Arizona Cardinals

The Arizona Cardinals are not fielding trade calls on quarterback Kyler Murray amid tension between the player's camp and the team regarding a long-term deal.

ESPN's Josh Weinfuss discussed that news and more from his time at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis this week:

A few takeaways from my time at the NFL combine this week:

- The Cardinals aren’t taking trade calls for Kyler Murray.
- It doesn’t sound like Chandler Jones will be a Cardinal in 2022.
- It sounds like Christian Kirk will have a hot market in free agency.

— Josh Weinfuss (@joshweinfuss) March 2, 2022

On Monday, Murray's agent, Erik Burkhardt, released a statement simultaneously expressing his client's commitment to the Cardinals and a desire for a long-term contract:

A statement from Cardinals’ QB Kyler Murray’s agent, @ErikBurkhardt: pic.twitter.com/qsWGZIZ0jB

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) February 28, 2022

Burkhardt stated that he sent the Cardinals an offer that "represents a real commitment from the organization." He also stated that "actions speak much louder than words in this volatile business."

Murray, who just finished his third year in the NFL, is a two-time Pro Bowler who just led Arizona to its first playoff appearance since 2015.

Murray completed a career-high 69.2 percent of his passes in 2021 alongside 29 total touchdowns (24 passing, five rushing) and 7.9 yards per pass attempt. He also rushed for 423 yards.

The regular season ended with the Cardinals going 11-6, but they fell 34-11 to the eventual Super Bowl champion Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Wild Card Round.

Things appeared to get a little hairy afterward. For starters, Murray removed all mentions of the Cardinals on Instagram and unfollowed them on social media. He only had two posts remaining on his IG account: one from this past Pro Bowl and another after he won the 2018 Heisman Trophy.

The Cardinals responded in kind by eliminating all but two IG posts: the same Pro Bowl one plus a picture of when Arizona selected him No. 1 overall in the 2019 NFL draft.

Then came a report from ESPN's Chris Mortensen that seemed to imply some issues in Glendale:

Where’s it headed?
Despite the acrimony, the Cardinals expect things to calm down and Murray is their QB.
Select veterans hope to reach Murray on how he handle adversity better.
Coach Kliff Kingsbury also is self-scouting where he can provide better alternatives for QB.

— Chris Mortensen (@mortreport) February 13, 2022

Cardinals general manager Steve Keim and head coach Kliff Kingsbury, who just signed long-term deals themselves, didn't dive too much into the Murray talk when asked at the combine.

"People have different ways of approaching things and I respect it. You can't get caught up taking things personal. It is a business."@AZCardinals GM Steve Keim and coach Kliff Kingsbury talk Kyler Murray in Indy:https://t.co/9pUrLvKjCs

— Darren Urban (@Cardschatter) March 1, 2022

Kliff Kingsbury says he has not talked to Kyler Murray after statement but this is “all part of the business.”

Said he did not talk to Murray agent Erik Burkhardt - who is also Kingsbury’s agent - before the Murray statement. Said he keeps those relationships separate. pic.twitter.com/WVbxFM4cLF

— Darren Urban (@Cardschatter) March 1, 2022

Murray currently has one year left on his rookie deal, but Keim said that the team plans to pick up his fifth-year option.

Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Christian Kirk is entering free agency for the first time in his NFL career, and he's expected to have a number of suitors.

According to Josh Weinfuss of ESPN, there will be a "hot market" for Kirk this offseason.

A second-round pick in 2018, Kirk put up the best numbers of his career last season. He led the Cardinals with 77 catches and 982 receiving yards while adding five touchdowns.

Kirk emerged as the team's top wideout after three-time All-Pro DeAndre Hopkins underwent season-ending knee surgery following Week 14. Kirk finished with a team-high 103 targets.

The 25-year-old Texas A&M product is sure to draw attention from receiver-needy teams when free agency opens March 14. But the Cardinals would be wise to make a run at retaining Kirk as a means to appease star quarterback Kyler Murray.

