Tyrann Mathieu speaks with Arizona Cardinals insider Kyle Odegard about when he realised he was going. Arizona — Tyrann Mathieu, a former Arizona Cardinals standout, paid a visit to his New Orleans Saints last weekend to begin preseason practice, marking a sort of homecoming for the former fan favourite.
Mathieu, draughted in the third round in 2013, spent only five seasons in Arizona, despite earning a five-year, $62.5 million contract extension in 2016. He was released before the 2018 season after refusing to accept a pay cut.
The Honey Badger has carved himself a long professional career, chronicling his highs and lows in an amazing conversation with SportsCasting’s Kyle Odegard.
After the 2017 season, Bruce Arians left Arizona, and Steve Wilks took over as coach.
Mathieu told Odegard that he had a special relationship with Arians, but not with Wilks, and that feeling was solidified during an offseason workout when the two paths crossed: “I usually pick a car that’s more humble, but for some reason, I brought the Rolls Royce that day, and it was probably the worst thing I could have done,” Mathieu told Odegard.
“Because as I’m getting out of the car, Steve Wilks is getting out of his.” automobile, and he looks at my Rolls Royce like, ‘Ummm, you’re not going to be making that money anymore, son.I just recall that interaction and think, ‘Well, I guess I got my answer regarding that.’ I don’t want to put words in his mouth, and I can’t recall precisely what he said, but it was something like, ‘You’ve made enough money. You’re good. You are going to take this wage reduction. When I met him, he didn’t accept me as a team leader, but as the guy he wanted there.”
Mathieu says prior of his release, he received a call from then-general manager Steve Keim:
“I’ve always felt like Keim and I had a fantastic relationship, and I still believe so, even though I communicate to him on Twitter every now and then. That guy and I were always on good terms. “I used to literally go to his house and sit on his couch,” he admitted.
“So he was always really open with me. I recall him calling me before everything happened and saying, ‘Man, my hands are tied.’ He didn’t really need to say anything else because I knew what he meant.”
The financial gap between Mathieu’s contract and where Arizona wanted him was a few million dollars, but the All-Pro safety persuaded Odegard that a fresh start might be best for both parties.
“I believe I was due to make $12 million that year, and they wanted to take three from me, so I’d probably have made like nine,” Mathieu confessed.
“At that point, the more I sat and thought about it, I realised, ‘Man, I may need a fresh start.'” Maybe I given the Cardinals everything I could, and it’s time for me to go on and see if I can be happy somewhere else.”
The rest is history: Mathieu has since played for the Houston Texans, Kansas City Chiefs (where he won a Super Bowl), and New Orleans, as of 2022.
Despite his departure, Mathieu is highly regarded in the desert, and perhaps the new leadership can make apologies before his career comes to an end.
Regardless, it’s encouraging to see Mathieu still have a positive attitude towards the organisation that selected him.
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