Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray is celebrating a new contract extension with the team that could be worth up to $230.5 million with around $105 million guaranteed at signing, and $160 million of it guaranteed to injury.
But not all of it came up roses as reports indicated that the new contract includes an addendum that requires him to study film for four hours per week during the season to stay in compliance with the new deal.
Murray spoke about the backlash he received, at length, during an unscheduled new conference on Thursday saying that he felt it was “disrespectful” that outsiders would think he could attain the levels he has attained in his career without being a “student of the game.”
“It’s almost a joke,” Murray said, according to ESPN’s Josh Weinfuss. “I’m flattered that y’all think that at my size I can go out there and not prepare for the game and not take it serious,” Murray added.
Murray also joked about his 5’10 frame saying he was already “behind the eight ball”.
“I can’t afford to take any shortcuts, no pun intended,” he continued. “Those are things you can’t accomplish if you don’t prepare the right way.
“It’s laughable.”
“Of course, I watch film by myself, that’s a given,” Murray said. “That doesn’t even need to be said. But I do enjoy and love the process of watching the game with my guys — the quarterbacks — my coaches.”
“I refuse to let my work ethic, my preparing, to be in question,” Murray said. “I’ve put in an incomprehensible amount of time and blood, sweat, tears and work into what I do, whether it’s football or baseball. People can’t comprehend the amount of time that it takes to do two sports at a high level in college, let alone be the first person to do it ever at my size. It’s funny.
“But to those of you out there that believe that I’d be standing here today, in front of y’all, without having a work ethic and without preparing, I’m honored that you think that. But it doesn’t exist. It’s not possible. It’s not possible.”
