The Arizona Cardinals made it clear that Kyler Murray is the franchise quarterback with a monster, near record-setting contract extension, though it came with an interesting clause. As part of his deal, Murray is required to do four hours of “independent study” of game film per week. The revelation of that clause drew a lot of reaction, and on Thursday, Murray spoke out about it, offering some interesting criticism.
Murray noted that he was “almost flattered” that people think he can do as much as he has in the NFL without studying film. But he also called that commentary “disrespectful.”
Kyler Murray makes a surprise media appearance to push back on the narrative that he doesn’t study. pic.twitter.com/KGoDQE05YJ
— PHNX Cardinals (@PHNX_Cardinals) July 28, 2022
“To think that I can accomplish everything that I’ve accomplished in my career and not be a student of the game, not have that passion and not take things serious — it’s disrespectful — it’s almost a joke. To me, I’m flattered, almost flattered, that y’all think that at my size I can go out there and not prepare for the game. It’s disrespectful to my peers, to all the great athletes and great players that are in this league. This game is too hard. To play the position that I play in this league, it’s too hard.”
Regardless of what one may feel about whether Murray does study hard enough, there’s an obvious flaw in his argument here. The idea that he doesn’t do enough film study isn’t a creation of the media or cynical fans. It’s a clause in his contract.
Several in the NFL world noted that even if that is an unfair perception for people to have, Murray’s criticism of it is misplaced.
It ain’t us bruh ! Ya team put the clause in there not the people talking about it https://t.co/sSzNoHPwtU
— Marcus Spears (@mspears96) July 28, 2022
I’m sure it’s sucked to have so much discourse around his work habits, but Kyler signed a deal that requires he studies *4 hours per week* to receive credit.
The reaction to this clause has been exactly what you should expect when you agree to a deal that includes it. https://t.co/qA3EvLxmpC
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) July 28, 2022
Why is Kyler mad at the media and not whoever with the Cardinals or his agency leaked that contract clause to the media https://t.co/i9IM1SJajc
— Andrew Joseph (@AndyJ0seph) July 28, 2022
Apparently, those "people" are the ones that employ him. https://t.co/ySzTjTAZgL
— Andrew Brandt (@AndrewBrandt) July 28, 2022
They wanted a no-baseball clause for a reason. They wanted a homework clause for a reason. Teams don't spin a wheel and randomly add rare or unprecedented terms to contracts. Any anger or frustration should be directed to the team. https://t.co/rffN44D7g4
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) July 28, 2022
And yet…
Come on, has it ever even been done?Teams don’t do this for the hell of it. As the QB it’s a nonstarter in negotiations if there’s truly no issue. If anything you would take such offense to the suggestion that you’d just ask to be traded and leave. https://t.co/vMK7b9iGJl
— Mitchell Schwartz (@MitchSchwartz71) July 28, 2022
Don't blame us, dude. Take it up with your team. What else are we supposed to think? https://t.co/Tdq4J1Ct5Y
— Rob “Stats” Guerrera (@statsonfire on threads) (@StatsOnFire) July 28, 2022
Indeed, Murray is off the mark here. If that particular clause in the contract is unfair, his frustration is directed at the wrong people.
This was a contract agreed upon by the Cardinals and Murray. If it’s an unfair clause, he should be mad at his team — and himself — for having it included.
If there was speculation about his film study habits before he signed his deal, Murray’s criticisms would have come from a more stable place. But once that clause is added and agreed upon, the speculation around it is human nature — and completely fair.
[PHNX Cardinals, Darren Urban]
