DeMarco Murray hopes Tony Romo will pay his fines for the new helmet rule

Dec 23, 2012; Arlington, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys running back DeMarco Murray (29) runs with the ball against New Orleans Saints cornerback Elbert Mack (44) at Cowboys Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

Many NFL running backs are less than excited about the new helmet rule in the upcoming 2013 season. Some have said that it’s hard to change their running style, others have said that they won’t change. Cowboys running back DeMarco Murray is of the latter group.

“I’m not changing my running style,” Murray told the San Antonio Express-News. “If I get fined, hopefully Romo will take care of the first couple for me. I’m doing it for him.

His quarterback Tony Romo signed a new six-year $108 million dollar contract this offseason. He certainly could afford to pay some fines if DeMarco Murray is helping Romo lead the Cowboys offense to the playoffs, but that 15 yard penalty would offset any help. Unfortunately for Murray, it is against the rules for players to pay teammates fines.

The Cowboys have struggled to find a running back to replace Emmitt Smith almost as much, if not more so, than finding a quarterback to replace Troy Aikman. DeMarco Murray seems to be the man to carry the load though he has battled injuries. And while this rule is designed to protect the defender it is also designed to protect the runner.

“We’ve talked about it. We are going to have a plan to try to get better than that. He’s explosive enough that he can freeze people’s feet and get away from them and do the things he needs to do to gain more yards,” Cowboys running back coach Gary Brown said. “What is going to happen is he’s going to be better because he will be able to see. He will have to keep his eyes up, his head up. . . . We want them to be safe. We want them after their careers are done to be able to play with their children and things like that. So it is a bigger picture. It’s for their future. . . . If you keep your head up, you can see what’s going on. If you drop your head . . . you are going to break your neck eventually.”