Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray caused a bit of a kerfuffle earlier this week when he indicated he still had interest in playing baseball at some point. “I think I could. … Athletically, I think yeah, I could do it. I’ve been playing both my whole life. I would love to add that to the resume,” he told Bob McManaman of the Arizona Republic (Twitter link).
Fortunately for Cardinals fans, they don’t have to worry about that anytime soon. Murray’s NFL contract specifically bars him from pursuing his other sport in any form, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network (Twitter link). Rapoport reviewed the language of Murray’s deal, which rules out “any baseball related activity, tryout, workout, scrimmage, any exhibition, from any baseball team in any baseball league.”
Murray, of course, was previously a two-sport athlete. He was drafted early in the first round by the Oakland Athletics a few years ago, and until he took over for Baker Mayfield as Oklahoma’s starting quarterback, it was widely assumed he would pursue a MLB career. Then he ended up exceeding all expectations in his one season of college football, winning the Heisman Trophy. After leaving his future up in the air for a while, Murray eventually fully committed to football and announced he would withdraw from his deal with Oakland back in February of last year.
A couple months later, the Cardinals drafted him first overall. Murray had an up and down rookie season in his first year playing under Kliff Kingsbury, but he showed plenty of flashes. The potential Rookie of the Year, he finished with 24 total touchdowns and had some huge games. It isn’t totally unheard of for a player to compete in both sports, as Deion Sanders famously played in the NFL and MLB at the same time. That being said, it would be much tougher for a quarterback to attempt such a thing. Maybe one day Murray will find his way back to the diamond, but it doesn’t sound like it’ll be anytime soon.
Wait I’m confused. It’s illegal for him to play baseball?
What? Can you read? He’s NFL contract states he cannot play baseball in any form in any league. What don’t you understand about that?
Well if you could read you’d see that I said I was confused and needed clarification, just how you’ve not understood everything you’ve read in your life. Thank you.
Where are you getting that it would be ‘illegal’? That’s insane. A private company can’t make laws. I think that’s why your first reply was so rude to you about being able to read.
It’s a contract. If he breaches it, they can void it and potentially sue him. Asking if it’s illegal to play baseball is absurd.
It is illegal to break a contract. It would not be criminal but still illegal. So, not so insane after all.
No it’s not illegal to break a contract lol what are you talking about. Contracts are guidelines for performance and as soon as one party of the contract no longer benefits them they look to break the contract. This is a common practice which happens every day by no means is it illegal
It is insane. It is not illegal to break a contact. It would be a civil matter. There is no law that says anything of that nature. Get a clue
Basically. The A’s signed him without including this clause, and when he soared up the draft boards, the A’s were left with nothing but a sliver of Kyler’s signing bonus.
Probably not illegal but he would be in breach of his contract if he were to pursue baseball which the Cards would probably take legal action
Basically he gave notice to the Cards to improve now. Otherwise he can go to MLB w/ guaranteed contracts and longevity. Power play, I like it.
LOL yeah that’s what he’s doing, a rookie QB pulling a power play. SMH
He signed the contract a year ago. He knows he can’t play, so why discuss it?
He’s not the leaving the cardinals so he can be assigned to low A rookie ball in the A’s org. Please.
Money, always, talks. If he’s a star, they’ll let him skip triple A ball. Oakland wants the same thing as Arizona; sell tickets, jerseys, and whatever else comes from a star. But they do have guaranteed contracts.
I’m not saying he will do this. But why on earth discuss it after, knowingly signing a deal that strictly prohibits it?
If I’m the A’s, I honestly wouldn’t want him back. He did them a little dirty. I know there’s too much money to be made for them to stand on that hill, so they’d take him back in a second, if it were allowed.
Basically he just made an off hand remark. He not sending “notice” to anyone genius
Hmmm, can he play in celebrity or charitable softball games?
Lol
What happens if he goes back to the a’s?
The A’s beat him with a bat
He gets promoted, plays a few years for them, then they trade him.
Tough break for Murray. Not only can he not play baseball, but thanks to Andrew, he will now have kerfuffle causer on his resume.
Bo Jackson was the original and was a BEAST in both.
I believe Otto Graham was the original 2 sport superstar. Won a championship in both pro football and pro basketball.
Jim Thorpe. MLB player, NFL star and Gold Medalist Olympian in Track and Field
Lots of guys did it before Bo, but Bo sure did it well!
Legit so stupid. Fans would love to see another 2 sport star. And clearly he is open too it.
No way any nfl qb can be successful missing training camp, preseason, and not practicing the first month of the season lmao. Gtfo
Any other position than QB and he would be playing both. QB is too important to NFL teams opposed to a single outfielder to an MLB organization.
He had to “withdraw from his deal” with the A’s? Could someone tell me what that deal was? The writer of this article kind of left that detail out of his story.
He found a way to use the word “kerfuffle” however.
He signed a contract with the A’s to play baseball after his senior season and took a large signing bonus.
The agreement allowed him to play football. The NFL Cardinals deal did not allow him to play baseball so he cannot. He worked out the bonus issue with the A’s