Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray spoke publicly for the first time this offseason following a bit of what many would call drama. After a terrible end of the season, he deleted almost all his posts on Instagram, there was a report of conflict between him and the team, there was a statement by his agent about getting a contract extension and questions have been raised about his attitude and leadership.
He was making an appearance to present the Arizona Education Foundation with a check and spoke with reporters.
He quashed any notion that he was angling to be traded to another team or that he was upset about his contract status.
“I’m an Arizona Cardinal,” he told reporters. “I’ve done nothing but give my all to the Cardinals and I will continue to do that so I’m not really too worried about my future as a Cardinal.”
And despite reports of him being unhappy about feeling like he was being made the scapegoat for the playoff loss and end-of-season struggles, he indicated the opposite.
“I’m honestly happy where I’m at,” he said. “I’m just being where my feet are and keeping football the main thing like I always have.”
He also, not unexpectedly, downplayed the so-called scrubbing of his Instagram account, when he deleted all but a couple of photos.
“If you’re a kid my age, that’s just a thing,” he said. “It had nothing to do with the Cardinals or anything like that.”
He did not sound like a player who had intentions of holding out if there is not a contract extension agreed upon before the offseason program begins. He isn’t even worrying about the contract. He focuses on his play only.
“I keep football football,” he said. “I let people whoever have to take care of that stuff, take care of that stuff. All I worry about is playing well on the field.”
There has been criticism of his leadership and body language, but when teammates are asked, they have all supported Murray.
That is what matters to him.
“Those are the only people that matter to me, the people inside the locker room, inside the building, people that know me and are around me every day,” he said. “If you really don’t know me, I can’t really listen to any type of criticism or anything like that. I’m my biggest critic. It doesn’t really affect me.”
It was good to hear Murray address much of what has been said this offseason. It has felt like a soap opera with the drama that has come up.
That drama appears to be driven by people around him and the team. He is worrying about being a better quarterback, which is what you want to see.
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