Kyler Murray sent a fairly clear message earlier this week that he is unhappy with the Arizona Cardinals, and it sounds like the feeling may be mutual.
Murray recently deleted all references to the Cardinals from his social media pages. The team then appeared to downplay the situation with their own not-so-subtle response on Instagram. There is clearly some tension between the two sides, however.
Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reported on Sunday that people with the Cardinals were unhappy when Murray pulled himself late in the team’s Wild Card playoff loss to the Los Angeles Rams. Murray, who was banged up, benched himself for the final minute. Backup Colt McCoy encouraged Murray to finish the game despite the 34-11 blowout, but Murray refused. You can hear more at around the 35-second mark below:
The @NFLGameDay Notebook with @MikeGarafolo and @TomPelissero: A look into #Bengals QB Joe Burrow's comeback; How the #AZCardinals want stronger leadership from Kyler Murray — with an example why; Who is in the QB market this offseason? pic.twitter.com/0rZSzhbuAG
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) February 13, 2022
Garafolo also said the Cardinals want Murray to “take a step forward in a number of areas,” including with his leadership and body language on the sideline.
Each side seems to be pointing the finger, as a separate report on Sunday claimed Murray is not pleased with the way he has been scapegoated by the Cardinals.
Murray threw for 3,787 yards, 24 touchdowns and 10 interceptions in his third NFL season. He is eligible for a contract extension this offseason, though the Cardinals have him under team control for two more years. The situation is certainly worth monitoring.
Photo: Oct 24, 2021; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) against the Houston Texans in the second half at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
