Steve Keim opens up on Kyler Murray's work ethic with Cardinals

Former Arizona Cardinals general manager Steve Keim opened up about quarterback Kyler Murray’s work ethic with the team.

The quarterback was under fire for a clause in his contract that said he had to dedicate time to studying the playbook. Most would assume that’s common knowledge and not really made public.

But that portion in his contract caught fire on social media and Murray was criticized for laziness.

Keim responded to Cardinals right tackle Kelvin Beachum, who said Murray “needed to grow up a little bit.”

“He still needs to grow,” Keim said on the Green Light with Chris Long. “(Beachum’s comments are) not slanted toward (Murray’s) character. He’s not a bad guy. He’s a good kid, has a good smile, has a nice way about him. I think it’s like anything: Guys have to continue to learn what it’s going to take to be great. Does he know what Tom Brady and Peyton Manning know of what it takes to be great? No.

“Does he work? He does work. I think it’s just that side of the game — the film study, the attention to detail part that he can continue to improve upon, and I think he will. Kyler’s a proud guy, man. He doesn’t want to lose and he doesn’t want to let people down.”

Murray’s season ended prematurely in 2022 as he tore his ACL against the New England Patriots.

Keim, although not with the organization anymore, was still high on Murray’s talent.

“You’ve got to think he’s headed in the right direction,” Keim said. “I just thought he kept getting better and better and better. There’s just some times of inconsistency with him. Obviously, the height hurts him at times, seeing over the line and processing and seeing the field. But at the same time, he’s just a tremendous talent. The stuff he does, you see in practice and games, it’s off the charts.”

Murray put up pedestrian stats last season in his 11 starts (3-8). He finished with 2,368 yards, 14 touchdowns, seven interceptions, a 66.4% completion percentage, 418 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns.

In his career, Murray has 13,848 yards, 84 touchdowns, 41 interceptions, a 66.8% completion percentage, 2,204 rushing yards and 23 rushing touchdowns.

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Under new head coach Jonathan Gannon, perhaps Murray could have a bounce back season in 2023.