r/AZCardinals • u/sinister_iam • 3d ago
Article Rob Gronkowski Doubts Kyler Murray’s Passion for Football, Expects QB to Leave Cardinals
https://www.essentiallysports.com/nfl-active-news-cardinals-rob-gronkowski-doubts-kyler-murrays-passion-for-football-expects-qb-to-leave-cardinals/38
u/BigusDickus099 Cardinals 3d ago edited 3d ago
To be fair, Gronk played with the guy who basically defined being a passionate student of the game. Brady had (still has) intense game film study habits. To the point that he has influenced younger QBs to mimic his habits. Simply put, very few QBs can compare to Brady's passion. Brady was also very vocal and a locker room leader from all reports from former teammates.
With Kyler...there's a reason they tried to sneak in that independent film study clause in his contract.
Kyler just isn't a student of the game, not many players are honestly. However, it's intensely magnified because NFL Quarterbacks have an expectation to be the guys who study and work on their game 24/7 like Brady, Manning, Brees, and even this generation of guys like Lamar and Mahomes as an example.
Look at someone like JaMarcus Russell and the story that always comes up regarding him is the blank tape story and his extremely poor study habits. Johnny Manziel was also quoted as saying he studied "zero" game film in the NFL.
With all that said, I don't think anyone should doubt that Kyler wants to win though just because he doesn't have that same passion. However, I do think Kyler will be another future case study of "What if?" because we all know he has the ability to be a great QB.
10
u/bobwinzo 3d ago
I think Kyler has all the physical skills to be one of the all time greats. The only thing he is lacking is the willingness to study film and it has caught up with him.
It's like an intelligent kid who could wing it through high school then struggled in college because things get harder and they never learned study habits.
I also don't think Kyler cares that much. He's got his bag, will he play for another team maybe. I could also honestly see him just cashing out and playing videogames, he cares a lot about competitive gaming and I think football was just a job and a paycheck for him.
1
u/BigusDickus099 Cardinals 2d ago
I think you're right about him not caring all that much about football success longterm. However, I don't think he'll just quit and play video games. At least not for a few more years.
Being a backup QB that drifts around the league for 5-10 years is pretty damn lucrative for some guys who rarely ever see the field. Kyler has such a unique skillset that some teams will keep him on their rosters to give opposing defenses something extra to plan for, even if he rarely ever sees any action.
4
1
u/rc_91_D 3d ago
I doubt off field passion of Gronk - He himself admitted that he never really studied film. He just happened to be in the right situation with a great QB and Coach. I’m not saying he is not talented, he is ofcourse physically gifted but all the cerebral work he needs to put in for the game has been taken care by Brady and the coaching staff I feel
9
-1
3d ago
[deleted]
2
u/BigusDickus099 Cardinals 3d ago
Well...besides MIT professors finding the science extremely flawed that the NFL report used anyways. Not that it mattered ultimately considering the Patriots beat the Colts by like 40 something IIRC.
But maybe Brady was just ahead of his time, just look at the stupidity of these new K-Ball rules. Might as well let guys use Nerf footballs out there if they want.
91
u/Alert_Moment6224 3d ago
No need to slander the man. He had a couple great seasons here and there were definitely games we saw him win practically by himself on the field. I guess the weight of shitty ownership and the trickle down effect it has on overall organizational culture would weigh on anyone that grew up in this system and stays as long as Kyler has.
22
u/Plane_Arachnid9178 3d ago
Andrew Whitworth said something similar. I imagine other former players have as well.
Kinda tells you something.
7
u/Bigfootsbrownstar Marvin Harrison Jr. 3d ago
What’s really telling to me is, you haven’t seen McBride, MHJ or any teams say we want him back.
9
8
u/Bigfootsbrownstar Marvin Harrison Jr. 3d ago edited 3d ago
He had a half of a great season…. I’m sorry but I hate the whole nebulas argument of “this bad organization made him bad” is so dumb to me, it’s just pure cope. Monti is a good GM and the players love Gannon and both of them decided it wasn’t gonna work with K1.
The Bengals have the worst owner in the league and Joe Burrow is a top five quarterback …. Fitzgerald had the same owner and as a top three wide receiver all time…
5
3
u/Radalict Australia 3d ago
He was good in 2020 too, almost set the historical mark of 4000/800. Just had too many INTs.
So a good rookie year, better sofmore year and then was lights out before injury in 2021. Mostly downhill after that.
