Tyrann Mathieu, Cardinals’ Extension Talks On Hold For Now
Though a report nearly a month ago indicated that the Cardinals were nearing an extension with defensive back Tyrann Mathieu, talks are now on hold as the club breaks for the summer, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (video link). The two sides had hoped to reach a deal by now, but a long-term pact could still be hammered out before training camp, per Rapoport.
[RELATED: Cardinals defensive tackle Corey Peters returning from ACL tear]
Arizona is reportedly willing to make Mathieu the highest-paid safety in the league, and Rapoport confirms that information, adding that any extension is expected to come in north of $11MM per season. Currently, the Chiefs’ Eric Berry earns the most on an annual basis among safeties, although the Kansas City defender is under the franchise tag. Vikings safety Harrison Smith, who last week signed an extension that pays him $10.25MM per season, is number two. Of course, Mathieu also spends a great deal of time at cornerback, and an $11MM average annual value would rank eighth among CBs.
“I just want to get paid as a top defender,” Mathieu told Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com last month. “I don’t want to be slotted as a corner or a safety, because I’m not Patrick Peterson and I’m not Earl Thomas. I’m kind of different than both of those guys, but I still have the same type of impact on the game as those guys do. I just want to be paid as a top defender, and however that looks on paper, that’s what I want.”
In 2015, Mathieu earned a Pro Bowl selection and was named first-team All Pro. In his 14 games, Mathieu recorded five interceptions, 89 tackles, one sack, 17 passes defensed, and graded out as the No. 1 cornerback in the league, according to Pro Football Focus.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Cardinals Sign Rico Richardson, Waive Jeff Beathard
- The Cardinals signed wide receiver Rico Richardson and waived fellow receiver Jeff Beathard, as Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com tweets.
Tyrann Mathieu Could Target $11MM+ Annually
- Harrison Smith‘s extension with the Vikings will pay him an average of $10.25MM per season, which means Cardinals defensive back Tyrann Matheiu could target a figure above $11MM annually, Cole reports. Recent reports have indicated that the two sides are closing in on a long-term deal, and negotiations have been described as “smooth.” Speaking with Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com today, Matheiu said he “isn’t necessarily in a rush” to sign a new contract, but is hopeful that a pact can be hammered out eventually.
Cardinals Sign Rico Richardson
- The Cardinals signed wide receiver Rico Richardson, according to Aaron Wilson of The Houston Chronicle (Twitter link). The former Jackson State player previously spent time with Tennessee.
Cardinals Opting For Young Talent Over Freeney
The Cardinals could still probably use Dwight Freeney this season, but depth chart and financial issues are complicating a reunion. The former All-Pro’s most recent employer plans to see what its younger pass-rushers are capable of before committing to another Freeney contract, Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic reports.
The Cardinals possess $4.6MM in cap space and could probably afford Freeney on a veteran-minimum-type deal — the former Syracuse star played for $875K with $800K in incentives upon signing during last season — but are willing to gamble the productive situational sack artist will be available if they need him.
Cardinals Notes: Woodley, Peters
- Defensive tackle Corey Peters signed a three-year deal with the Cardinals prior to last season, but he has yet to officially suit up for the club after he tore his Achilles (for the second time in two years) last August. Peters’ recovery is going well, as he tells Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com, and the 27-year old figures to compete for time along Arizona’s interior defensive line. However, given the nature of his injury, and the fact that the Cards could clear more than $1.2MM in cap space by releasing him, Peters knows his roster spot must be earned this summer. “I think that the NFL is pretty much always, play well or be replaced, and it’s no different,” Peters said. “That’s kind of the attitude I’ve always taken toward it, so whether it’s coming off an injury or anything else, I think it’s very important to put your best foot forward and put your best work on the field.”
LaMarr Woodley may never again accrue the double-digit sack numbers that he posted during the early portion of his career with the Steelers, but the veteran edge rusher — who spent the 2015 season with the Cardinals — feels as though he still has some productivity left. But as he tells Hugh Bernreuter of MLive.com, Woodley is prepared for life after the NFL if no clubs express interest.
“There’s no stress, because it’s something I can’t control,” said Woodley, who managed 10 games with the Cardinals before a chest injury landed him on injured reserve. “I can control what I can do off the field, but I can’t control what might happen on the field. I have a lot of things I’m involved in. I’m not just waiting by the phone. I’ve worked hard to have a future outside of the NFL.”
