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Arizona Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians talks about the development of his rookies and the challenges they face.
David Kadlubowski/azcentral.com
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Arizona Cardinals Insiders Kent Somers and Bob McManaman talk about the Cardinals second day of practice outside and their trip to face the Cowboys. David Kadlubowski/azcentral.com
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azcentral sports’ Jay Dieffenbach and Dan Bickley discuss Arizona Cardinals coach Bruce Arians being tough on the team and the Diamondbacks’ playoff chase.
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Arizona Cardinals Insiders Kent Somers and Bob McManaman talk about the Cardinals practice outside on Monday morning and a new addition to the team.
David Kadlubowski/azcentral.com
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Arizona Cardinals cornerback Tramon Williams meets with the media on July 31, 2017 after the veteran NFL player signed with the team.
David Kadlubowski/ azcentral sports
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With the devastating loss of Ron Zamort to an ACL, the Cardinals continue their search for the CB to start opposite Patrick Peterson.
Wochit
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azcentral sports’ Greg Moore and Bob McManaman break down the Arizona Cardinals’ Red-White practice Saturday afternoon in Glendale.
Hannah Gaber-Saletan/ azcentral sports
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Greg Moore and Kent Somers break down the Cardinals Red-White practice preview.
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Kent Somers and Bob McManaman of azcentral sports give their take after Arizona Cardinals practice at University of Phoenix Stadium, Friday, July 28, 2017. || Tom Tingle/azcentral sports
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azcentral sports’ Kent Somer and Bob McManaman break down the Arizona Cardinals final practice before the team’s 2017 Red-White practice.
Tom Tingle/ azcentral.com
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Arizona Cardinals Head Coach Bruce Arians talks about the overall quality of practice, the rookies on defense and the play of defensive tackle Robert Nkemdiche.
Tom Tingle/azcentral sports
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azcentral sports reporters Rick Morin and Bob McManaman wrap up the activity at Arizona Cardinals training camp on July 27, 2017.
Tom Tingle/ azcentral.com
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azcentral sports’ Greg Moore and Mark Faller discuss early concerns for the Arizona Cardinals at training camp.
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Three takeaways from Cardinals training camp
Terrance Smith/azcsports
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azcentral sports’ Bob McManaman wraps-up the action from Arizona Cardinals training camp in Glendale. By Rob Schumacher
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azcentral sports Scott Bordow and Bob McManaman wrap-up Day 2 at Arizona Cardinals training camp. By Rob Schumacher
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azcentral sports’ Greg Moore and Bob McManaman on the first day of Arizona Cardinals training camp. || By Rob Schumacher
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azcentral sports’ Kent Somers and Bob McManaman reporting day at Arizona Cardinals training camp in Glendale.
By Rob Schumacher/ azcentral sports
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Shot Clock: azcentral sports’ Greg Moore and Jay Dieffenbach weigh in on pressing issues with the Cardinals and Diamondbacks.
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azcentral sports’ Kent Somers and Jay Dieffenbach discuss Cardinals camp, Tyrann Mathieu’s status and more in our Shot Clock video.
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Kent Somers of azcentral sports sits down to talk with new Arizona Cardinals safety Budda Baker at the team’s Tempe training facility. Baker played college ball at the University of Washington. | Tom Tingle/azcentral sports
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azcentral sports; Kent Somers discusses what we learned from the Cardinals minicamp.
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azcentral sports’ Kent Somers breaks down the Cardinals second day of minicamp on June 7, 2017.
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azcentral sports’ Kent Somers wraps up the Arizona Cardinals’ first day on minicamp on Tuesday, June 6, 2017. Tom Tingle/azcentral sports
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azcentral sports’ Jay Dieffenbach and Kent Somers discuss Blaine Gabbert’s role with the Cardinals and LeBron James’ performance in the NBA finals.