On Monday, Murray's agent, Erik Burkhardt, released a lengthy statement (via ESPN's Adam Schefter) declaring that his client wants a contract extension. But the statement also stressed that Murray desires the team to build a roster to perennially contend for a Super Bowl. Re-signing one of his favorite targets in Kirk could go a long way toward keeping him happy.

Chandler Jones helped anchor the Arizona Cardinals defense for the past six years, but he is reportedly expected to go elsewhere as a free agent this offseason.

Josh Weinfuss of ESPN reported from the NFL Scouting Combine on Wednesday and suggested the outside linebacker likely will not return to the Cardinals for the 2022 campaign.

There is plenty to like about Jones' game. After all, he is a four-time Pro Bowler and two-time All-Pro selection who has consistently ranked among the league's best pass-rushers for much of his career.

He also played for the New England Patriots for his first four seasons in the NFL and helped them win a Super Bowl.

Jones finished the 2021 campaign with 41 tackles, 10.5 sacks, six forced fumbles and four passes defended while making the Pro Bowl.

However, five of those sacks came in the season-opening win over the Tennessee Titans, and he posted more than one sack in just a single game the rest of the year. Combine that with the fact that he was limited to just five games in 2020 and is 32 years old, and it starts to make more sense why the Cardinals may want to move on this offseason.

Jones also figures to command a significant amount of money as a free agent given his track record, and his best football may very well be behind him at this point.

Few players will bring quite as much of a high-risk and high-reward element to free agency as Jones this offseason considering he has seven seasons of double-digit sacks but also some worrisome trends the past couple of years.

It seems as if the Cardinals are not going to take that risk, although the playoff-tested veteran who led the league with 17 sacks in 2017 may very well make the difference for a contending defense elsewhere.            

Arizona Cardinals owner Michael Bidwill said Friday quarterback Kyler Murray remains in the team's plans despite rumors of tension between the sides.

Bidwill explained on Arizona Sports 98.7 radio (via Bob McManaman of the Arizona Republic) he's not sure whether the team will sign Murray to a contract extension this year, but that situation won't impact the overall outlook.

"The structure of it, the timing of it, it's a complicated process and it takes some time," Bidwill said. "Kyler's a part of our long-term plan."

Murray caused a stir in early February when he removed all Cardinals-related content from his Instagram page.

Last week, he posted a picture of himself in an Arizona uniform along with some comments about the recent speculation:

"I play this game for the love of it, my teammates, everyone who has helped me get to this position that believed in me and to win championships. All of this nonsense is not what I'm about, never has been, never will be. Anyone who has ever stepped between those lines with me knows how hard I go. Love me or hate me but I'm going to continue to grow and get better."

Those remarks came after ESPN's Chris Mortensen reported on the dynamics of the relationship between the Cardinals and their Pro Bowl signal-caller.

Mortensen stated Murray had become "frustrated with the franchise" and felt he'd emerged as the scapegoat following the team's playoff loss to the Los Angeles Rams, while Arizona sources described the 2019 first overall pick as "self-centered, immature and someone who points fingers."

The 24-year-old Texas native is coming off a 2021 season where he completed 69.2 percent of his attempts for 3,787 yards with 24 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. He added 423 rushing yards and five scores on the ground.

Murray ranked seventh in ESPN's Total QBR (57.3) and received a strong 84 overall grade from Pro Football Focus.

He's entering the final season of his four-year, $35.7 million rookie contract, but the Cardinals hold a fifth-year option and also retain the franchise tag, so at minimum, he's likely four years away from becoming an unrestricted free agent, even without an extension.

Murray's emergence as a top-tier quarterback combined with his contract situation and the lack of potential replacements available in free agency or the draft makes an offseason trade an extreme long shot, so Bidwill's comments don't come as much of a surprise.

"Put me in the corner of 'I love him' and I know he's going to get better," Bidwill also said on Arizona Sports 98.7 on Friday after speaking with Murray on Thursday, per McManaman.

With no Murray deal likely on the horizon, the Cardinals' offseason will probably be focused on upgrading both the offensive and defensive lines along with adding another playmaker or two around their superstar quarterback.

