The pairing was supposed to be perfect, Hollywood Brown coming to play with his best friend Kyler Murray. It was necessary too, with the suspension of DeAndre Hopkins looming and then – when Hop got back – Brown would be an excellent complement on the other side, and Kyler would have two impressive outside targets.
Anyone paying attention knows that’s not how it played out.
Brown got hurt as soon as Hopkins was coming back in 2022. Then Murray got hurt. Then Hop was let go. Brown was playing well most of 2023, even if the stats weren’t showing it. He was open a lot, but Joshua Dobbs couldn’t find him down the field. When Murray came back, he too couldn’t quite find Brown – and then Brown’s heel derailed it for good.
The news on Friday that Brown is going to IR isn’t a shock. The Cardinals can use the roster spot and it was clear time had run out on Brown trying to get right. As coach Jonathan Gannon said, it wasn’t for lack of effort from Brown to make it happen; in part because of who he is, in part knowing his roller-coaster season won’t help his free-agent value.
I don’t know what will happen with Brown. Gannon said, while the season has run out, Brown will be healthy soon. Will he get a big offer somewhere? Does he find a way to stay alongside his friend here in Arizona? Whether it is here or elsewhere, is he in a spot where he has to do the one-year, prove-it contract and try free agency again in 2025?
(GM Monti Ossenfort, on Arizona Sports on Friday, did not rule out a Brown return to the Cardinals.)
I’ll just say this: I like Hollywood Brown. He is a good dude and I believe he is good for the locker room – and Kyler too. When he’s right, he’s a factor. Gannon just got through saying Friday that Brown was going to IR when he spoke on a different subject — but the answer was how players can impact and influence the game even if the stats don’t show it. “The ultimate team game,” Gannon said.
I think Brown is a team player. Business is business so we will see how it washes out in the offseason. But it’s unfortunate how Brown’s two years in Arizona have played out.
— Having Murray back at practice and ready to play in Philly is a huge development; Gannon said all week Murray would be ready to play but on the chance he could not, this is a game that would be daunting if you had to go with rookie Clayton Tune at QB. It’s daunting anyway.
— If you weren’t sure about Murray, his…
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