Cardinals sign Mathieu to four-year deal
Tyrann Mathieu, the defensive back once known as Honey Badger at LSU, signed a four-year deal with the Arizona Cardinals on Thursday, the team announced.
Financial terms of the contract weren't disclosed by the team, but ESPN.com reported that the deal includes a guaranteed $662,500 signing bonus.
Mathieu was selected in the third round (No. 69 overall) in the NFL Draft in April.
"I'm part of a family now, so I'm obligated to the community and the entire Arizona Cardinals organization," Mathieu said via the team's website. "The Bidwill family, Steve Keim, the coaching staff, I'm obligated to everybody now, it's my responsibility."
Mathieu's college career went up in flames after two steller seasons when LSU coach Les Miles dismissed him from the team in August before his junior year because of failed drug tests. Mathieu was coming off a sophomore season in which he was a Heisman Trophy finalist.
Two months after his dismissal, Mathieu and three former teammates were arrested when police found marijuana and drug paraphernalia in his apartment.
Despite the troubles that kept him off the field in 2012, Mathieu said he never doubted he would make it to the NFL.
"I knew it was a long shot and it would be a process, but to finally sit down and sign my name on the dotted line means a lot to me," he said.
The contract stipulates annual incentives and roster bonuses will be paid if Mathieu avoids off-the-field issues and remains with the team.
"The deal is structured so that if Tyrann performs as we expect and has no problems, then he will be rightfully paid the entire value of the contract," his agent, Patrick Lawlor, told ESPN.com.
