NFL contracts are known for having weird clauses within them. Some players have certain bonuses that require them to stay above (or below) a certain weight. Others offer playing-time incentives that protect teams in the event that a player gets injured.But the one that the Cardinals put in Kyler Murray's new contract may be among the strangest of them all.Murray agreed to a long-term extension with the Cardinals last week that will pay him . The deal makes him one of the NFL's highest-paid quarterbacks and puts to an end the drama that had surrounded Murray and
New York Jets Home Office the team during the offseason.Murray certainly did well for himself earning the nine-figure deal. That said, the Cardinals evidently pushed for an odd addendum to be included within it that e sentially guarantees Murray will work a little extra each week to prepare for the Cardinals' matchup.Here's a breakdown of Murray's "independent study" clause and how it became a part of his contract.MORE: The independent study addendum was something that the Cardinals and Murray agreed to include in the quarterback's $230.5 million contract. Officially, guarantees that Murray must "satisfy the off-field requirements" listed below:Player
Curtis Martin Jersey (Murray) shall complete at least four hours of Independent Study each week (excluding any bye week) during each Playing Season during the term of the Contract.The "Playing Season" referenced in the contract is a set period that runs from the first Monday after training camp through the end of the Cardinals' season. As for what constitutes independent study, the Cardinals defined that as a part of the addendum.'Independent Study' means Player (Murray)
Trevon Wesco Jersey studies the material provided to him by the Club (Cardinals) in order to prepare for the Club's next upcoming game, including without limitation any such material provided via an iPad or other electronic device. Time spent in mandatory meetings shall not constitute Independent Study.The contract also specifies that Murray would not receive independent study credit if he "does not personally study the provided material in good faith" or if he is "engaged in any other activity that may distract his attention while such material is being displayed or played."So, e sentially, the addendum effectively ensures that Murray will be asked to spend extra a few hours each week studying coach-prepared materials designed to help him face Arizona's opponents. If not, Murray would be ruled "in default" of that portion of the contract. Simple enough.That said, there is still one big question remaining about this clause.Why
Sam Darnold Jersey did the Cardinals feel the need to include it within Murray's contract?MORE: According to , the independent study addendum was something that the Cardinals wanted in the contract. Why? Because of the commitment both sides are making as a part of this long-term deal.It was important to the team making a commitment at that level, thus it was important to Murray.So, the Cardinals wanted to be sure that Murray was committed to them, and as Rapoport later clarified, they wanted that commitment in writing.Additionally, Rapoport stated that Murray already
Al Toon Jersey does the four hours of game studying on his own; Murray's camp didn't view it as a particularly big deal as a result.Kyler Murray does 4 hours of game studying on his own, anyway. And similar to the team wanting him around for the offseason as the face of the franchise, AZ wanted a commitment in writing while going to a certain place money-wise. Thus, the clause Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) Still, it seems odd that the Cardinals would include a clause like this in a contract. As Andrew Brandt pointed out on Twitter, it seems strange that the team is willing to
Braxton Berrios Jersey pay him as a top-five NFL quarterback yet is worried about him putting in four extra hours of his time per week.Never seen this in 30 years of looking at NFL contracts.Strange theyll give him $46 million a year (on extension years) yet worry about 4 hours a week of studying. Andrew Brandt (@AndrewBrandt) Indeed, this incentive feels rather juvenile one that someone would dangle to a kid to get them to complete their homework. Certainly, it doesn't seem like something that belongs in a $230.5 million quarterback contract.But evidently, Arizona wanted to protect themselves if Murray decides to slack off. We'll see if that ever becomes an i sue during that five-year term on his deal.
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