Sharpe: Murray’s MVP Chances Laughable
After a rocky start to the season, the Arizona Cardinals are finding success as of late with the team having won each of their past four games. They’ve now got a 6-4 record and look well-positioned to make noise in the NFC West.
In the Cardinals’ past three games in particular, the squad has really hit their stride offensively — surpassing the 28-point mark in each of those outings. Murray, himself, is having quite a remarkable season.
Through ten games, Murray has thrown for 2,058 yards, 12 touchdowns and just three interceptions while completing 69% of his passes. As a known dual-threat quarterback, Murray has added 371 yards on the ground with 46 rushing attempts, cashing in on four touchdowns on the ground.
Dominique Foxworth adds Murray to the MVP conversation
During ESPN’s “First Take,” former NFL cornerback Dominique Foxworth claimed that Murray is playing sharp enough to deserve his name being thrown into the hat for the Most Valuable Player award — while acknowledging that Baltimore Ravens star quarterback Lamar Jackson remains the favorite to win.
“I think he deserves to be in the convo,” Foxworth said. “I think Lamar is still the front-runner — but Kyler is doing similar things, where it is an evolution of his game. He does seem to be playing a lot better. …[The team is] making it easier for Kyler, but he’s taking them to the next level.”
What exactly is helping Murray in the MVP conversation? Foxworth believes his production all around has made the Cardinals’ offense too much to handle.
“There isn’t a situation right now where Kyler Murray is playing poorly. He’s playing well in the red zone, outside the pocket, inside the pocket, against the blitz. He’s doing everything you expect of a quarterback. It’s elevating this team and I don’t know how else you define value,” Foxworth continued.
Shannon Sharpe takes exception to Murray being in the conversation
While Foxworth dubbed Jackson the favorite, Shannon Sharpe didn’t like bringing any other player into the conversation.
“I think he’s playing phenomenal,” Sharpe said of Murray. “But there’s nobody in the conversation. It’s Lamar Jackson.
“He’s in a room by himself, locked the door, and it’s soundproof. …At the end of the day, it’s still a stat-based award.”
Jackson has thrown for 2,669 yards, 24 touchdowns and only two interceptions in ten games himself. Add in two touchdowns and 539 rushing yards and the Ravens quarterback has been phenomenal both on the field and in the box score — which is why he has already won the award multiple times.
Murray can certainly be in the conversation, but it’s hard to consider any resume alongside Jackson’s and consider them a winner.
