It had to happen.

Arizona Cardinals QB Kyler Murray shocked just about everyone in attendance and beyond when he held an impromptu press conference on Thursday.

The surprise wasn’t that he spoke — although that has been a rarity this offseason — it was the topic he wanted to discuss:

The infamous independent study clause.

Defending his work ethic and his quotes in a certain New York Times article, Murray said he was honored that people could think he was in the position he was in without studying film and doing the off-the-field work that comes with being a franchise-leading quarterback. Especially given his stature.

Sure, the questions are endless. Was it really a last-second, impromptu press conference? Was it the endless chatter that caused Murray to speak out so abruptly or did he get a nudge to nip it in the bud altogether?

However you want to shake it, this press conference had to take place when it did.

Even before Murray was taken with the No. 1 overall pick in 2019, there were rumblings of a lack of leadership on the signal caller’s part.

Since then, the QB has done what’s asked of him, but this — much like the independent study clause — is unprecedented.

And it’s been something Cardinals fans and many media members have been wanting to see from the now-second-highest paid quarterback on a yearly basis.

Murray could have easily let the media storm roll by, waiting for later in the season to talk when the narrative very well could be on something totally different.

He could have skated by and opt not to say a word regarding his contract and the clauses included.

But he didn’t. Instead of letting it fester, he got it out of the way. The K1 of old may not have gone that route.

It’s certainly not an ideal situation for Murray, but his sentiments have to stand for something, no matter how much you agree or disagree.

It had to happen.

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