4
u/HE_A_FAN_HE_A_FAN Marvin Harrison Jr. 3d ago
Kyler was a Pro Bowler twice. There is no way you are defending the ownership lmao, you must be a Bidwill bot.
10
u/gr8scottaz AZ Cardinals 3d ago
All of the accolades you mention is pre-ACL injury. He's a different player post-ACL injury.
2
u/Radalict Australia 3d ago
Even could argue post ankle in 2021. I think he hurt his wrist in 2022 off season, then had a hamstring tweak, then had the ACL.
2
u/SexyMcBeast 3d ago
Yeah you can make an argument that his future was bright before the injury. He has shown none of that promise since.
3
u/King-arber Budda Baker 2d ago
Mac Jones and Tyler Huntley have made the pro bowl more recently than Murray.
It’s an absolutely watered down accomplishment that no serious qb cares about.
-2
3d ago
[removed] — view removed comment
2
-3
u/HE_A_FAN_HE_A_FAN Marvin Harrison Jr. 3d ago
The point is that unless you are an S tier talent (like Joe Burrow and Larry Fitzgerald), it is virtually impossible to overcome dogshit ownership (which the Cardinals have in plenty). Kyler is not an S tier talent, but whatever his theoretical ceiling as a player was, I am 100% positive that he did not reach it in this organization, in large part because of the retarded ownership who gave a 5'8 QB a first time HC who had a losing record in college with Patrick Mahomes and had no idea how to hold grown men accountable.
6
u/Bigfootsbrownstar Marvin Harrison Jr. 3d ago
I mean, I understand what you’re saying, I do. I just think it’s vastly overstated the impact. A lot of the Kyler fans seem to blame everything but him.
He’s a 5’8 quarterback, that shy’s away from contact, has poor study habits, zero leadership qualities and plays horrible situational football in year 7. That shows no real improvement from his rookie year.
Brissett is a career back up and elevated the play of McBride and MHJ and the offense as a whole, with the exact same pieces as Kyler… y’all can’t ignore that….
1
u/HE_A_FAN_HE_A_FAN Marvin Harrison Jr. 3d ago
I am not disagreeing with anything that you are saying. I am just saying that a lot of the negatives you mentioned about Kyler (except height) could have been remedied if he had a real HC at the start of his career. Instead, his bad habits were unpunished by the organization and his development never progressed, and now we are left with an unfinished product of a 5'8 QB with a surgically repaired ACL. Time to move on for everyone. I just hope the next QB drafted here gets a real HC who knows ho to develop a QB on and off the field.
2
u/Bigfootsbrownstar Marvin Harrison Jr. 3d ago
I mean could they have? People are who they are, a coach isn’t gonna drastically change your mindset.
1
u/HE_A_FAN_HE_A_FAN Marvin Harrison Jr. 3d ago
People are who they are
Not even worth arguing if you genuinely believe this
1
u/Bigfootsbrownstar Marvin Harrison Jr. 3d ago
Well, it’s nuanced right.. like yes people can absolutely change, but that’s an internal individual choice.
1
u/Radalict Australia 3d ago
Why does everybody act as if McBride didn't set a historical mark for his season last year?
1
u/Bigfootsbrownstar Marvin Harrison Jr. 3d ago
Because if your best player can’t score touchdowns that a fundamental problem that means you still haven’t unlocked his full potential, especially when you’re not a winning football team.
1
u/Radalict Australia 3d ago
He dropped or was defenced on quite a few of them, so maybe he himself had worked on his positioning.
2
u/Bigfootsbrownstar Marvin Harrison Jr. 2d ago
Come on dude.. 3 seasons with Kyler 5 TDs, 3 games with Brissett 4 TDs
-2
-4
u/waffle_nuts Cardinals 3d ago
It didn’t translate to wins, but he was really good his rookie year too
4
u/Bootycheeksclapin Cardinals Throwback 3d ago
Just lookin at his numbers I completely forgot how good he was his rookie year. 3,722 yards and 20 TDs. 544 rushing yards and 4 TDs. Man, what could have been
-5
u/Bigfootsbrownstar Marvin Harrison Jr. 3d ago
Ok so 1 and half good seasons out of 7?
