DAN BICKLEY

Something has to give in saga between Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals

Apr 14, 2022, 6:30 PM | Updated: 7:46 pm

Kyler Murray #1 of the Arizona Cardinals throws the ball in the second quarter of the game against ...

Kyler Murray #1 of the Arizona Cardinals throws the ball in the second quarter of the game against the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Wild Card Playoff game at SoFi Stadium on January 17, 2022 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

(Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

The NFL offseason feels like rolling thunder in Arizona, like a gathering storm, a roiling monsoon. The Cardinals keep saying all the right things. But they’re acting like a team bracing for disaster. 

Their commitment to winning has been called into question by Kyler Murray’s agent, and their miserly spending does little to refute the notion. They are included in Brian Flores’ explosive lawsuit against the NFL, accused of racial discrimination by former head coach Steve Wilks.

Much of Wilks’ claims are far-fetched and self-serving. But the team dealt him a terrible hand while covering for the off-field transgressions of their general manager. And the absurd contract extension recently awarded Kliff Kingsbury doesn’t help the perception of cronyism in Arizona. 

Along the way, the Cardinals have become deceitful or delusional. They are trying to claim victory for retaining core players from a team that started off 10-2 in 2021, conveniently forgetting the psychological trauma inflicted on the fan base by another horrific late-season collapse. 

Besides, they haven’t retained their core. They’ve lost Chandler Jones, Christian Kirk, Chase Edmonds, Jordan Hicks and a big chunk of their on-field production. The re-signing of A.J. Green is the ultimate reveal, a player who seemed to retire on the job in 2021, a former star who was largely diminished in key situations, where a former great was suddenly getting tackled by ghosts. 

Without Kyler Murray, the Cardinals will field one of the worst teams in the NFL next season. And yet a happy, healthy Murray can help the Cardinals overcome most anything. Like him or not, he can make that much of a difference on a football field. He can make the Cardinals a playoff team in 2022 despite all the regression. 

Yet he’s the guy the Cardinals are refusing to pay? 

For all the sticker shock, the never-ending spin and the selective amnesia, the truth is coming. The chains moved a bit on Thursday, when Murray’s contract impasse flared up again, exposing the truth about the alternative reality the Cardinals are trying to sell their fans. 

We learned that Murray’s agent pulled his initial offer from the table weeks ago. And why are we hearing of this now, at a time when many assumed the Cardinals and their quarterback might be inching closer together, emotionally and financially?  

The message is that Murray’s price tag has only gone up, further taxing the Cardinals for their inactivity. The franchise that could barely stomach Murray’s initial offering will now pay even more because of their doddering. And the longer they wait, the higher the ceiling gets. 

This feels like another act of provocation from Erik Burkhardt toward owner Michael Bidwill, effectively bringing negotiations into the national media and the public realm once again. And while Murray’s camp shows no signs of actually requesting a trade, they are putting immense pressure on the Cardinals to pay him now or proactively deal him before the NFL draft. 

It’s all extremely unnerving. Kingsbury recently assured Cardinals fans that he and Murray are in a good place, and that Murray was a part of the franchise’s long-term future. He said that Murray will benefit greatly from finally getting a real offseason under his belt, where he will allegedly be mentored on the nuances of leadership and relationship-building.

Yeah, right. That scenario would require an invested quarterback buying into the program completely. And that’s not happening until the Cardinals fully buy into him. Because it’s clear that Murray is not playing another down of football in Arizona until his contract his addressed. Something has to give.

Namely, the Cardinals. In the form of a check. Before the price tag gets worse. 

Dan Bickley

DeAndre Hopkins speaks after a game...

Dan Bickley

DeAndre Hopkins’ release ends WR’s selfish legacy with Cardinals

For the second time in three years, DeAndre Hopkins is moving on to another team and bringing little or nothing of value in return.

2 days ago

Jonathan Gannon...

Dan Bickley

Cardinals’ Jonathan Gannon has become Eagles’ Super Bowl scapegoat

Thanks to the perceived outrage in Philadelphia, Jonathan Gannon is suddenly considered one of the more unscrupulous coaches in the NFL.

7 days ago

Phoenix Suns Devin Booker...

Dan Bickley

Devin Booker’s silence raises questions on his state of mind

This isn't the time for brooding silence and cryptic tweets. This is time for a franchise player to reassure a fan base the future is bright.

9 days ago

Phoenix Suns head coach Monty Williams hands off the ball during a break in the action during the f...

Dan Bickley

Monty Williams deserved to be fired by Suns, more changes warranted

Monty Williams once stood on a pedestal, praised for instilling culture, mentoring young players, returning respect and dignity to Phoenix.

18 days ago

Phoenix Suns Kevin Durant...

Dan Bickley

Suns are latest failure of championship dream in Phoenix

Championship dreams always die hard. In Phoenix, they die angry. The 2022-23 Suns are just our latest failure.

21 days ago

Phoenix Suns Denver Nuggets...

Dan Bickley

All margin for error has vanished after Suns lose Game 5 to Nuggets

The next episode of the Devin and Kevin Show will be set in an extreme location. It will take place on the brink of elimination.

22 days ago

Something has to give in saga between Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals