While the Arizona Cardinals quarterback got the extension money he was looking for, it came at a price.
The price for his new contract is oddly bizarre, and a first in the NFL.
No other player of his caliber has ever had a contract clause like he does with the Cardinals.
So what did they add that is making people wonder about both Kyler Murray and his team?
Cardinals Are Requiring Murray To Do Four Hours Of Independent Film Study Each Week
Not every quarterback is Tom Brady, a player that lives and breaths football.
Some players don’t put in the film study like he does both with his team and away from them.
This is what the Cardinals see in Murray, a quarterback who needs more film studying.
I still can’t wrap my mind around this #Cardinals Kyler Murray contract addendum that requires K1 to take part in 4 hours of “independent film study” per week.
This is what $231 million gets you?! What am I missing?
Where was this in my HS days? 🤣 @12SportsAZ
— Luke Lyddon (@Luke_Lyddon) July 26, 2022
While Murray is getting the money he wants, the Cardinals want him to put in the work for that money.
They clearly don’t feel like he’s doing enough film study of opponents before games.
However, it’s bizarre because how are they going to verify that Murray is in fact studying film?
But if they have a way to verify this, it would be interesting how it would affect the young quarterback.
Stories After The NFL Playoffs Raised Questions About Murray
A couple of newsworthy things after the Cardinals appearance in the playoffs last season would raise questions.
Interesting. Hadn’t heard this before today. Kyler Murray did not want to finish the playoff game. Colt McCoy tried to convince him to play it out, but Kyler refused. https://t.co/xSvGps2hMv
— Chuck Harris (@chuckh3) February 13, 2022
The exit by him in the closing moments of a decided game would raise questions about his leadership.
However, a report about his half time antics would also draw some ire from fans.
Just heard this on 98.7. During halftimes, Kyler Murray is known to sit at his locker and call his girlfriend or put his earbuds in and isolate himself from the team.
If this is true then it further magnifies a complete failure of the entire organization from top down.
— Chuck Harris (@chuckh3) February 14, 2022
With his antics seen as a failure on the team’s behalf in Chuck Harris‘ eyes, it would seem making Murray watch game film would change that.
But it would require Murray to put his focus on those films and not on his girlfriend or video games.
There’s hope he can do this, now that he’s signed a deal that would cost him money if he didn’t follow through.
However, his history of childish antics takes away any hope that he would stick to this contract caveat.
Can He Become A Leader With His New Contract Requirement?
Cardinals fans want leadership from their young quarterback.
They don’t want a quitter or someone who won’t stick it out with his teammates.
The call for a quarterback that can lead and never quit is one that Murray needs to answer now.
With this new contract, he is now held to a standard, one that fans can only hope will help him improve.
However, as doubtful as some might be with the Cardinals quarterback, you would have to think he’s up for the challenge.
Had he not been willing to take up this new challenge, he wouldn’t have signed the contract.
But it will ultimately come down to how he applies this new film knowledge in games.
If he can change, that shows he’s learning from this, meaning Arizona should be fine.
It could also help him improve and be that guy both the Cardinals and their fans want him to become as their quarterback.