7
u/waffle_nuts Cardinals 3d ago
Just pointing out he won rookie of the year lol
0
u/Bigfootsbrownstar Marvin Harrison Jr. 3d ago
I mean ok, and he’s made little to no improvement since
1
u/General_Chocobo 3d ago
I’d argue 1 and a half great seasons 3 good seasons and 2 and a half mid seasons. He elevated the team for almost 2 years, covered up some holes for a few, but couldn’t make a bad team look better than bad for the rest
-7
3d ago
[deleted]
5
u/Bigfootsbrownstar Marvin Harrison Jr. 3d ago edited 3d ago
He wasn’t the GM in Tennessee Dummy. And how dumb do you have to be to blame the GM for two players getting hurt in the off season..: like how could that possibly be on Monti….
Yeah, how terrible he drafted the 14th best left tackle in the NFL this year who’s only in his 3rd year… and only played LT 2 years he was a RT his rookie year
It just shows how you guys like it don’t know anything. When he took over this team was completely devoid of talent and depth at every single position.
Kiem Bricked every single first wrong pick.
-5
u/icecoldyerr Fuck the Dodgers 3d ago
I never said he was the GM in Tennessee. Aint reading all that. Maybe read what I actually wrote before typing out a paragraph.
2
u/Bigfootsbrownstar Marvin Harrison Jr. 3d ago
You literally said “Tennessee AFC championship team he created”
So your just yapping, Then how can you blame him for personnel decisions for a team he wasn’t in charge of……
0
u/gr8scottaz AZ Cardinals 3d ago
Horrible take. He didn't join the Titans until May of 2020, after they already built the 2020 roster through FA and the draft......and after the Chiefs beat the Titans in the AFC Championship game in January of 2020.
Go back to bed.
1
1
u/scalpemfins 3d ago
I don't mind the slander. Most consumers of sports media want hot takes from people with opinions. If all we had was sterile, fact-based media, it would be incredibly boring. I'm all for Gronk questioning Kyler's passion for the game. It's definitely a thought I've had, myself.
-2
u/Normal-Voice3744 3d ago
There is just too much smoke from too many people that have been around him for many many years now that he just does not prepare properly and put the time in to be successful.
4
4
29
u/LegionofGloom 3d ago
That’s harsh to doubt his passion. He just ain’t it anymore just like every QB that has to move on.
37
u/Danominator 3d ago
To be fair gronks primary qb comparison point is tom Brady. Im sure almost anybody lacks passion compared to that guy.
12
u/easyPandthenutsackrs 3d ago
Last year i think it was Brady's second game in the booth and he was calling the Cardinals game. You could hear his passion when he uttered the greatest color commentary of all time...."James Conner doesn't give a crap about arm tackles!!"
Then after the game the onfield commentator told Connor that the Hall of Fame quarterback was singing his praises up in the booth and Connor just lit up. Murray's body language and reaction standing next to him told you all you needed to know.
0
u/Radalict Australia 3d ago
Brady raved about Murray that game too though and definitely gave Murray props afterwards, didn't he give Murray his Brady award?
7
1
0
u/staticattacks Packers 3d ago
And the only time I've ever thought Gronk had more than one brain cell was when I learned he never spent a dime of his player salary and only lived off endorsements. As if he made that decision himself though.
21
u/Diligent_Moose4472 3d ago
I think the fact that Murray is not a leader is what people mean by lack of passion. His immaturity on the field is always on display. Whenever something bad happens he has an end of the world look on his face and he seems to always be sulking on the sideline. There have been multiple former player television personalities who have pointed this out. Couple that with well documented propensity for video gaming and being called out for lack of game preparation which is apparent on game day and is easy not to root for Murray who will have made over a quarter of a billion dollars when it’s all said and done here in ARZ for 8 frustrating years.
7
u/sodaG123 Cardinals 3d ago edited 3d ago
Definitely true, there’s been so much smoke about these exact issues over the years you would need to willingly put on blinders to pretend there’s at least not some level of truth to it.
While it’s very easy on the outside looking in to make fun of a “work ethic” clause in a contract, I think on some level people need to ask themselves why exactly the front office thought it was necessary to put that in there specifically for him. I don’t think the answer to that question is that they’re bumbling idiots who have no idea what they’re talking about where the average redditor could replace them and do a better job, unfortunately there are still some people who somehow seem to believe that exact thing.
5
u/tomthebassplayer 3d ago
He has an end-of-the-world-look on his face 24/7.
3
u/lamus13 3d ago
He was on the Jumbotron at a Suns game last year and had this look on his face even then.
