Let’s Keep It Simple: Cardinals Fans Ready To Move On From Murray
For a few days, the Arizona Cardinals will finally bask in the positive spotlight after beating the Dallas Cowboys 27-17 on Monday Night as Kyler Murray sat on the sidelines with an injury.
Because of the win, you will read numerous articles about their quarterback situation. You will read statistics, analysis and other data that proves Jacoby Brissett should continue to start ahead of Murray.
Let’s set statistics aside and state this on behalf of Arizona Cardinals football fans: They are ready to move on from Kyler Murray.
This is an amicable breakup. They are not mad. They won’t take down all of the Murray Instagram posts through the years. They just saw what Brissett can do, and they like what they saw. They are interested in someone else.
Murray is Not the Face of the Organization
Josh Allen, Jalen Hurts, and Patrick Mahomes have it, there is no doubt. Aaron Rodgers and Joe Flacco used to have it. Drake Maye, C.J. Stroud, Bo Nix are on the preface of it.
Murray does not have “it.”
The “it” factor is all of the intangibles that leave no doubt to your fan base that “you are it…you are the guy.” The face of the franchise. The franchise quarterback. The person that radiates confidence and the belief he can lead your team to the Super Bowl.
For most of his career, all Cardinals fans have seen from Murray is a pouting face on the sidelines, showing as much energy as a Tesla with 400 miles since its last charge.
McBride’s Comments Show a Confidence in Brissett
This story could have led with taking quotes from an ESPN interview with Cardinals tight end Trey McBride and slanting them to grab big headlines that he likes Brissett more. Here is a sampling:
McBride said on ESPN:
“Jacoby (is) a real pro. He’s a guy who does everything the right way. He…does everything during the week, watches all the film, does everything the right way. I think one thing that Jacoby does is he keeps us calm. He keeps us poised in the huddle. and he really gives us confidence.”
Splashy Headline: Player Says Brissett Watches Film and Does Everything the Right Way – It Reminds Fans of the Murrary Video Game Contract Clause
Story Lead: As McBride gushes over the film study of Brissett, it reminds fans of a contract clause Murrary had that set guidelines on how much film study he is obligated to complete without distraction of video games or television.
McBride said on ESPN:
“(Brissett is) going to talk to everybody. He’s going to tell us how he’s feeling, what he wants us to do, and he’s going to trust his guys. He’s going to give us chances. He’s going to, you know, throw us the ball when we’re covered…. He’s an unbelievable quarterback, unbelievable guy, and I’m super proud of him.”
Splashy Headline: Does Murray Have the Trust of His Team? One Player Makes a Stunning Admission
Story Lead: McBride told ESPN that Brissett has the trust of his guys and gives them chances, even throwing them the ball when they are covered. Most fans take this to mean Murray tends to either try to scramble for his life, holding the ball like a loaf of bread, or falls down for a sack anytime the pocket shows a little pressure and when his receivers are not as open as the Grand Canyon.
What Is the Point? It is Simply Time to Move On
But there is no point in doing this. For one, McBride was like a little kid who finally got to go to Disneyland. Why ruin this for him? SportsCenter host Scott Van Pelt pointed out that McBride was the first athlete he remembers searching him out and telling him how much he wanted to be on his post-game show. And, after the big Cardinals win and another great performance, there was McBride. Let’s cherish that moment.
Plus, for Cardinals fans who have watched Murray since 2019, they do not need headline-generating reasons for stating they are ready to move on. They just are. They are giving a “no confidence” vote in the court of public opinion, and hope Cardinals’ head coach Jonathan Gannon is listening.
Or, more importantly, they hope Gannon sees the value that Brissett brings to the locker room, and that he provides something to the fans that Murrary does not: The “it” factor. The person they feel can lead them to the Super Bowl. Or, as a Cardinals fan, let’s be realistic: To Respectability.