It appears Kyler Murray and the Arizona Cardinals are not headed for a divorce after all. 

The quarterback is reportedly on the same page with the Cardinals, according to NFL Network's Jane Slater, and "everything is copacetic" between the two sides. Slater adds that Murray and the Cardinals are working on either exercising his fifth-year option or locking him up to a long-term deal.

Slater's report comes after Murray scrubbed his Instagram account of any references to the Cardinals. The team then did the same, removing any and all photos of Murray from its Instagram account. 

This was after NFL Network's Mike Garafolo reported that the Cardinals wanted Murray to improve as a leader and become more mature. Garafolo cited the fact that backup quarterback Colt McCoy finished Arizona's wild-card loss to the Los Angeles Rams, while Murray sat on the sideline and did not want to finish the game on the field.

ESPN's Chris Mortensen also reported there was a rift between Murray and the Cardinals. He added the two-time Pro Bowler was "frustrated" that he had been viewed as the fall guy following the Cardinals playoff loss. 

Mortensen added that Murray was being viewed as "self-centered, immature and finger pointer." The Cardinals then responded to Mortensen's report, saying they were "excited" that Murray "is the quarterback leading us" going into 2022. 

Murray also responded to the discourse himself, saying he was focused on moving forward and was ready to "continue to grow and get better."

pic.twitter.com/SpcEVwqox7

— Kyler Murray (@K1) February 14, 2022

The reported rift between Murray and the Cardinals wasn't necessarily surprising after he struggled mightily in the wild card round. He completed just 19 of 34 passes for 137 yards, no touchdowns and two interceptions. He also ran for just six yards, which is uncharacteristic for a player that has been known to use his legs when necessary. 

Arizona had high hopes at the beginning of the 2021 season after winning its first seven games. However, the team lost four of its last five regular season games and fell out of contention for the top spot in the NFC West, a position they haven't finished in since 2015. 

Murray's play was below average in the team's final five games of the regular season. He completed 64.8 percent of his passes for 1,388 yards and five touchdowns, but also tossed three interceptions and rushed for just 217 yards and no scores.

Despite the end-of-season struggles and ensuing rift between the two sides, it seems like they are ready to move forward and help Murray improve in 2022 and beyond. If the young quarterback can find his voice and develop his leadership skills, the team will only benefit.  

The Arizona Cardinals released cornerback Malcolm Butler from the reserve/retired list Thursday, potentially paving the way for him to make an NFL return.

Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported Butler has been mulling a return to football. The former Pro Bowler retired last August for personal reasons. 

Butler had signed a one-year deal with the Cardinals in March 2021 after spending the previous three seasons with the Tennessee Titans.

A starter in six of his first seven NFL seasons, Butler retired with 406 tackles and 17 interceptions for his career. His most important pick came in the postseason, when he jumped a Russell Wilson pass in the waning seconds of Super Bowl XLIX to give the New England Patriots a 28-24 win.

While Butler's career never quite topped that moment—his run in Tennessee was especially considered a disappointment—he was a projected starter for the Cardinals when he retired and should command plenty of attention on the open market.

Teams looking for a low-cost, high-reward option will undoubtedly make Butler a priority, especially considering they will be able to sign him before the beginning of the free-agency period. J.C. Jackson, Stephon Gilmore and Carlton Davis are expected to lead the top free agents at cornerback. 

Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald hasn't officially retired from the NFL, but it seems apparent his playing days are over. 

Speaking to ESPN's Josh Weinfuss, Fitzgerald said he "had a great run" when discussing his career. 

"It was fun. I wouldn't change anything," he added. "I wish I could have delivered more for the Valley in terms of winning a championship, but that's water under the bridge at this point."

Fitzgerald, who didn't play during the 2021 season, said he most likely won't have a formal retirement because he's too young to be retired. 

"I'm 38 years old," he explained. "I'm a long way from retirement. Yeah, a long way."