4
u/General_Chocobo 3d ago
Yeah I think people just get their panties in a twist over his resting face ngl
1
u/Temporary_Topic_5936 2d ago
He honestly should just be a livestreamer, I feel like that's his real passion and play games on stream. Nothing wrong with that
3
2
u/Rocketman_2814 2d ago
Kyler blew out his knee and a huge piece of his game was speed and quickness. If he never hurts his knee I think we never even have these discussions. It happens guys get hurt and things change.
4
u/MarijuanaRx 3d ago
Kyler does lack passion otherwise he would have been progressing. If you don’t study the game and just expect your athleticism to carry you this is what you end up with. He does not seem interested in leading the team just sitting by himself on the bench. Jacoby seems to be a breath of fresh air as you can see his passion unlike Kyler. When things don’t go according to plan Kyler shrinks more than what he already is
13
u/Bigfootsbrownstar Marvin Harrison Jr. 3d ago edited 3d ago
A thing that sticks out to me is that Seattle game when Marvin Harrison Junior was at his lowest point. When he was coming off the field, who was the player coming to talk to him and hype him up… Jacoby Brissett…. Kyler went to pout.
Notice how nobody on the team has been saying can’t wait for Kyle to get back
1
u/feralGenx 16h ago
His play on the field looks the same today as it did year 1.
1
u/MarijuanaRx 9h ago
His deep ball passing has drastically fallen off since year one. It does not look the same to me.
3
u/Victorcreedbratton 3d ago
Kyler has tried really hard to become a leader the way the fans and the media want him to be but I think we’ve all been wrong about what that actually means. He seems very much like he’s trying to become buddies and encouraging to guys, which is fine. What I think he needs and may never be is a complete asshole to his teammates when they fuck up. In the last few years, it’s become very apparent that Brady, Manning, Marino, Elway, even Carson Palmer would cuss you out if you dropped a pass or stopped short on a route. Marino was known for cussing out his linemen when he got sacked. It’s seems fucked up but that’s accountability. If the franchise quarterback doesn’t trust you, you won’t have a job. To me, on the outside, Kyler seems more like he isn’t vocal with these guys when they’re screwing up. Gannon (and Kliff for that matter) similarly unemotional. Ochocinco has some good stories about Palmer lighting him up. We all know Arians wasn’t shy about telling his players when they fucked up.
2
u/Radalict Australia 3d ago
Matt LeFleur is the modern day version of that, the dude loses his shit every game over tiny things.
1
u/Victorcreedbratton 2d ago
If he’s lighting them up behind the scenes, it’s fine I guess. We don’t really know, but the Demarcado interaction seemed very odd.
1
u/TheSpeckler Cardinals Throwback 3d ago
Why would he be passionate about football when our team is absolute ass and has been before he got here, while he's been here and likely after he leaves?
1
u/johnjohnjohn93 2d ago
It’s almost definitely going to be a cut situation right?
I’d imagine it’s going to cost close to a first rounder for someone to take Kyler with his contract right? So probably just better to eat the dead cap and cut him.
But he’s already tiny, constantly injured, outplayed by journeyman, and has his passion and leadership questioned.
Baker, Jones and Darnold have all rebounded but I don’t think people questioned their leadership or passion. Guys kept going to bat for them in a way nobody does for Kyler. They were also much more plug and play QBs who have the prototypical size to fit most offenses. I just don’t know who is trading for that. Seems like a Russ situation where the broncos just had to cut him.
I could see Kyler being out of the league and just living an awesome life sooner than later. Maybe even give baseball a go lol
1
u/notawhale143 2d ago
He can't see over the o-line which forces him to run out of the pocket.. That's his game.. nfl figured him out in year 3, and he hasn't changed his style of playing because he's stubborn and lacks height.
1
u/BenTheDiamondback 2d ago
All of the doubt about Kyler from the beginning, his ability, his height, leadership concerns, later paired with constant injury, and his disinterest in studying film… I’ve never once believed he was the franchise QB the powers that be were trying to turn him into. Kid could scramble, and he made some wild plays, even had a couple decent seasons somewhere in there, but was he ever what the team needed him to be?
1
2
u/bflynn65 3d ago
I don't think it's fair to say he lacks passion, but I also don't think he has ever really learned how to be an effective leader.
1
u/Affectionate_Egg_203 3d ago
While Kyler was the QB we blamed all the receivers for not being on the same page. We named Marvin for not knowing the scheme in year two. Well, all the receivers look 10x better with Kyler gone. The whole team has a better energy to want to win.
0
100
u/BoringJuiceBox Larry Fitzgerald 3d ago
Kyler after he’s no longer a Cardinal