Cowboys WR CeeDee Lamb Trade for Kyler Murray? Cardinals Trying to Fix Problem

Let's call this "Anatomy of a Rumor'' and break it down into eight steps ... with an update on the Cards' latest "fix'' ...

FRISCO - The NFL is in the last few weeks playing "The Telephone Game'' with Kyler Murray’s future with the Arizona Cardinals (which is fair) and with CeeDee Lamb's future with the Dallas Cowboys (which is ridiculous).

But suddenly, a Cardinals attempt to fix it all.

Let's call this "Anatomy of a Rumor'' and break it down into eight steps ...

STEP 1: The Cardinals flop. Arizona started the season 7-0, with Murray an MVP candidate. The Cardinals stumbled from there, and lost in the first round of the playoffs. A great deal of the criticism was directed at Murray, the No. 1 player taken in his NFL Draft, who did not perform well in the late-going.

STEP 2: A disgruntled Murray strips his social media accounts of all connections to the Cardinals, a common (if pouty) practice among players dissatisfied with progress in contract negotiations. Murray has played out the first three years of his rookie contract and has a fifth-year option by the team that will likely be exercised prior to the final year of his rookie deal. He is also eligible for a new deal now.

The Cardinals to this point obviously haven't given him what he wants.

Said Lamb - a good friend of Murray's from their University of Oklahoma days - told NBC Sports that he supports the idea of the QB getting a new deal.

“It is time for him to get paid, I agree,” Lamb said. “He’s very dynamic at what he does. I wouldn’t be surprised if he gets paid soon.”

STEP 3: "Soon'' isn't happening soon enough. So the social media scrub occurs - but some find it noteworthy that among the few photos left posted is one of Murray and Lamb.

STEP 4: In a hopefully responsible manner (while still trying to have fun with the silliness of it all), CowboysSI.com addresses why Murray is "playing footsie'' with Lamb.

STEP 5: Somebody in the non-mainstream media (no disrespect intended) runs with the rumor - a largely idiotic one, as we will explain in a moment - that what Murray really wants from Arizona isn't a contract, but rather a trade.

And he frames it as "exclusive news.''

Kyler is, per the "news,'' demanding that Arizona trade for his pal Lamb - or else.

And away we go ...

STEP 6: Rather than poke holes and poke fun at this notion, the idea gains more momentum as "The Telephone Game'' is played across social media. The "reports'' lack logic; Lamb is a Pro Bowler and budding star with the Cowboys and is playing under the terms of his rookie deal - he's highly affordable and highly productive.

To this date, Cowboys sources have told us they've received no such phone call from the Cardinals. And we don't need sources to tell us that short of a ridiculous haul in trade, Dallas would barely bother even answering such a call.

STEP 7: Tucked in here somewhere is an ESPN report that paints Murray - the DFW native who to this point has a fairly pristine reputation - as a bad apple.

“The odd vibe between the Cardinals an Kyler Murray is indeed alarming,” Mortensen writes in a tweet. “Murray is described as self-centered, immature and finger pointer, per sources.''

The source of this information would have to be the Cardinals, who are slapping back at Murray for slapping at them with his "pouting.''

STEP 8: Sources inside the Cardinals work to calm the situation, leaking to reporters that he is viewed as their franchise QB.

Which is wise. Because he is.

UPDATE: In a radio interview on AZ Sports this week, Cardinals owner Michael Bidwill went public on the club's feelings about its franchise QB.

“Certainly, he’s part of our long-term plan,” said Bidwill. ""They are positive conversations that are going in the right direction. We know we have to get better. I know Kyler put out the statement, 'love me or hate me ... I'm going to get better.' 

"Well, put me in the category that I love him, and I know he's going to get better."

So in the end? Despite the continued gossip, the Cardinals' true feelings about Murray are mirrored by the Cowboys' open feelings about Lamb. Amari Cooper's contract is under question. Michael Gallup is a rehabbing free agent. Also entering free agency are fellow receivers Ced Wilson and Malik Turner. The idea of Dallas voluntarily stripping all of the talent from its receivers room in one spring is preposterous. ... 

Unless of course the Cardinals want to also trade DeAndre Hopkins to the Cowboys.

Kidding. Kidding.