Fitzgerald only played for the Cardinals in his career. His long list of accomplishments includes 11 Pro Bowl selections, the 2016 Walter Payton Man of the Year Award and a first-team All-Pro selection in 2008. He is second all-time in receptions (1,432) and receiving yards (17,492) and sixth all-time in receiving touchdowns (121).

He registered at least 1,000 receiving yards nine times, at least 100 receptions five times and at least 10 touchdowns in a season five times.

During Arizona's run to the Super Bowl after the 2008 season, Fitzgerald set an NFL playoff record with 546 receiving yards and seven touchdown catches in four games. He had 127 yards and two scores in the Super Bowl against the Pittsburgh Steelers. 

And he was durable, playing all 16 games in a season 12 times in his career. It's no surprise he was named to the NFL Network's NFL 100 All-Time Team in 2019, joining fellow wideouts Lance Alworth, Raymond Berry, Marvin Harrison, Elroy Hirsch, Don Hutson, Steve Largent, Randy Moss, Jerry Rice and Paul Warfield on the list. 

It's fair to argue that Fitzgerald is the greatest player in the history of the Cardinals' organization. Minus winning a title, Fitzgerald has checked all of the boxes in a Hall of Fame career. And even in his final season he was productive, registering 54 catches for 409 yards and a touchdown. 

That called into question whether Fitzgerald would come back for yet another season in 2021. But his likely retirement doesn't come as a surprise after he expressed in August that he didn't have a desire to play the game. 

"I just don't have the urge to play right now," he said at the time on SiriusXM's Let's Go show (h/t Kevin Patra of NFL.com). "I don't know how I'll feel in September, October, November moving forward, but I just, today, I just don't have the urge. And I think I have to be respectful of that. Football is not one of those games you want to walk out there and play and not be fully engaged and ready to prepare and do the things necessary that you need to do."

It would appear the desire to play never returned. So the next stop for Fitzgerald will be Canton and the Pro Football Hall of Fame. 

The Arizona Cardinals need Kyler Murray far more than the quarterback needs his current franchise. As such, the Cardinals front office better make the No. 1 pick from the 2019 draft comfortable with his current setting in a hurry. 

Murray holds all of the leverage in this situation despite concerns about him within the organization. 

Sources described the 24-year-old quarterback as "self-centered, immature and someone who points fingers" to ESPN's Chris Mortensen. 

Mortensen added, "Arizona coach Kliff Kingsbury is said to be self-scouting where he can provide better alternatives to help Murray ... Meanwhile, select veterans on the team hope to reach out to Murray on how the 24-year-old can better handle adversity."

Conversely, Murray believes he's been scapegoated for the team's disappointing performance during the Cardinals' 34-11 loss in the wild-card round to the eventual Super Bowl champions, the Los Angeles Rams. In the contest, Murray completed 55.9 percent of his passes for only 137 yards and a pair of interceptions. 

The public airing of grievances is as much of a cry for help as it is an explanation for a couple of odd incidents over the past month. Those within the organization weren't happy when Murray pulled himself from the playoff contest, according to NFL Network's Mike Garafolo. Two weeks ago, the quarterback scrubbed his Instagram account of all Cardinals references. Now, everything is coming to a head. 

Some type of postseason hangover following a disappointing end should be expected. But the Cardinals can't let the feeling linger much longer. 

Murray hasn't faced much adversity throughout his sports career. He's been a winner and an elite talent almost every step of the way until the last three seasons in the desert. Since Murray and Kingsbury became the faces of the franchise, the Cardinals own a perfectly mediocre 24-24-1 regular-season record. A little self-reflection would go a long way, as would understanding the Cardinals won't be better without him in the lineup. 

The coach's realization he needs to find alternatives to help Murray is an excellent step in the right direction. As The Action Network's Matt Mitchell noted, late-season collapses aren't anything new for Kingsbury-led teams: 

Another Kliff Kingsbury regular season in the books!

