the reputation.
“I haven’t had the pleasure but over the next couple of days I can’t wait to meet him.
“I don’t know what goes on behind the scenes. All I know is I can control kicking the ball, and I’m pretty good at that so that’s what I’ll stick to.”
DePodesta is by no means the star attraction on the Browns’ payroll with names like Isaiah Crowell, Gary Barnidge and Heismann Trophy winner Robert Griffin III heading up the playing roster.
Training starts this week and although his new team finished as the second worst team in the league last season, the kicker is optimistic about their chances going forward after spending only a short amount of time with them.
“When I was there trying out for three days, you’re obviously practicing with these lads and you get to meet them.
“They’re very, very professional. They do things the right way. That’s why they’re one of the most well-known organisations in the NFL.”
- Prediction -
The conversation takes yet another swerve back towards the topic of GAA and Murray outlines his predictions for the remainder of the football championship.
“Obviously, Dublin lost a big player (in James McCarthy).
“Tyrone are going strong at the moment. It will be hard to see anyone beating them.
“You never know with Donegal. I thought Monaghan would handle Donegal but obviously they’re a very, very fit team.
“It will be interesting to see if Michael Murphy catches a little bit of fire because we obviously know he’s very dangerous. But to be honest, I think Tyrone are going to win the All-Ireland.
“Also the way Kerry is, they’ll walk into an All-Ireland semi-final. I think that system needs to be changed as well. The teams up in Ulster are hammering each other all year and Kerry are going to go in there flying fit.
The question regarding whether or not a so-called easy route to the semi-final actually benefits the men from the Kingdom is posed to the Monaghan man.
“It absolutely benefits Kerry.
“These lads are hitting each other and hurting each other. Tyrone might not go in with their full squad but Kerry will definitely go in with their full squad, aside from maybe Gooch.
“I think obviously Kerry being as strong as they possibly can be, it can only be an advantage to them.”
While on the topic, Murray makes reference the the influence GAA has played in the development of his own kicking style as well as the major role models which have forged him into the player he is today.
“I don’t kick like a traditional American footballer would kick.
“A lot of guys would have a very rigid style while for me, I kick a field goal like I would kick a 45, only my steps are shorter. That’s just the style we came up with when we were very young.
“We were Gaelic football players and we tried to make everything as natural as possible so when we transitioned into kicking an American ball, we just took our style and adapted it to that.
“My uncles were as well. The way they approached the game of Gaelic football, the amount of work they put in, I mean, it drove me to be as good and I’m trying to be better than them.
“But in the NFL, a guy I always looked up to and I continue to look up to is Adam Vinatieri.
“He’s Mr Clutch for a reason. He’s been around so long for a reason. The guy gets the job done day in and day out, no matter the situation.
“If you could have half as good of career as Adam has, you’re doing very well for yourself.”
- Ambitions -
Most NFL analysts may be of the view that Murray will only serve as backup to current Browns kicker Travis Coons.
But there is no shortage of confidence in the recent signing and he refutes this opinion.
“You first have to make the team. You have to win the job and to do that, you have to make all your kicks.
“Take your kickoff well and help your team win football games.
“There is only one place for a kicker on the team. There is no backup.
“That’s the way you have to think about it. If you have any reservations, you might as well not even step out on the field.”
As for team ambitions, poor performances last season won’t deprive the player of dreaming of the ultimate prize.
“The ambition for this year is to win the Super Bowl.
“That’s the ambition for every year. At the end of the day, you’re chasing one thing. You’re chasing that Vince Lombardi trophy.”
It’s refreshing to see a man, on the same pitch as some of the biggest names in global sport, remembering his roots in Ireland. Murray has clearly cemented his feet to the sod and despite fame and glory, he dreams of a return to the GAA pitch some day.
“Football is my number one focus.
“In football, you have your season and you have your off-season but in the off-season, you better be training because there is always somebody coming to try and take your job.
“I would love to go and win the championship with Rocklands and hopefully, go and get on that New York panel and get that first win for them.”
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