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Arizona Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury told reporters Friday that the Cardinals need to do a better job of “handling our business” in regards to the team’s off-field issues this offseason.

Josh Weinfuss @joshweinfuss

Kliff Kingsbury said he’d prefer the focus of training camp to be on football rather than all the off-field issues the Cardinals have been dealing with. He hopes it can get there: “Moving forward, we got to be better as an organization handling our business. There’s no question.”

This has been a noisy offseason for the Cardinals. Most notably, contract talks with star quarterback Kyler Murray played out in dramatic and drawn-out fashion over a period of months.

That ordeal ended when Murray signed a five-year, $230.5 million extension last month.

The Cardinals’ offseason included (but was not limited to) reports of discontent in February, one month after an ugly 34-11 Wild Card Round loss to the Los Angeles Rams.

Chris Mortensen @mortreport

Where’s it headed?
Despite the acrimony, the Cardinals expect things to calm down and Murray is their QB.
Select veterans hope to reach Murray on how he handle adversity better.
Coach Kliff Kingsbury also is self-scouting where he can provide better alternatives for QB.

Murray also scrubbed all Cardinals references from his social media.

Before March even hit, Murray’s representation put out a long, detailed post firing a salvo in contract talks with the team, noting that “actions speak much louder than words in this volatile business.”

Adam Schefter @AdamSchefter

A statement from Cardinals’ QB Kyler Murray’s agent, @ErikBurkhardt: pic.twitter.com/qsWGZIZ0jB

After a few more months, Murray and the Cardinals finally got the contract agreed upon, but then word emerged of a clause that stated the quarterback had to do four hours of independent study per game week.

It was not well received, and Murray defended his work ethic to the media.

Arizona Cardinals @AZCardinals

“I refuse to let my work ethic be in question.”

🗣 @K1 pic.twitter.com/28TZD5AvSk

There’s more to this Cardinals offseason than Murray, though.

Wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins has been suspended six games for failing a test for performance-enhancing drugs. He has denied knowingly taking any substance to violate NFL rules.

Marquise Brown, who the Cardinals acquired via trade from the Baltimore Ravens in April, was arrested and charged with criminal speeding Wednesday. Police said he was going 126 mph in a 65 mph zone.

It’s been a rocky road since last season ended. Week 1 won’t be an easy task for the Cardinals either as Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs come into town to open the season Sept. 11.

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