ARIZONA CARDINALS

Raiders’ Joyner wants to run Cardinals ‘pretty-boy’ offense out of NFL

Aug 15, 2019, 8:03 PM | Updated: Aug 16, 2019, 7:26 am

Quarterback Kyler Murray #1 of the Arizona Cardinals is sacked in the end zone for a safety by free...

Quarterback Kyler Murray #1 of the Arizona Cardinals is sacked in the end zone for a safety by free safety Lamarcus Joyner (not pictured) of the Oakland Raiders during the first half of the NFL preseason game at State Farm Stadium on August 15, 2019 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

GLENDALE, Ariz. — It’s only the second game of the preseason, but the new-look Arizona Cardinals got a welcome-to-the-league punch in the mouth — physically and verbally.

Specifically, a few swings came from Oakland Raiders safety Lamarcus Joyner.

Oakland sent Kyler Murray off the field for good with a 3-for-8 evening and 12 passing yards. Murray was sacked twice, and Joyner ended the rookie No. 1 pick’s night with a safety on the fourth Arizona drive.

Then Joyner joined ESPN’s broadcast and had a few words for Murray, first-year head coach Kliff Kingsbury and the Cardinals’ offense.

“It’s pretty-boy football,” Joyner told Lisa Salters. “It don’t allow the defense to play the game physical like the game’s meant to be. When you go against an offense like that, you got to introduce that physicality to them because they don’t want to do that.”

Asked how to accomplish that, Joyner said: “Run that kind of offense out of the NFL.”

Joyner at least had one compliment for Murray. He said the No. 1 overall pick moves like a jackrabbit — one that he caught.

Arizona’s first-team offense left the field behind in total yardage, 231-12, but the Cardinals at least got solid play from backup quarterback Brett Hundley and the second unit, which scored 13 points in the second and third quarters.

Asked after the game about Joyner’s comments and whether he believed the Cardinals’ offense can play a physical brand of football, Kingsbury remained diplomatic.

“Yeah, he is a really good player,” the head coach said. “I have a ton of respect for him and I am very confident in our offense.”

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