The saga between Kyler Murray and the Arizona Cardinals took another turn on Monday, when the quarterback gave some public thoughts.
Kyler Murray isn’t about to let his name get dragged.
On Super Bowl Sunday, Murray woke up and saw ESPN NFL insider Chris Mortensen reporting that he’s being seen in a very negative light by some within the Arizona Cardinals’ organization. Murray, who started the public feuding by deleting all references to the team and all photos on Instagram save for two, took to Twitter on Monday and posted a note about everything going on the last few weeks, per NFL.com:
“I play this game for the love of it, my teammates, everyone who has helped me get to this position that believed in me (and) to win championships. All of this nonsense is not what I’m about, never has been, never will be. Anyone who has ever stepped between those lines with me knows how hard I go.
“Love me or hate me but I’m going to continue to grown and get better.”
For Murray, there’s no point in going down this road. The Cardinals control his rights via his rookie deal for the next two seasons, and then could tag him for another two after that for a reasonable cost. Arizona could be forced into a tough spot should Murray make it very clear he doesn’t want to play in the desert, but his most-recent comments suggest he’s trying to mend the issue somewhat.
Throughout his three years in the NFL, Murray has been a rising star. In 2019, he won Offensive Rookie of the Year. In the ensuing two campaigns, he’s made the Pro Bowl each time and this season, led the Cardinals to the playoffs. However, in the postseason, he was a mess in a Wild Card loss to the Los Angeles Rams. Murray went 19-of-34 for 157 yards and two interceptions, before reportedly all but quitting on the team in the final minute.
If Murray is going to eventually get the massive extension he’s hoping for with Arizona, he needs to dominate in 2022 by staying healthy, getting the Cards back to the playoffs and winning a round or two. Check those boxes, and it’ll be very hard for general manager Steve Keim not to pay up, especially with the salary cap expected soar with gambling, streaming and new TV money.
Murray might be angry now, but one great season and his anger will be replaced by riches.
