NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Perrish Cox and DeMarco Murray are friends.
So when the Titans traded for the former Eagles running back earlier this month, the first thing Cox thought of was how great it would be to have him on the same team in Tennessee.
They were college rivals, of course – Murray played at Oklahoma, Cox at Oklahoma State.
New Titans RB DeMarco Murray debuts his #29 jersey. (Photos: Terry Wyatt)
"Man, we have been buddies since we came out of high school,'' Cox said of Murray on Monday. "We played in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl game coming out, and that's when we first met each other. I went on a visit to OU, and we kind of talked about playing together before I went to Oklahoma State.
"So I am so pumped about getting DeMarco. He's a great pick-up. I know what type of player he is."
The second thing Cox thought of: Murray wears No. 29. He wore it last season in Philadelphia, and prior to that while winning the NFL's Offensive Player of the Year award with the Cowboys.
"I knew he was going to want that,'' Cox said with a smile.
The two worked things out, without a lot of problems.
But Cox admitted he didn't give it away.
"I won't get into the details. We talked about it, and it was about a five-minute conversation,'' Cox said. "I'm glad we worked it out. It's always been his number, and he is going to be a good teammate. As long as he can make that No. 29 look good, it's all good with me."
So what number will Cox, a five-year veteran who joined the Titans last offseason, wear this season? It's to be determined, he said.
Cox has worn several different numbers in his playing career. He wore No.2 in high school, and No.16 in college. Cox wore No.32 with the Broncos, and No.20 in San Francisco. Since Titans running back Bishop Sankey wears No.20, Cox said he picked 29 last offseason.
But he said the number doesn't have sentimental value.
"I have three numbers in mind,'' Cox said. "I have some options to choose from, and I let our equipment guys know about it. Right now, the number is still up in the air. But I'm not sweating it. It's just a number."
