Cardinals HC Mike LaFleur sounds off on why Marvin Harrison Jr. trade had to happen appeared first on ClutchPoints. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Arizona Cardinals completed the first big regular season trade Sunday. Now the Houston Texans will take in past star wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. Arizona rookie head coach Mike LaFleur didn’t take long to detail why the move had to happen.
LaFleur spoke with reporters Sunday following Arizona’s 45-21 loss at the hands of the Detroit Lions.
“We thought it was in the best interest of the club,” LaFleur succinctly said.
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But LaFleur elaborated that not getting Harrison to his highest potential falls on the coaches more. And the past top five NFL Draft pick looked under-utilized in a pass-happy offense. But LaFleur denied that Harrison’s lack of usage started to distract the team.
“I don’t think it was a distraction,” LaFleur said.
Harrison Jr. arrived as a prized fourth overall NFL Draft pick out of Ohio State. He arrived to the desert as a highly-decorated Heisman Trophy finalist from the Buckeyes. Plus brought famed league bloodlines as his father is NFL legend from the Indianapolis Colts Marvin Harrison.
Cardinal fans visualized one wild scenario. One featuring Harrison Jr. forming explosive cohesion with quarterback Kyler Murray. Then-coach Jonathan Gannon handed Murray assurance he was the QB leading this Cardinals team.
But LaFleur let Murray walk via free agency during this past offseason. Harrison Jr. got left with an unsettled quarterback room, even though Jacoby Brissett handled the reins.
Now Harrison Jr. will join another fellow Buckeyes star in quarterback CJ Stroud. Plus form a rare tandem with past Michigan star Nico Collins on the outside too.
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