Cardinals owner Michael Bidwill happened to talk to Kyler Murray Thursday night, an example of the "good conversations" the team has had with their quarterback of late despite much national speculation about the relationship between Murray and the team.
"I'm not a big social media guy, I don't know the nuances of some of this stuff," Bidwill said during an appearance on 98.7, Arizona's Sports Station on Friday morning. "But I think there was a lot of interpretation around that that was inconsistent with the conversations that not just I have had but that Kliff (Kingsbury) and Steve (Keim) have had.
"There are positive conversations that are going in the right direction. We know we have to get better. I know Kyler put out the statement, 'love me or hate me ... I'm going to get better.' Well, put me in the category that I love him, and I know he's going to get better."
As for Murray's potential contract extension -- now through three seasons, Murray became eligible for a new deal the day after the regular season -- Bidwill noted that window just opened and "certainly he's part of our long-term plan."
"These contracts, especially the quarterback contracts, are very complicated," Bidwill said. "Most of the big ones are done further down the road (of the offseason.) I think Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen were done in the summertime, others were done in the summertime. So we've got time.
"We also have other priorities. Free agency starts in a couple of weeks, and as well we have to get a couple of guys re-signed. The salary cap, it's one big pie and you're making room (with a QB extension) for a big new piece of the pie that will replace the rookie contract. The structure of it, the timing of it, it's a complicated process. It takes some time."
The likely return of a normal offseason -- Bidwill said it "looks like these Covid clouds are clearing" -- will also aid Murray and the entire team. Murray had an offseason as a rookie, but the last two offseasons have been cancelled or truncated, potentially hindering growth.
Losing wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins to injury -- twice -- hurt the team both on the field and emotionally, Bidwill said. The idea that Kingsbury would have to overhaul the offensive plan doesn't make sense to Bidwill either.
"We're never going to stop pursuing ideas to try and get better, but we were 7-0 and 10-2 and (Murray) was in the MVP conversation, and then we had some injuries," Bidwill said. "I think we were doing a lot of things right. I think there is no doubt we will change some things up."
Saying he was optimistic about the direction of the team, Bidwill did broach the subject of a poor home record a couple of times, acknowledging it has to change.
He also said he thinks Kingsbury has been a successful choice in making a transition from college to the NFL, and now that he's had the time to adjust to the pro game, "I feel like he's just going to get better and better."
-- Bidwill was asked specifically about the future of pass rusher Chandler Jones, who is set to become a free agent. Jones, who had 10.5 sacks this season, had hoped for an extension before last season.
"We love Chandler and would love to have him back," Bidwill said. "The devil is in the details and I'll leave that up to Steve and Chandler's representatives to work on."
-- Bidwill was also asked about the potential for new uniforms.
"We look at all these things," Bidwill said. "These things, there is a timeline for them and it takes time. It's something among the array of things we look at around the team. It's on the radar screen."
