The buzz around Tyrann Mathieu has been building since he arrived in Arizona and for all the right reasons. After a year of drama surrounding his college football career and drug problems that led to his dismissal from LSU and landed the cornerback into a stint in rehab, he has created nothing but positive headlines since turning professional. The Honey Badger is looking like a changed man and head coach Bruce Arians is loving it.
Mathieu was selected in the third round by Arizona after having connections with team star Patrick Peterson and proving that he maintained his football shape during the NFL Combine. Mathieu stepped right in during organized team activities and proved worthy of the draft pick. Players raved over his abilities, earning Mathieu comparisons to the likes of Troy Polamalu. Arians is agreeing and expecting Mathieu to see the field a lot.
Arians told NFL.com that he believes that Mathieu can be an immediate starter and make an impact right away with the team.
"I don't think there's any doubt...He's getting his hands on a lot of balls. The guy's got amazing instincts and closing speed," Arians said.
The Cardinals will likely be starting Yeremiah Bell and Rashad Johnson at the safety position and use Mathieu as a nickel corner and all around hybrid player. He is also expected to play a role on kick and punt returns alongside Peterson. The Cardinals are just hoping Mathieu plays like a highlight reel, much like his time at LSU.
As Mathieu continues to excel on the field, another player is losing his roster spot. Linebacker Daryl Washington is on thin ice with the team after a suspension for violating the league's substance abuse policy landed him with a demotion to the second-team behind Karlos Dansby. Washington is already forced to miss the first four games of the upcoming season and continues to find himself in hot water after a domestic dispute issue.
Arians acknowledges that right now Washington is walking a "very thin line" right now and has been red-flagged as a player. Arians recognizes that Washington is very talented on the field but is not controlling his mistakes off the field.
"He's in a situation in his career where he's either going to go off and become the Pro Bowl player, Pro Bowl person, or he's going to go down that path that a lot of guys go down and ruin his career," Arians said.
With players like Dansby, Lorenzo Alexander and rookie Kevin Minter filling up the linebacker spots, Washington could find himself off the team. Arizona has the depth at the position to handle his suspension, but Washington will be due a $10 million bonus next year that they might no longer be willing to pay.