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azcentral sports’ Kent Somers and Bob McManaman discusses another week of the Cardinals’ OTAs. Patrick Breen/azcentral sports
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Bob McManaman of azcentral sports wraps up the Arizona Cardinals practice at their Tempe facility, Tuesday, May 30, 2017..
Tom Tingle/azcentral sports
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Azcentral’s Kent Somers and Bob McManaman catch up during second week of OTAs at the Cardinals Training Facility.
azcentral.com sports
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Coaches and players talk about the importance of head coach Bruce Arians’ family fundraiser at Top Golf in Gilbert. (Michael Chow/azcentral sports)
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How has free-agent QB Blaine Gabbert adjusted so far to the Arizona Cardinals? (Michael Chow/azcentral sports)
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azcentral sports’ Jay Dieffenbach and Dan Bickley discuss the NBA MVP, the Diamondbacks and the Dodgers and the Arizona Cardinals’ defensive backs.
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azcentral sports insiders Kent Somers and Bob McManaman react to the big news from the first day of Cardinals OTAs. Video: Rob Schumacher
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The NFLPA has released its 2017 Rising 50 list of players poised to break out and rank among next season’s top-sellers in officially licensed merchandise and the Cardinals running back is No. 1.
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Shot Clock: azcentral sports’ Jay Dieffenbach and Kent Somers discuss the latest on Arizona Cardinals’ Carson Palmer and the NBA playoffs.
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Shot Clock: Colin Kaepernick is better than Blaine Gabbert, right? So why did the Cardinals not sign him? Also, Zack Greinke has his Randy Johnson moment … what does it mean for Diamondbacks?
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With camp starting tomorrow, players reported today and reporter Kent Somers lays out the future and what the team hopes for it.
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Cardinals insider Kent Somers gives some insight into the releasing of Daryl Washington and why it was probably best for both team and player.
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azcentral’s Kent Somers and Dan Bickley talk about the Cardinals decision to release linebacker Daryl Washington.
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azcentral sports’ Jay Dieffenbach and Bob McManaman weigh in on the Cardinals’ signing of Blaine Gabbert.
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Cardinals insider Kent Somers talks with Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians about mini-camp, his excitement about undrafted rookies, LB Daryl Washington and QB Blaine Gabbert at Steak 44 on Wednesday. Michael Chow/azcentral sports
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Cardinals insider Kent Somers talks with Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians about Arians’ annual fundraiser at Steak 44 on Wednesday. Michael Chow/azcentral sports
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The Arizona Cardinals announced Thursday that former St. Louis Cardinals QB Jim Hart would be inducted into the team’s Ring of Honor this season.
Wochit
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azcentral sports’ Jay Dieffenbach and Kent Somers discuss what to expect from the Cardinals’ 2017 NFL draft class.
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Jay Dieffenbach and Dan Bickley assess the Arizona Cardinals’ selection of Haason Reddick in Round 1 of the NFL draft and discuss the needs the team still has to address.
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Check out how Cardinals fans were feeling during the team’s 2017 NFL draft party.
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With plenty of defense options on the table and all the quarterbacks gone, the Cardinals elected to go linebacker and Kent and Bob break down the reasons why.
Patrick Breen/azcentral.com
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Arizona Cardinals’ general manager Steve Keim and head coach Bruce Arians have found some of their best players in the third round.
Wochit
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Arizona Cardinals Larry Fitzgerald and Chandler Jones discuss the importance of giving back and some bets amongst Cardinals players before the Larry Fitzgerald Celebrity Softball Game on Saturday at Salt River Fields. Patrick Breen/azcentral sports
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azcentral sports Cardinals insider Kent Somers talks with Arizona Cardinals defensive tackle Fostee Rucker. || Video by Rob Schumacher/azcentral sports
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Cardinals defensive tackle Frostee Rucker discusses learning from last year’s expectations and adding Karlos Dansby and other veterans. Rob Schumacher/azcentral sports
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Breaking down the top three games of the Cardinals’ 2017 season.