Let’s update how he’s ended every season as head coach

'14: lost 4 of 5
'15: lost 4 of 6
'16: lost 6 of 8
'17: lost 6 of 8
'18: lost 5 of 5
'19: lost 7 of 9
'20: lost 6 of 9 (1 win by Hail Mary)
‘21: lost 4 of 5

— Matt Mitchell (@olboyunclemitch) January 10, 2022

Coming out of the 2021 campaign, the Cardinals had three or four wide receivers on the field 72 percent of the time, according to Sharp Football's Warren Sharp. Obviously, Kingsbury's background and base are rooted in Air Raid principles.

But the Cardinals have played their best when they adapted the scheme and found a way to spread defenses to run the ball. Surprisingly, the Cardinals finished seventh this season with 496 carries.

Granted, Murray accounted for 88 of those, as the quarterback finished third on the team with 423 yards. But both numbers were down from the previous two seasons' usage. Murray should continue to be part of Arizona's ground attack, with the coaching staff helping him pick his spots. 

Even with the heavy emphasis on multiple-receiver sets, the Cardinals offense got off track when DeAndre Hopkins suffered a season-ending torn MCL in Week 14. 

"He's a guy, you got to know where he's at as a defense each and every snap and got to do things to try and take him away," Kingsbury told reporters in December. "And that opens up other aspects of your offense, and so he's got a big value when it comes to being on the field, and unfortunately, we didn't have him some. And we got to learn from that and be better the next time he has to miss time. Hopefully, it's not very often."

The scheme is far too reliant on Hopkins as a star playmaker and Murray creating outside of the structure. In order to help the quarterback, improvements along the offensive line coupled with investments in the run game could take pressure off both. 

Arizona is old along their starting front five. Left guard Justin Pugh, center Rodney Hudson, right guard Max Garcia and right tackle Kelvin Beachum Jr. will all be 31 or older by the end of the 2022 campaign.

As Pro Football Focus noted, the unit struggled with its run blocking and benefitted from expanded splits and James Conner's hard-nosed running style. The Cardinals can keep their approach while significantly upgrading at multiple positions. 

Currently, the organization has little wiggle room under the projected salary cap, according to Spotrac. However, the Cardinals can clear $9.8 million simply by releasing Pugh. Beachum's departure would add another $1.7 million. Those moves can't be made without replacement plans. 

The entire organization is in a difficult position since Conner, Garcia, Chandler Jones, Christian Kirk, Zach Ertz, Chase Edmonds, AJ Green and Maxx Williams are free agents. However, the draft could be the saving grace for the offensive line and backfield. 

The 23rd overall pick belongs to the Cardinals. There, the organization can concentrate on adding Boston College's Zion Johnson (as it did in Bleacher Report's latest mock draft), Northern Iowa's Trevor Penning or Central Michigan's Bernhard Raimann.

Conner became a key component to the offense this year with a career-high 15 rushing touchdowns. Meanwhile, Edmonds racked up 903 yards of offense in just 12 games. Still, Arizona may be able to land Iowa State's Breece Hall, BYU's Tyler Allgeier or Cincinnati's Jerome Ford at some point during the draft's second day. 

These types of additions will help create the changes necessary for the offense to succeed against better competition. The Cardinals must become more physical and talented in the trenches while limiting Murray from playing too much hero ball.  

Good faith moves in the near future don't exactly help the current imbroglio. A long-term gesture could go a long way to restoring Murray's faith, thus spurring a recommitment to the job from the quarterback. 

The window to picking up Murray's fifth-year options opens this offseason. The decision should be a no-brainer for the Cardinals, and they should communicate their intentions as soon as possible.

An early contract extension should be in the mix as well. Money is the great equalizer. Furthermore, early negotiations should help in terms of overall value the Cardinals can get by signing Murray to a long-term deal sooner rather than later, particularly after the two sides came off a disappointing end to the season.

These overtures have the potential to show the organization isn't scapegoating Murray and it's committed to him, as it should be. Despite everything, Murray is the Cardinals' best chance at competing for a title in a league where elite quarterback play is mandatory. 

The Cardinals are already in the same division as the reigning Super Bowl champions. The two teams split their regular-season contests. A quick look around the NFC isn't nearly as overwhelming as the AFC, considering who is behind center.

