The NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport unearthed something in the depths of a new contract for Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray on Monday, something that is going to follow Murray and the organization for the rest of his career.
While joining Around The NFL on Thursday, Rapoport talked through how he exactly came across an independent study clause, one that requires Murray to go over four hours of game prep a week or he does not get his full guarantees in a five-year, $230.5 million contract extension.
The origin of it becoming public knowledge is particularly interesting to find out, because as the news cycle in the last 72 hours showed, this was not a good look for Murray, his agent or the team. If it was leaked from the Cardinals, it would have surely been done in an attempt to paint Murray in a bad light.
Alas, that was not the case.
Rapoport explained that an official contract enters a portal that can be accessed with the right sources. The reason for Rapoport’s digging through the contract was for the baseball clause in Murray’s contract, and that’s when he also came across the study clause.
PODCAST: @RapSheet joined the heroes yesterday and told the story of uncovering Kyler Murray’s “independent study” clause. Plus we react to news and sounds from training camps across the league.
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— Around The NFL (@AroundTheNFL) July 28, 2022
Rapoport called Murray’s agent to make sure this was a real thing, and it indeed was, which brought on him sharing it Monday afternoon.
He also indicated a desire that Arizona Sports’ John Gambadoro reported on Monday from owner Michael Bidwill for the clause to be in the contract.
“I don’t think anyone looks good in this, honestly,” Rapoport said. “It’s not great for Kyler, it’s not great for the agent.”
Murray responded to the criticism that came with the details of the study clause on Thursday. He was not scheduled to speak with the media but took the platform to defend himself and cited his accomplishments.
“I’m talking today because I feel it’s necessary with what’s going on regarding me and the things that are being said about me,” Murray said. “To think that I can accomplish everything that I’ve accomplished in my career and not be a student of the game and not have that passion and not take this serious — it’s disrespectful and it’s almost a joke.”