Why Kyler deserves the top share of blame in Arizona
By Walter Mitchell
With the news that Kyler Murray has signed a one-year contract with the Minnesota Vikings, there are now scores of Cardinals' fans on social media expressing their conviction that the Cardinals failed Kyler.
Certainly, the way Michael Bidwill handled Kyler's situation was highly embarrassing. careless and regrettable. that cannot be disputed.
But Kyler initiated the entire mess.
We all know why.
Wild Card weekend in Los Angeles.
Super Bowl week of 2022.
The irony is --- yesterday when Kyler was finally free of the Cardinals --- he finally got the wish he had back in 2022, to be able to pick the team of his choice.
Kyler always talked about winning "multiple Super Bowls" in Arizona. The irony is --- with the best chance, roster-wise, to contend a Super Bowl, one that, lo and behold, was coming to Arizona in February of 2023, Kyler scrubbed his socials of all things Cardinals-related and exacerbated a massive rift in the team --- which led to an off-season of dozens of players skipping the team's OTAs. Note: the first time in 3 years teams could have on the field OTAs.
For a player who was talked about wanting to win Super Bowls --- can you name a must win late-season game where Kyler led the Cardinals to a clutch victory?
People will moan and groan to no end about the infamous homework clause --- but, even that, was brought on by Kyler himself when he told a New York Times reporter that he didn't need to watch much game tape because "I can see things before they happen."
Fact is, since the Green Bay botched audible debacle and Kyler's ensuing comment to the New York Times, his record as Arizona's starting QB is:
2021 - 2-4
2022 - 3-8
2023 - 3-5
2024 - 8-9
2025 - 2-3
18-29
The argument that I and a precious few others were trying to make back in 2022 when Kyler was holding out for his bag was that he hadn't as yet finished one season on anything close to a strong note --- and yet here we are after his 7 years in Arizona --- and nothing's changed.
What Kyler has lacked from the get-go was a fundamental respect for the organization, his coaches, his teammates and all fans who dared to even question him.
Kyler will only accept and respect people who give him unconditional love.
In a team sport, a lack of respect is a player's sure-fire recipe for losing.
Even at the end, in his farewell note to the Cardinals, he gave sincere thanks only to his staunch fans and little to nothing for everyone one else including his coaches and teammates --- until someone must have told him what a bad look that was and so he wrote an amended farewell note wherein he suddenly offered a generic thanks to his teammates and coaches.
Kyler was a breathtaking comet one minute and petering-out ember the next.
That's what's so awesome and frustrating about him as a player.
However, Kyler was not a team player in Arizona. Nor was he a leader.
Will he be both in Minnesota? He has already lauded Kevin O'Connell as one of the best offensive minds and QB whisperers in the NFL and as a coach who has regularly checked on and communicated with him since the NFL Combine in 2019.
Now the NFL gets to see how Kyler will perform within an organization he respects.
Of course, at the Cardinals' expense.
Yet, as for the Cardinals, the only way that they are going to be able to turn around the franchise is with players who embrace the challenge of such a task, just as the players on the Houston Texans have after years of bottom of the barrel futility. They way hopefully that Isaac Seumalo, Tyler Allgeier, Kendrick Bourne and Roy Lopez did when they told the media how much they want to help the team become winners. The way Larry Fitzgerald always did, through thick and thin.
Kyler Murray was never cut from that "embrace the challenge" cloth in Arizona. In fact, he outwardly lamented being asked to have to, at times, play like "Superman" --- which ironically, Super Bowl winning QBs virtually have to be at the most clutch times these days.
So, at the end of the last game he played for the Cardinals, in a brutal 22-21 upset loss to the Titans, he said, when asked about the team's 3rd and 8 failure to try to seal the win, "I just run the plays the coaches call."
With Kyler Murray --- it's always someone else's fault.
Just ask his most ardent fans --- they will tell you the exact same thing.
"Kyler has never done anything wrong."
Truth is...
ReplyDeleteNow that Kyler is with the Vikings, he will have no more excuses... All his talent can't save him from his mind.
You're right Walt. Kyler came into this league with a huge ego but here is why I harbor no animosity towards the guy. Kyler is listed at 5-10 but everyone whose been around him says he's closer to 5-9. For a 5-9 guy to accomplish everything Kyler has accomplished is nothing short of amazing. "As a senior in high school Kyler was the Gatorade Football Player of the Year and became the first player to be named Mr. Texas Football twice. His team won three straight state championships and 43 games in a row. He missed one start during this streak and finished his career with a perfect 42–0 record as a starting quarterback."
ReplyDeleteThen in college he continued his success. "With Mayfield heading to the NFL, Oklahoma considered Murray and Austin Kendall to start at quarterback in 2018. Murray was chosen as the starting quarterback. He threw for more than 4,000 yards and 42 touchdowns in the 2018 regular season, and rushed for over 1,000 yards and 12 rushing touchdowns. In December 2018, Murray won the Heisman Trophy as the best collegiate football player in the country," On top of that, the Oakland Athletics selected Murray with the ninth overall selection of the 2018 MLB draft.
When Kyler Murray entered the NFL, he needed a HC who was respected around the league for his success. He also needed an alpha HC/OC who knew how to deal with a 21-year-old super talent with an ego the size of a lake. Somone who Kyler would respect, listen to and learn but instead, he got a HC right out of college who was described by many having the opposite kind of personality of what I feel Kyler needed.
[According to an ESPN report from Jeremy Fowler and Josh Weinfuss, Kingsbury avoids confrontation with players and chooses to refer to mistakes generally, according to a former player.
"It's a very comfortable work environment, but he won't rip anybody, and if the head coach won't do it, it's hard for the offensive guard to do it," the player said. "I think that's some of what's gone on with the QB." A team source added that Kingsbury's personality doesn't lend to calling players out."]
Kingsbury's personality and coaching style reminded me of a marshmallow parent who acts more like a friend or "BFF" than an authority figure, seeking to avoid conflict, enabling unhealthy habits, and overlooking bad behavior. Should Kyler take some of the blame for this team not getting a playoff win in 7 seasons? Absolutely, but I also think Kyler was drafted by a team with the wrong HC for him to succeed in the NFL. They say that the first decade of life—specifically the first 8 to 10 years—is a critical "formative period" that plays a foundational role in shaping who you are. I believe that where a super talented young 21-year-old QB lands in the NFL is critical to their success. I've always said, that if Patrick Mahomes was drafted by the Cardinals and made to play his rookie season, his career would look a lot differently than it does today. We all know what this team needs, and we all know that's not going to happen.
He will be toxic to JJ. His agent better be calling around to get him out of Mn. I would speed dial Mr. McVay.As far Kyler, why would he show any effort now to turn his career around with $208 million in his bag. He is just sticking it Bidwill for a year before he retires in a year. He is just another Sam Bradford but at least Sam seemed like a better person than this little narcissist.
ReplyDelete