A few days after Kyler Murray signed a $230.5 million contract extension with the Arizona Cardinals, a strange clause from the contract was made public.
A clause was included in Murray’s contract which requires that he complete four hours of “independent study” (film study, etc) per game week.
Contracts are about give-and-take. One example from #AZCardinals QB Kyler Murray’s $230.5M contract: There is an addendum that requires 4 hours of “independent study” per game week. It was important to the team making a commitment at that level, thus it was important to Murray. pic.twitter.com/VqrkvoBQLJ
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) July 25, 2022
The “independent study” clause was heavily mocked (mainly people laughing at the idea that the Cardinals would have to tell this to a quarterback they deem worth paying $230.5 million).
Well, Murray then made a surprise media appearance on Thursday morning, calling the criticism “disrespectful” and “almost a joke.”
And then on Thursday night, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported that the Cardinals removed the “independent study” clause from the contract, which apparently happened on Wednesday.
The #AZCardinals have removed the controversial “independent study” clause from QB Kyler Murray’s $230.5M contract, sources say, a move that happened yesterday.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) July 29, 2022
The Cardinals went on to release a statement:
Statement from the Arizona Cardinals’ on Kyler Murray’s updated contract: pic.twitter.com/LQrzBHzDyc
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) July 29, 2022
This whole thing is a pretty comical spectacle.
The news of the “independent study” clause removal only *increased* the jokes on social media. Here’s a look at the reaction from NFL fans:
That language should’ve never been in there in the first place when the position itself demands just that 🤦🏾 https://t.co/bSmDFaLADU
— Chad Johnson (@ochocinco) July 29, 2022
The public damage is already done. Folks think you don’t trust your quarterback. https://t.co/Js2i6JUZM8
— Torrey Smith (@TorreySmithWR) July 29, 2022
Tomorrow on @gmfb Oh man, got some thoughts. https://t.co/JOhRp6IJhw
— Kyle Brandt (@KyleBrandt) July 29, 2022
Twitter jokes making a difference in the world https://t.co/wYUdm3ECwl
— Ted Nguyen (@FB_FilmAnalysis) July 29, 2022
Kyler Murray prepping for Week 1 https://t.co/tL6Ip4uY8u pic.twitter.com/FnpjzQShxS
— Action Network (@ActionNetworkHQ) July 29, 2022
Kyler Murray is happy to announce he will now be playing a dozen online FIFA games tonight instead of only eight https://t.co/ucyKFgX64D
— Patrick Daugherty (@RotoPat) July 29, 2022
Cardinals running a pretty smooth ship out there https://t.co/G11Ba5SCYo
— Peter Burns (@PeterBurnsESPN) July 29, 2022
we’ve reached the Galaxy Brain portion of the exercise https://t.co/eCLE4ssjni
— Mike Golic Jr (@mikegolicjr) July 29, 2022
The Cardinals are that parent that threatens to take away their kid's screen time and then gives in like 10 minutes later. https://t.co/Ft8OHmIbZA
— Adam Rank (@adamrank) July 29, 2022
What “independent study” clause? https://t.co/64rWXJVJvh pic.twitter.com/JjH8wQfqoc
— John Harris (@jharrisfootball) July 29, 2022
this is absolutely the best tweet about the kyler murray situation pic.twitter.com/mF3gxkCFE1
— Brian Floyd (@BrianMFloyd) July 29, 2022
Lol, good old lose-lose in Arizona all things considered https://t.co/B43JPAoIu8
— Brad Spielberger, Esq. (@SpielbergerBrad) July 29, 2022
Oh cool, I guess we can forget the part where you publicly humiliated your quarterback now. https://t.co/tKhx3df9I8
— Jeremy Reisman (@DetroitOnLion) July 29, 2022
About Matt Clapp
Matt is an editor/writer at The Comeback and Awful Announcing.
He can be reached by email at mclapp@thecomeback.com.