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ARIZONA CARDINALS

Kyler Murray apologizes for wearing Michael Vick jersey in photoshoot with his dog

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray removed a post and apologized after he wore a Michael Vick jersey while posing with his dog.

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Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray removed a post on his social media accounts and apologized after he received heavy backlash because it featured him wearing a Michael Vick jersey while posing with his dog.

Vick’s NFL career (2001-07, 2009-15) was split in two by time served in prison after he pleaded guilty to contributing to an illegal dog-fighting scheme.

“In no way, shape or form do I condone animal cruelty or dog-fighting, whatever it is,” Murray told reporters Wednesday. “For me personally, y’all saw me wear the Michael Vick jersey, a player I admired very much growing up. And then being home with my pups, my dog Trunks and Swoosh, they both get treated like kings.

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“But yes, I saw how it affected people and decided to take it down. I apologize to anybody and whoever I affected.”

In 2007, six years into Vick’s Atlanta Falcons career, the quarterback was sentenced to nearly two years in prison for his funding and participation in running a dog-fighting ring that was accused of killing animals by cruel means.

He served his sentence and worked his way back into the NFL’s good graces, playing from 2009-15 for the Eagles, Jets and Steelers.

Vick did some advocacy work in the aftermath as well, including backing a proposed bill that would punish spectators of illegal dog-fighting.

A four-time Pro Bowler who represented the league’s eventual shift toward favoring more mobile quarterbacks, Vick finished his career with 22,464 passing yards, 133 touchdowns, 88 interceptions, plus 6,109 rushing yards with 36 more scores and 7.0 yards per carry.

Kevin Zimmerman ArizonaSports.com editor

Kevin Zimmerman is ArizonaSports.com's and KTAR.com's digital content manager and co-host of Arizona Sports' Empire of the Suns podcast. The Mesa native has covered the Suns on-and-off since graduating the University of Arizona in 2011 and also spent… Read more

Comments

18 Comments

T
The Skyhawk 11 months ago

Dumb move by Kyler, but he was a little kid when all that went down with Vick, so he may not have even made the connection with what he was wearing before the pics were taken.

G
Gemini D670 11 months ago

Kyler, at least study history.

B
BamaFan InAZ 11 months ago

Evidence of emotional immaturity or maybe just immaturity as a whole. Generally, even bad NFL QBs have enough awareness not to do such things. It doesn't make me think he is going to take that big jump this year as an NFL QB. I think he folds again in the 2nd half of the season.