EAGAN, Minn. (AP) 鈥� The combination of skills and experience carried with him to the has made him their presumptive starting quarterback this upcoming season, even if the coaching staff declared an open competition for the job with .
In his first public comments since Murray was cut by the starting-over Arizona Cardinals and signed with the eager-to-contend Vikings, McCarthy sounded as though he understood the situation but did not necessarily appreciate it.
鈥淟ook, the organization made a decision that they feel like is going to improve the depth and the quality of the room,鈥� McCarthy said Wednesday after the first offseason practice session the team opened to reporters.
鈥淎ll I鈥檓 thinking about is continuing the upward trajectory that I set for myself last season 鈥� that last quarter of the season 鈥� and continuing to be the best version of me every single day.鈥�
Asked directly if he was disappointed that the Vikings acquired Murray, McCarthy said, 鈥淭hen I would be disappointed if the rain fell. That鈥檚 out of my control. At the end of the day, I鈥檝e just got to focus on what I can do to be the best quarterback for this football team.鈥�
As for his nascent relationship with Murray, McCarthy said there’s no awkwardness between them but, well, sure didn’t sound warm about it in his terse response.
鈥淚t鈥檚 just like two guys in a classroom. He sits on one side. I sit on the other side. And it鈥檚 the coaches responsibility to teach us and coach us,鈥� McCarthy said.
Murray, for his part, didn’t hesitate to speak highly of the working arrangement, which is undoubtedly easier to do as an eighth-year player in the with multiple standout seasons on his resume. Murray said McCarthy has been 鈥渙verly鈥� receptive to his input as a veteran with 87 starts.
鈥淲e鈥檙e both competitors. I know we both want what鈥檚 best for the team,鈥� Murray said. 鈥淗e鈥檚 always communicating, asking questions, stuff like that, so it鈥檚 been good.鈥�
Murray has deftly dodged any discussion of depth chart expectation. Even with all of the assets the Vikings offer 鈥� from top-notch facilities to a quarterback-friendly head coach in Kevin O’Connell to star wide receiver Justin Jefferson 鈥� he likely wouldn’t have picked Minnesota on a one-year minimum-salary contract if he didn’t think he’d be the starter. Whether the job was privately promised to him or not hardly matters.
鈥淢y confidence is unshakeable. That鈥檚 how I feel about myself,” Murray said. “Regardless of what happens day to day, I know the next day I鈥檓 coming out here giving my best effort.鈥�
McCarthy declined to specify whether he’s made any changes to his throwing mechanics, after being dogged by erratic performances during his injury-impacted rocky debut. He has spent plenty of time since the offseason began, however, working on the field with Jefferson.
鈥淛ust building those on-time and on-rhythm passes for each concept and each route,鈥� McCarthy said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 just tremendous to be around that guy every single day.鈥�
When Vikings players reconvened last month to begin the formal offseason training program, Jefferson spoke candidly to reporters about his excitement over Murray’s arrival 鈥� and his expectation for McCarthy鈥檚 improvement.
鈥淚t鈥檚 good to get some good talent in that room to kind of give a little spark in that room, to see a competitive edge from those guys to lock in and do what we鈥檙e expecting them to do, which is to come in and to be that guy,” said Jefferson, the two-time All-Pro who has entered his seventh year in the NFL. 鈥淲e have great talent in that room, especially for J.J. to get that spark in him and for Kyler to come from Arizona and continue that spark.鈥�
Assuming Murray wins the job this season, his mobility ought to open up more space for Jefferson down the field.
鈥淒efinitely looking forward to his speed, his quickness, his arm strength that he鈥檚 shown countless times over the years,鈥� Jefferson said. 鈥淔or J.J., somebody into that room with that type of ability, that type of talent, he鈥檚 got to step it up a little bit. So it鈥檚 good for him to feel that type of pressure and to really lock in a little bit and say, 鈥業t鈥檚 either now, or I鈥檓 going to take that backseat again.’鈥�
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