The Arizona Cardinals reversed course on Thursday, removing an ill-fated addendum from Kyler Murray’s contract that required four hours of independent study per week.
It came after days of national ridicule, as the organization became a punching bag when it should have been celebrating an exciting future led by the most talented quarterback it has ever drafted.
It’s possible Murray appreciates the gesture, but to me, it is too little, too late.
Despite his early-career success, the 24-year-old two-time Pro Bowl quarterback will still be questioned during every slump, as the removal of the clause can’t turn back time.
When Murray throws a pick, fans will wonder if he didn’t properly read the defense (nevermind the fact that his interception percentage of 2.1 was within 0.1 of Patrick Mahomes, Derek Carr, Josh Allen and Justin Herbert in 2022.)
When his efficiency drops on a Sunday, onlookers will ask if he knew what type of coverage would be played (nevermind the fact that his yards per attempt figure of 7.9 last season was fourth in the NFL, ahead of Russell Wilson and Aaron Rodgers).
By any number of metrics, Murray is among the top-10 passers in the NFL, but now he is guaranteed to receive undue scrutiny because of owner Michael Bidwill’s insistence on tracking his study time.
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
While there is no erasing the stain of the original decision, the choice to remove the addendum was the right one. It rips off the Band-Aid, and maybe there can finally be some healing.
Can you imagine the alternative? The Cardinals would have been micromanaging Murray for years to come, checking up on his study time like a parent does to their teenager.
Nothing says you back your franchise quarterback like checking his iPad at the end of the week to make sure Murray didn’t stop watching film after 3 hours and 45 minutes.
“To think that I can accomplish everything I’ve accomplished in my career and not be a student of the game, not have that passion, not take this serious, it’s disrespectful,” Murray told reporters on Thursday. “It’s almost a joke.”
It’s been less than eight months since the Cardinals were on top of the NFL world, sitting at 10-2 after an easy win over the Chicago Bears.
It all fell apart down the stretch, and, inconceivably, crumbled even more this offseason. Every time it seemed like there were smooth waters ahead, giant waves of controversy came crashing down.
The Cardinals have enough on-field hurdles upcoming in a crucial 2022 campaign, the second-to-last before Murray’s cap hit skyrockets, and they would be well-served to stop adding off-field ones on their own.
There are four key people in the organization — Bidwill, Murray, General Manager Steve Keim and coach Kliff Kingsbury — and until they find some symbiosis, the Cardinals will remain a powder keg.