Let’s take a look at more from the NFC West, including one additional note on the Cardinals…
Cardinals Coach Bruce Arians On His Future
- Cardinals coach Bruce Arians is on record as saying his current job will be his last stop in coaching. Jason Cole of Bleacher Report asked Arians if he could end up like Tom Coughlin and lobby for a job on the cusp of 70. “Tom don’t have any other hobbies,” Arians said when asked to differentiate between himself and the former Giants coach. Ultimately, Arians says that he’ll know when it’s time to walk away. “When I don’t want to go to the office anymore, that’s when I know it’s going to be time,” the 63-year-old said. “I was excited this morning for practice. I couldn’t wait to get up this morning to go to practice. If and when it happens that I don’t enjoy being around the guys, I don’t enjoy teaching.”
Minor NFL Transactions: 6/2/16
Here are today’s minor moves.
- The Steelers have signed fourth-round offensive tackle Jerald Hawkins, as Teresa Varley of Steelers.com writes. Hawkins offers experience at both left and right tackle but he’s expected to play on the left side for Pittsburgh. “He can come in here and help right away by competing and pushing the guys and making them better,” said offensive line coach Mike Munchak. “It just makes the group better when you can bring in a good athlete and a good player that has the ability to compete and help us become better. “We feel this guy can come in and learn from the guys we have, push the guys that we have and now it’s just a matter of how quickly we feel he can contribute.”
- The Cardinals signed wide receiver Marquis Bundy, safety Tyrequek Zimmerman, and guard Jake Bernstein to return to the 90-man roster limit, Kyle Odegard of AZCardinals.com tweets.
- The Chargers have agreed to sign guard/tackle Brett Boyko, according to Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (via Twitter).
- To make room, the Chargers waived offensive lineman Zeth Ramsay, as Eric Williams of ESPN.com tweets. The Bolts now have 17 offensive linemen on their 90-man roster.
- The Lions announced that they have signed UDFA kicker Devon Bell and waived punter Kyle Christy. Bell, a Mississippi State product, played in all 13 games last year and averaged 62.1 yards per kickoff, while also punting nine times for 370 yards (41.1 avg).
- The Jaguars have signed guard Patrick Omameh and released offensive lineman Patrick Miller, as Michael DiRocco of ESPN.com tweets. Omameh has played in 30 games over the course of his NFL career.
- The Redskins signed UDFA wide receiver Jarvis Turner, Master Tesfatsion of The Washington Post tweets.
- The Seahawks signed fullback Kyle Coleman, as Wilson tweets. A rookie with tight end experience who played at Arkansas State and Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Coleman will possibly audition at multiple spots in Seattle, Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times writes.
- The Jets announced that they’ve signed guard Mike Liedtke, while adding that they’ve cleared a roster spot by waiving tackle Luke Marquardt.
Dwight Freeney: “95%” Certain I’ll Play In ’16
After recent visits with the Bengals and Falcons, Dwight Freeney is still without an NFL team. According to the defensive end, however, he did not expect to leave either trip with a contract in hand (Twitter link via SiriusXM NFL Radio). The 36-year-old also said that his next contract will probably be his “last stop.” Freeney is presumably looking to sign a one-year deal, so it sounds like this coming season will mark his farewell tour – that is, if he can find an NFL home. 
[RELATED: Best Available NFL Free Agents: Defense]
In Freeney’s estimation, the odds of him playing in 2016 “are at 95%” (link). He says that he had “good” visits (link) with both the Falcons and Bengals, which would imply that the door is being left open by both clubs. Yesterday, Falcons coach Dan Quinn told reporters that the team has not ruled out signing Freeney. As for the Bengals, we have not heard much on that front since the veteran took a physical with them on May 25th.
During the interview, Freeney also discussed his time with the Cardinals in 2015 (link) and expressed hope that an offer could still come his way from Arizona. The multiple-time Pro Bowler says that he would love to help mentor offseason acquisition Chandler Jones and the team’s other young players in the front seven. After racking up eight sacks for Arizona last year, one has to imagine that the Cardinals are at least open to the idea of a reunion.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Cardinals Cut Three
- The Cardinals have cut safety Brandon Person, receiver Chris King and offensive tackle Edawn Coughman (previously reported), per Darren Urban of the team’s official website (Twitter link).