Titans camp notebook: Murray opts to retire

NASHVILLE -- Running back DeMarco Murray, who was released by the Titans in March two years after being acquired in a trade, decided to retire after seven NFL seasons at age 30. Murray reportedly turned down an offer from the New Orleans Saints to work out for them after the Titans let him go. "It's been a great seven years. I've been blessed to have the coaching staffs and the teammates that I've been fortunate enough to play with for the last seven years of my career," Murray said. Murray broke in with the Dallas Cowboys as a third-round pick in 2011 and had his best season with them in 2014, when he ran for 1,845 yards. He defected to the Eagles as a free agent, but struggled there and was acquired by the Titans in 2016 on the cheap. Murray responded by leading the AFC in rushing with 1,287 yards that season. But last year, he was plagued by injuries and did not play in either of the Titans' postseason games. He also rushed for a career-low 659 yards in 2017. --One of the bests dramas that could play out in training camp is the contract situation of left tackle Taylor Lewan. Lewan is on his fifth-year option this season and is seeking a long-term extension as he has emerged as one of the top tackles in the league. After attending all of the Titans' offseason OTA work, Lewan upped the ante with the Titans by skipping the team's mandatory minicamp on the advice of his agent. Now, if a long-term extension is not worked out by the time camp opens on July 26, the question is whether or not Lewan will report on time or hold out as he enters the final year of his contract. The general consensus around the organization and those around it is that general manager Jon Robinson will broker a deal that makes Lewan a wealthy man, most likely right before camp begins. But that is simply speculation and guesswork at this point with camp now only about a week away.