Kyler Murray explains the growth of his tight end Trey McBride
Cardinals QB Kyler Murray goes back to the beginning to talk about how TE Trey McBride has gotten better each year.
Sports Seriously
Sometimes, it’s best to leave a social media post in the drafts.
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray answered questions today about an Instagram post he made on Tuesday featuring his young pit bull, Trunks, as well as Murray himself wearing a Michael Vick jersey.
Murray’s decision to wear a Vick jersey in a photoshoot with his pit bull sparked online outcry given the former NFL quarterback’s violence towards dogs in the past. He made a statement today in response to that criticism.
“In no way, shape or form do I condone animal cruelty or dog fighting,” Murray said. “For me personally, you all saw me wear the Michael Vick jersey, a player I admired very much growing up. My dogs, Trunks and Swoosh, they both get treated like kings. In no way, shape or form do I condone any of that.”
The post has been deleted from Murray’s Instagram.
“I saw how it affected people and decided to take it down,” he said. “I apologize to anybody and whoever I affected by (posting) that.”
In 2007, Vick was arrested and agreed to plead guilty to charges for his involvement in a dog fighting ring. The then-Atlanta Falcons quarterback admitted to helping finance “Bad Newz Kennels,” which largely involved pit bulls.
In the investigation report, a confidential witness told the Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Agriculture that Vick killed “approximately seven dogs by hanging and drowning.”
The NFL suspended Vick indefinitely in August 2007, shortly after his indictment that July.
Vick was charged with two felonies and faced up to five years in prison. He ultimately received a 23-month prison sentence, of which he served 19 at a federal prison in Kansas before being released for good behavior.
In 2008, Vick also received another sentence, this time for three years, after pleading guilty to state charges. That three-year sentence was suspended provided Vick showed good behavior for the four years that followed.
He returned to the NFL in 2009, playing for the Philadelphia Eagles.
Murray was 9 years old at the time of Vick’s indictment. Eighteen years later, it’s unclear why he thought this photoshoot was a good idea.
(This story was updated to include new information.)