Is that K1? Manny Jones stole Cardinals’ rookie show with Kyler Murray skit
Aug 10, 2022, 3:34 PM
Arizona Cardinals DL Manny Jones runs through drills during OTAs on Monday, May 23, 2022, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports)
(Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports)
GLENDALE — The rookie talent show, a tradition like none other.
On top of preparing for the daily grind of an NFL season, rookies have the task of performing in front of the entire team. It can be a song, a dance or a skit.
If rookies think their teammates are critical on the football field, just wait until they have to show off their relatively lesser talents. They either love it or they hate it.
Take Detroit Lions rookie Aidan Hutchinson for example. He stole the show and made a viral clip in the first episode of HBO’s Hard Knocks with his rendition of Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean.”
This is the right video to start your day. Aidan Hutchinson singing Billie Jean on the debut of Hard Knocks: pic.twitter.com/SP2WYL5DUN
— Jeff Darlington (@JeffDarlington) August 10, 2022
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From the song choice to the dance moves, Hutchinson commanded the room and made a serious case for best rookie performance of the year.
That is until someone unearths Arizona Cardinals rookie defensive lineman Manny Jones’ impression of starting quarterback Kyler Murray’s recent impromptu press conference.
You know, the one where Murray defended his work ethic following the discovery — and eventual removal — of a study clause in his new contract extension.
“The effort was there,” Kingsbury said Wednesday. “It could not have been comfortable doing what he did.”
Fortunately for Jones, wide receiver A.J. Green gave him a little more credit than his head coach did.
“That was about an A,” Green said. “The way he walked in with his durag on and the shades and the way he answered the questions, that was spot-on.”
It certainly wasn’t As or 10s across the board, though, with both QB Trace McSorley and TE Stephen Anderson giving Jones a passing mark.
“I’ll give him a seven (out of 10),” McSorley said. “He came out, the look he had was pretty spot-on. Kind of had that little half-shuffle jog that Kyler does. He had that pretty good. I think some of his responses could have been a little better, could have gotten into the K1 mentality a little bit more.”
“It was pretty good,” Anderson added. “I think he could have went in a little bit more, but I’m going to say a solid seven. He got the walk, the durag, the shades. … That was a really good show last night.”
The best part?
Murray was right there laughing along with the rest of his team.
“We were all checking, looking behind us to make sure it was OK,” Green said with a laugh.
“We got some funny rookies and they were really spot on with some of these acts.”
Now, we all anxiously wait for the footage to leak.
