The Dallas Cowboys had a successful season, regardless of how it ended, but now they have to turn their focus to improving the roster for next year and retaining some of their key players. One player at the center of the discussion is star running back DeMarco Murray.

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The Cowboys have already stated this offseason that their top priority is taking care of star receiver Dez Bryant. However, that means they likely cannot afford to re-sign Murray, who is coming off of a season where he led the league in rushing yards and rushing touchdowns.

According to The Dallas Morning News, teammates have already started lobbying Murray about how there are more important considerations in free agency than simply money.

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"I think it would be silly to not give him the credit for what he did. It's not easy to do that and I think Coach [Jason] Garrett said it a few weeks back that he created a mindset for our team and that's not easy to do," Witten said. "He deserves a lot of that credit, DeMarco does, and so that's why you want a guy like that back because he stands for everything you want in your football team."

Witten still thinks that the Cowboys are improving, and he hopes Murray will stick around, even if it means taking less than he would get on the open market.

"You don't invest that time just for one year," Witten said. "You're really thinking big picture. But he deserves it. He's worked hard. He has a lot of good things around him and he's the first to give others credit. You want him to have as much success as he can, but of course you want him on your team."

Still, Murray may decide that change is best for him. He will likely get a lucrative deal in free agency, and signing with another team would allow him to escape somewhat from the rumors about the affair he allegedly had with Brennan Clay's wife.

Considering that Murray recently got engaged to the mother of his child and longtime girlfriend Heidi Mueller, distancing himself from any allegations of impropriety may be the wisest course. And of course, what if his new fiancée has some input about where he plays next season? She could end up being one of the keys to his free agency.