Buffalo Bills trade Cody Ford to Arizona Cardinals
The Buffalo Bills and Arizona Cardinals agreed on a trade that will send offensive lineman and Oklahoma alum Cody Ford to the Cardinals in exchange for a 2023 fifth round draft pick.
Ford was drafted by the Bills in the second round of 2019 and has started 29 of his 38 games with them, seeing action at right tackle and both guard positions. The Cardinals released former Oklahoma State wide receiver Marcell Ateman to make room for Ford on the roster, a move likely meant to address their issues with depth and injuries on the offensive line.
At Oklahoma, Ford started his career getting redshirted, earning the scout team player of the year award on the team. Ford ended his career as a First team All-Big 12 selection and an AP All-America Third Team selection and was a part of an offensive line that earned the Joe Moore Award given to the best offensive line unit in college football.
Ford will rejoin his former Sooner teammate Kyler Murray, who he protected in college and got drafted in the same class with.
Kyler Murray fires back at critics in response to clause in new contract, work ethic
Kyler Murray’s recent contract extension has had plenty of people around the NFLbuzzing over the last several days. It’s not because he became the league’s second-highest paid quarterback behind Aaron Rodgers. It’s what was between the lines of Murray’s contract that piqued some interest.
Within the contract was an addendum that requires at least four hours of ‘independent study’ from Murray each week. If not, he would be in ‘default’ of the five-year, $230-million extension. Many have now questioned Murray’s work ethic for the franchise to so plainly state it within his new deal.
Murray did his best to put those narratives to bed during his press conference on Thursday amidst the Cardinal’s training camp. Via Kevin Zimmerman of ArizonaSports.com, Murray says it’s impossible for people to understand the work he has put in.
“I’ve put in an incomprehensible amount of time, blood, sweat, tears and work into what I do. Whether it’s football or baseball,” said Murray. “People can’t even comprehend the amount of time that it takes to play two sports at a high level out of college, let alone be the first person to do it ever at my size. Like I said, it’s funny.”
Murray has since been caught overlapping his comments, though, based on a former interview. Murray said he was ‘blessed’ with ‘cognitive skills’ to see the football field in a New York Times profile. With that being the case, he said he’s not a player who has to ‘kill (himself) watching film’. After his statement, Murray spurned any other questions about the specific clause per Darren Urban from azcardinals.com.