Kliff Kingsbury Sees Kyler Murray Discussion As…

INDIANAPOLIS – Kliff Kingsbury opened with some levity.

“Just a quick programming note,” the Cardinals coach said Tuesday, before taking the first question from the media at the NFL Scouting Combine. “(GM) Steve Keim will be here at 3 p.m. I know he’s really anxious to talk to you guys, so any of the tough ones, you can save for him.”

Kingsbury knew what was coming (as does Keim, who as Kingsbury noted will himself talk to the media in a bit.) The subject leaned heavy into quarterback Kyler Murray and Murray’s desire for a contract extension, which his agent made plain in a statement released Monday.

“It’s part of the business,” Kingsbury said, who acknowledged he had read the statement.

Kingsbury did say, since Covid has helped derail two offseasons in a row, that this one is crucial for Murray and the entire offense to grow together. If it doesn’t happen, however, “we’ve been through it before.”

Kingsbury said he had not yet talked to Murray since the statement came out, but that they talk often, noting “we’re in a great place.” Murray has already had discussions with Kingsbury about potential player additions the team could make this offseason.

“Our long-term goal is to have Kyler Murray be our quarterback,” Kingsbury said. “He understands that and he understands my view of him and how I feel about him.”

Kingsbury said Murray has improved “by leaps and bounds” since he came into the league, improving each year. That includes leadership, the coach added.

Kingsbury shares the same agent – Erik Burkhardt – with Murray. But he said he discusses only his business with Burkhardt and not Murray’s, knowing it’s important to keep them separate. To that end, Kingsbury said he did not know about Monday’s statement until it arrived on social media.

“I love Kyler, I love Erik, and that’s not going to change,” Kingsbury said.

More to come on azcardinals.com after Keim’s press conference.