MOUSTACHES
The Cardinals’ $230.5 million investment in Kyler Murray was largely due to their faith in what he would do on the field over the next five years. The Cardinals, based on a unique addition to his contract, are also counting on Murray to be more of a leader in terms of game preparation.
The addition in Murray’s new contract calls for four hours of independent study per week (h/t NFL Network) from the start of the regular season until the Cardinals’ final game of the 2022 season (including the postseason). The independent study is defined as Murray’s study material provided by the Cardinals in preparation for the upcoming game.
Murray will not receive credit for completing his independent study if he does not study in person or watch the material while it is playing on his device, or if he does anything else that may distract him from studying the material. Watching television, playing video games, and surfing the Internet were given as examples that would be classified as distractions.
The addition reinforces the Cardinals’ desire to see Murray develop as a leader, both on the field and in the locker room. It also shows the franchise’s eagerness to advance beyond the wild-card round of the playoffs for the first time since 2015. The Cardinals ended the franchise’s six-year playoff drought last year before bowing out to the eventual champion Rams in the wild-card round.
The added attention to detail will only enhance Murray’s game. The No. 1 pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, Murray has quickly developed into one of the league’s top defensive backs. In 2020, Murray joined Cordell Stewart and Cam Newton as the only quarterbacks in league history to throw for at least 20 touchdowns and pass for at least 10 more in the same season.
Please check the opt-in box to confirm that you wish to subscribe.
Thanks for signing up!
Monitor your inbox.
I’m sorry!
An error occurred while processing your subscription.
Murray faces a unique challenge this year after DeAndre Hopkins, his top receiver, was suspended for the first six games of the season for violating the league’s policy on performance-enhancing drugs. While Hopkins is out, expect Murray to rely more heavily on Marquis Brown, the former Ravens wideout who was acquired in a trade with Baltimore during the 2022 NFL Draft.
The Cardinals’ receiving corps also includes former Pro Bowler AJ Green, three-time Pro Bowl tight end Zach Ertz, second-year wideout Rondale Moore and running back James Conner, who caught 37 of 39 targets in his first year in Arizona.
Add Comment