TEMPE Maxx Crosby Jersey , Ariz. (AP) — The Cardinals traded up in last year’s draft to take Josh Rosen, so it’s not like they needed another quarterback.Ever diligent, Keim forced himself to watch the reigning Heisman Trophy winner.What he saw made it impossible to look away.“The more and more we dug in, the more it became crystal clear Kyler Murray was the pick,” Keim said Thursday night after the Cardinals took Murray with the No. 1 overall pick of the draft. “I’ve been doing this 20 years and I’ve seen guys who can throw like him, guys who can run it like him. I can tell you I’ve never seen the combination he brings to the table.”The Cardinals appeared to have their quarterback of the future in last year’s draft, when they moved up five spots to take Rosen out of UCLA at No. 10 overall.Rosen had an up-and-down rookie season, throwing for 2,278 yards and 11 touchdowns with 14 interceptions Foster Moreau Jersey , but there was no indication Arizona would be seeking a new quarterback anytime soon.The hiring of former Texas Tech coach Kliff Kingsbury during the offseason helped change the dynamic in Arizona.Kingsbury’s wide-open offense put up prodigious numbers in Lubbock and twice produced the national leader in passing yards.The 39-year-old coach has brought his pass-first offense to the desert and Murray seems to be the perfect fit to run it. Kingsbury even recruited Murray to Texas A&M when he was the offensive coordinator there in 2012 and the two have known each other since the quarterback was 15.“He’s a dynamic talent and I don’t know anybody has seen that combination as a runner and passer,” Kingsbury said. “To be able to start as a pocket passer, throw from different arm angles, throw with touch then take it 80 (yards) on any snap. I’m excited.”Though small for a quarterback at 5-foot-10, Murray is strong-armed and shifty, with an ability to feel pressure and avoid big hits. He threw for 4,361 yards and 42 touchdowns with 11 interceptions at Oklahoma last season, adding 1,001 yards and 12 more touchdowns on the ground.A backup to Baker Mayfield in 2017 Joey Bosa Jersey , he followed in the footsteps of his former teammate by winning the Heisman Trophy and being taken with the No. 1 overall pick a year later. Mayfield, now with the Cleveland Browns, quickly congratulated his successor in Norman.“I feel we can be very dangerous,” Murray said. “He’s one of the best in the world at calling plays. I can’t wait to get up there with him. It’s been a long time coming and I hope he feels the same.”The Cardinals had been on the clock for three months, yet seemed to have a hard time deciding what to do with the fourth No. 1 overall pick in franchise history.Murray’s decision to play football instead of baseball added a layer of intrigue, even with Rosen on the roster.Arizona’s brass said it was still undecided days before the draft, leaving fans and media wondering if they would take Murray, pick a defensive player or trade down and get more value.It ended up being Murray, giving the Cardinals two top-10 quarterbacks.Keim said he received calls about trading for the No. 1 pick and for Rosen Tony Pollard Jersey , but none were enough to move the needle toward making a deal.“Bottom line, Josh is a really good football player and we’re not going to get into the business of letting good football players just walk out of here,” he said. “You can’t have enough good depth. Needs constantly change and needs could change at that position. We know we’ve got a very good player in Josh Rosen.” ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — Matt Patricia had no time to reflect on missing the playoffs for just the second time during 15 NFL seasons.For one, this isn’t New England, where the rookie Detroit Lions coach spent his first 14 seasons as an assistant. And, Patricia said, there are still two games left for the Lions to play.“I’m not going to put anything into summation,” Patricia said after a 14-13 loss to the Buffalo Bills on Sunday mathematically eliminated the Lions from contention.“I think we’re going to be focused on this game and trying to make sure to analyze this game and where we can get better Noah Fant Jersey ,” he added. “There’s a lot of areas that we can work on.”The Lions fell to 5-9 and will miss the playoffs for a second consecutive season, while also guaranteed a losing record for the first time since a 7-9 finish in 2015.The result was indicative of an injury-depleted roster and a team in transition. Leading rusher Kerryon Johnson missed his fourth straight game with a knee injury. Detroit was also dealing with a patchwork group of receivers with Marvin Jones on injured reserve, Bruce Ellington out with a hamstring injury and Golden Tate traded to Philadelphia in October.Though Kenny Golladay had a career-best 146 yards receiving, Detroit punted on six of its final possessions in squandering a 13-7 lead in the fourth quarter.Bills rookie Josh Allen hit undrafted rookie receiver Robert Foster for a 42-yard touchdown with 10:26 remaining. And Allen sealed the victory by leaping for a 2-yard gain to convert a fourth-and-1 at Detroit’s 41 with 1:47 left.And the Lions’ usually reliable special teams also cost them.Detroit opened the scoring on Stafford’s 4-yard touchdown pass to Andy Jones, but botched the extra-point attempt on Don Muhlbach’s bad snap.“Awful. I didn’t do my job right,” Muhlbach said, noting he had difficulty raising the ball off the ground. “I let everybody down.”Then, following Foster’s touchdown, Stafford responded by marching the Lions 45 yards on the next possession only to have kicker Matt Prater miss a 48-yard field goal wide right.“I don’t have an excuse Dalton Risner Jersey ,” said Prater, who entered having hit his previous 14 field-goal attempts. “You want to come through and make plays for your team when you get the opportunity. And it’s frustrating not to.”Patricia said there was plenty of blame to go around.“There’s plenty of situations out there on the field where we could do more to do better to help us win,” Patricia said. “It starts with me. Have to go out and execute better.”Though Stafford finished 22 of 29 for 208 yards passing and a touchdown, the Lions’ offense all but dried up in the second half. Detroit managed just 117 yards offense and five first downs over the final two quarters.That was particularly apparent on what proved to be Detroit’s final possession. The Lions gained just 2 yards in going three-and-out in punting from their own 33 with 2:56 left.“We had our chances and opportunities and just didn’t make enough plays as a team,” Stafford said.“Yeah, it’s frustrating. You play this game for the opportunity for the playoffs and a chance to win the whole thing,” he added. “So any time that gets taken away from you, it’s disappointing.”
