While multiple Sooners are getting ready to play in the biggest football game of their lives, another Sooner in the NFL is finding his name in the news for other reasons.
One of the most beloved Sooner quarterbacks in recent memory, Kyler Murray is currently in an escalating situation with the Arizona Cardinals, the franchise that drafted him number one overall in the 2019 NFL Draft.
Chris Mortensen, a long-time and highly respected NFL reporter offered a significant update about how the relationship between Murray and the Cardinals front office has shifted following the Cardinals Wild Card playoff loss to the eventual NFC champion Los Angeles Rams.
Where’s it headed?
Despite the acrimony, the Cardinals expect things to calm down and Murray is their QB.
Select veterans hope to reach Murray on how he handle adversity better.
Coach Kliff Kingsbury also is self-scouting where he can provide better alternatives for QB.— Chris Mortensen (@mortreport) February 13, 2022
It’s painfully obvious the Cardinals and Murray are frustrated with one another after the Cardinals tried to bolster their roster last offseason in an attempt to become Super Bowl contenders.
They added sure-fire future Hall of Famer J.J Watt, former All-Pro wide receiver A.J. Green. They traded for Deandre Hopkins in the last couple of years to maximize their window.
While Kyler has played well, they have no playoff wins to show for it and have faded down the stretch in each of the last couple of seasons.
With reports of Kyler struggling as a leader, it’s hard to singlehandedly blame the 24-year old from Allen, Texas.
He’s won at every level of football he’s ever played at. He compiled one of the most legendary high school careers in American high school sports history. Then went on to shine at Oklahoma where he won a Heisman and led Oklahoma to the College Football Playoffs.
After struggling for much of the first half in that matchup, the Sooners were a defense away from going toe to toe with the Alabama Crimson Tide. He was drafted into a situation that needed fixing and while he’s done admirably, the expectations on and off the field that come with being a number one overall pick aren’t easy to fulfill.
While the reports of his immaturity and struggles as a leader stem from an earlier incident in which he appeared to have scrubbed the Cardinals from his social media accounts, a tactic often used by athletes unhappy with their teams, Murray and the Cardinals have an entire offseason to work through these issues.
There are so many questions that need answers. Will Murray be able to shed the “immature” and “self-centered” tags or will this follow him for the next few years?
Can the Cardinals front office provide support and solutions to continue to help their still very young quarterback continue to grow on and off the field? How does all of this affect Kliff Kingsbury’s job status and Kyler Murray’s soon-to-be pressing contract situation?
Locked On Cardinals co-host Alex Clancy had this perspective to offer about Kyler Murray and his situation in Arizona.
These are the truths that haven't changed since the Cardinals season ended:
🔴 Kyler Murray has the potential to be the best QB in Cardinals history
🔴 Steve Kiem is the worst drafting GM since 2014
🔴 Kliff Kingsbury has never won an important NFL game— Alex Clancy (@ClancysCorner) February 13, 2022
It’s a lot to consume and think about but Murray, the Cardinals front office, and head coach Kliff Kingsbury all have some soul searching to do in the next few months.
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