Murray can be as good, if not better, than any other quarterback in the NFC, depending on where Aaron Rodgers and Russell Wilson end up this offseason. From there, Dak Prescott is the main obstacle.

Stafford found the perfect fit in the City of Angels, but Murray brings a completely different dynamic to games with his awesome speed and athleticism. The Cardinals' quarterback fits the mold of the new generation.

A festering situation is the last thing Arizona wants. Prescott is an ideal example of a team improperly handling its quarterback by stringing him along. Ultimately, the Cowboys caved and gave their starter a four-year, $160 million contract extension.

Rodgers and Wilson have either held out or quietly requested trades, only to play the following season with the same team. Mixed results occurred, but the teams ultimately put everything aside to do business with their most high-profile players.

Murray has options if he really wants to press matters, though.

Today's athletes are more than capable of forcing their way out of certain situations. Due to their recognizability, the chance to control their own narrative through social media and the amount of money involved, athletes hold more power than ever to dictate their fate. In Murray's case, he can also pull his trump card by threatening to leave football altogether and play professional baseball.

Arizona can benefit by trading Murray and acquiring numerous draft assets. In doing so, the franchise will admit to its failures and reset the entire franchise.

As a result, the Cardinals can't let this situation fester. Maybe their concerns are warranted. Even if they are, a quarterback of Murray's caliber is worth changing the franchise's current direction by letting him steer the ship.

Otherwise, the organization will be right back where it started without a quality triggerman behind center as one of the league's worst teams.

                  

Brent Sobleski covers the NFL for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter, @brentsobleski. 

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray apparently just wants to focus on football and the pursuit of a championship.

"All of this nonsense is not what I'm about, never has been, never will be," he tweeted Monday. "Anyone who has ever stepped between those lines with me knows how hard I go."

pic.twitter.com/SpcEVwqox7

— Kyler Murray (@K1) February 14, 2022

This comes after ESPN's Chris Mortensen reported the "odd vibe" between the quarterback and his team was "alarming" with some describing him as "self-centered" and "immature." Mortensen also noted Murray "thinks he's being framed as the scapegoat" following Arizona's playoff loss to the Los Angeles Rams and is "frustrated with [the] franchise."

Murray also notably unfollowed the Cardinals on Instagram and deleted team-related content from his social media.

The Cardinals released a statement after the report from Mortensen: "Nothing has changed regarding our opinion and high regard for Kyler Murray. We as a team and Kyler individually have improved each year he's been in the league. We are excited to continue that improvement in 2022 and are excited that Kyler Murray is the quarterback leading us."

Some frustration was to be expected after Arizona's loss to the Rams in the Wild Card Round considering Murray went 19-of-34 passing for 137 yards, zero touchdowns and two interceptions while adding just six yards on the ground.

It was a continuation of the struggles that defined the team's stretch run as it went from 7-0 to 11-6 and lost four of its last five games to fall from contention for the NFC's No. 1 seed into a road game in the opening round of the playoffs.

Despite these developments, it would be stunning to see Murray anywhere but the Cardinals next season.

Arizona can keep him under contract for the next two seasons, and that is not even accounting for franchise-tag possibilities. It will surely look to continue building around him seeing how he is just 24 years old and already a two-time Pro Bowler who can hurt opposing defenses with his arm and legs.

Monday's statement from Murray suggests he is going to "continue to grow and get better" with an eye on the Lombardi Trophy, so perhaps this will all be behind the quarterback and his team by the time offseason activities and training camp for the 2022 campaign arrive.            

The Arizona Cardinals are reportedly unhappy with Kyler Murray's sense of leadership as tension simmers between the two sides.

Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated reported the Cardinals "want more leadership" from their star quarterback, noting he is not the "early-in, late-out guy whom so many of his quarterbacking peers are."

Reports of discord between the two sides have been brewing since Murray scrubbed all mentions of the Cardinals organization from his social media. His Instagram account has only two posts: one from winning the Heisman trophy at Oklahoma and another from his appearance at this year's Pro Bowl.

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This article will be updated to provide more information on this story as it becomes available.

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