The Arizona Cardinals decided they had enough with the controversial homework clause in Keller-Murray’s contract, eliminating the clause this week. Per NFL NetworkThe clause was dropped a day earlier, just hours before Murray raved about the clause in his surprise press conference on Thursday.
Arizona released a statement following the decision.
“After seeing the distraction it caused, we removed the referendum from the contract. It was clearly misconstrued in ways that were never intended. Our confidence in Kyler Murray is as high as ever. And nothing demonstrates our confidence in his ability to lead the team more than the commitment reflected in this agreement.”
The Cardinals made a big commitment to Murray by signing the quarterback to a $230.5 million extension before training camp. The franchise raised eyebrows when reports revealed the deal. Includes a unique supplement. Requiring Murray to complete four hours of independent game study each week, which Pro Bowlers would otherwise have been unable to do.
Murray was vocal in the aftermath, calling an impromptu press conference Thursday to criticize the ensuing debate over his work ethic.
“With everything that’s going on about me, and the things that are being said about me, I feel it’s important (to speak out),” Murray told reporters. “To think that I can do everything I’ve accomplished in my career and not be a student of the game, and not have passion and not take it seriously, is almost disrespectful, and it’s almost a joke. “
“I’m happy, I’m honestly happy that, at my size, (you believe) I can go out there and not prepare for the game and not take it seriously,” he continued. “It’s disrespectful to my teammates, to all the great players and great players in this league. The game is so hard, playing the position I play in this league, it’s so hard (not to study). Funny, but for those of you who think that I’d be standing here in front of you today with no work ethic and no preparation, I’m proud that you would think that, but it doesn’t exist. It’s not possible.”
Murray added that he has put “unfathomable time and blood, sweat and tears” into being the Cardinals’ QB. However, he declined to say whether he was worried Arizona would include a study clause in his contract, which he signed.
He also did not refer to it. Previous New York Times report Which made him downplay the need for film study in the NFL, saying: “I’m not one of those guys who’s going to sit there and kill himself watching film,” Murray said last December. “I don’t sit there for 24 hours and break down this team and that team and watch every match because, in my head, I watch a lot.”
It’s the latest in a long line of drama surrounding Murray’s standing with the Cardinals this offseason. The QB’s new deal ties him to Arizona through 2028 and makes him one of the highest-paid players in the NFL. But it was not finalized until after public and private tensions between the two sides. ESPN reported after the 2021 season that Cardinals management was concerned about Murray’s leadership, and the QB later took to his social media before his agent, Eric Burckhardt, demanded a new contract for his client. Removed all Cardinals references from media.
