Earlier on Monday, Peter King of Sports Illustrated reported that Tyrann Mathieu would not receive any guaranteed money in his rookie contract with the Arizona Cardinals.
Mathieu, who was the recipient of the 2011 Chuck Bednarik Award, given annually to the top defensive player in college football, missed the 2012 season after failing multiple drug tests at LSU. In lieu of a signing bonus, Mathieu instead “will earn bonus money in the form of roster bonuses, to ensure that the club is protected in the event that he lapses and the team chooses to cut him,” King wrote in his Monday Morning Quarterback column.
Hours later, Patrick Lawlor, Mathieu’s agent, disputed the accuracy of the report, as he told Ian Rapoport of NFL.com that the defensive back will not sign any deal without guaranteed money. Mathieu will agree, though, to weekly drug testing as part of his contract, Lawlor added.
In response to the claims in the report, Lawlor told NFL.com, it is “ridiculous, (it’s) not gonna happen. We had no contract discussion with them.”
Mathieu, who played alongside Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson at LSU, could be moved to free safety for the upcoming season. In two seasons with the Tigers, Mathieu broke up 16 passes and forced 11 fumbles. The Cardinals are looking to revamp their secondary after the departure of Greg Toler and William Gay this offseason.
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