Kyler Murray responds to the backlash over his Michael Vick, dog post

The photoshoot was obviously in bad taste given the context. If you recall, the former Pro Bowl quarterback Vick served 21 months in federal prison after pleading guilty in 2007 to charges related to his involvement in an illegal dogfighting ring.

Speaking with reporters on Wednesday, Murray was asked about the controversial post. Murray offered an apology and said that he had since taken the post down.

“In no way, shape, or form do I condone animal cruelty or dogfighting,” said Murray, per Arizona Sports. “[Vick is] a player that I admired very much growing up … my [two] dog[s], they both get treated like kings.

“I saw how it affected people and decided to take it down,” Murray continued. “I apologize to anybody and whoever I affected.”

The former No. 1 overall draft pick Murray, who was around 10 years old when the scandal broke, had to have known how that post would come across. While Vick, now 45, has since rehabilitated his image and is even now being linked to some major college coaching jobs, associating him with dogs will only ever bring one thing to mind.

Murray, a two-time Pro Bowler at 28 years old, is looking like he may potentially be in the middle of a career year. But this is not even the first time this season that Murray has been questioned over his off-field judgment.