Getty Image / Harry How
It’s been a wild ride for the Arizona Cardinals in recent years, as they were one of the hottest teams in the NFL in the 2021 season.
That all came to a crashing halt when the team fell to a 4-13 record the following year. Things got especially complicated when Kyler Murray fell to a knee injury.
His return to the field is questionable for now, as Murray’s nursing an ACL tear. So, there’s a chance he’s not ready by the start of the 2023 season.
Despite that, he seems determined to be the starting quarterback no matter what. So much so, that he’s even addressing some of the work ethic criticism he’s faced in the past.
According to Darren Urban of the Cardinals’ official site, Kyler Murray wants to be more coachable moving forward. However, he does add that everyone on the team must be held accountable as well.
“I’ve got to respect the person or understand the ins and outs or the rhymes and reasons for what we are doing. I’m going to listen. I’m going to be coachable and I’m going to do it to the best of my ability, but if the s*** ain’t working, at some point, we all have to look in the mirror.”
Murray continues by claiming that the team must come together in order to improve.
“As far as growing from my rookie year to now, learning how to be one with your emotions, understanding how to talk to people. Some people are able to take the harsh way, and I am naturally that way, or do I need to give them a little love and that’s part of the quarterback position. … And (learning) what can I do better, how can I be better, how can I make the guys around me better? It’s a team sport. We all have to be locked in.”
The Cardinals are in a weird situation right now as bookies just recently named Arizona the betting favorite to be the worst team in the league next season.
Clearly, the franchise has some rebuilding to do. But Kyler Murray’s comments about being more coachable is a good start for progress.
Even so, quarterbacks are the ones typically taking the blame when things go wrong. So, it’s a bit odd when he says, “if the s*** ain’t working, at some point, we all have to look in the mirror.”
That’s not really a statement you’ll hear from Patrick Mahomes or Josh Allen. I mean, even guys like Marcus Mariota and Kirk Cousins take full responsibility.
With that said, it’s going to be a long road for the Cardinals to get back on top of the NFL. But if Murray can truly be more coachable, then maybe it’ll all pan out.