Wochit
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Shot Clock: azcentral sports’ Kent Somers and Bob McManaman discuss the Cardinals’ potential use (or overuse?) of running back David Johnson.
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azcentral sports’ Kent Somers and the Cardinals’ Larry Fitzgerald discuss Fitzgerald’s charity softball tournament on Saturday.
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The Cardinals’ Larry Fitzgerald joined azcentral sports’ Kent Somers to discuss the team and the upcoming season.
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Bob McManaman and Kent Somers at the NFL owners meetings on Wednesday, March 29, 2017. Bruce Arianas likes full-time officials, centralized replay and says there’s 1 QB in upcoming draft who’s plug-and-play. Video: Tom Tingle/azcentral sports
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Coaches of the National Football Conference take questions from the media in Phoenix on March 29, 2017. Tom Tingle/azcentral sports
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Cardinals’ Bruce Arians recaps Tuesday’s practice
Cardinals report: Crisper practice Tuesday
Shot Clock: Arians changes tone with Cardinals
Breaking down an intense Cards practice
Tramon Williams
Cornerback drama continues for Cardinals
Greg Moore and Bob McManaman break down the Red-White practice
Cardinals Red-White practice preview
Somers, McManaman on Gruden possibility, CB battle
Kent Somers and Bob McManaman break down Cardinals practice
Arians at Cards Camp Friday
Wrapping up the day at Cardinals Camp- July 27 edition
Shot Clock: Early hiccups for Cardinals
Take away from Cardinals Camp July 24
azcentral sports’ Bob McManaman wraps up the action at Cards camp
azcentral sports Scott Bordow and Bob McManaman wrap-up Day 2 at Arizona Cardinals training cam
Moore, McManaman wrap up opening day at Cardinals training camp
azcentral sports’ Kent Somers and Bob McManaman reporting day at Arizona Cardinals training camp
David Johnson’s work load; D-Backs’ head games
Shot Clock: Cards kick off fan-friendly camp
Somers sits down with Cardinals rookie Budda Baker
Kent Somers: Impressions from Cardinals minicamp
Kent Somers recaps Cardinals minicamp Wednesday
Kent Somers recaps Cardinals practice
Shot Clock: Blaine Gabbert a keeper for Cardinals?
Kent Somers, Bob McManaman talk another week of Arizona Cardinals OTAs
Bob McManaman after Cardinals practice Tuesday, May 30
Kent and Bob talk new NFL rules and wide out depth
Arians Family Foundation Fundraiser at Top Golf
Report card on Cardinals QB Blaine Gabbert
Watch out for Dodgers; Cards CBs apply for job
What Deone Bucannon’s injury means for Cardinals
David Johnson No. 1 on NFL Players Association list
No throws for Cards QB, cheap shot in NBA?
Kaepernick blackballed? Greinke now trade bait?
Kent Somers talks Cardinals rookies
Kent Somers talks Daryl Washington departure
Cardinals release linebacker Daryl Washington: Somers and Bickley discuss
Shot Clock: Gabbert a terrible fit for Cards
Somers sits down with Arians on Cardinals’ offseason
Bruce Arians talks about his annual fundraisers
Jim Hart to be inducted into Cardinals Ring of Honor
Shot Clock: Cards picks make instant impact?
Shot Clock: Tap brakes on Haason Reddick pick?
Sights and sounds from Cardinals draft party
Kent Somers and Bob McManaman talk Cardinals draft of Haason Reddick
Keim, Arians striking gold in draft’s third round
Larry Fitzgerald, Chandler Jones talk about Celebrity Softball Game
Kent Somers talks with Cardinals DT Frostee Rucker
Cardinals DT Frostee Rucker on expectations, adding Karlos Dansby
Top 3 games in Cardinals schedule
Cards playing dangerous game with RB Johnson?
Larry Fitzgerald holding 7th annual charity softball tournament
Larry Fitzgerald 1-on-1 with Kent Somers
NFL meetings in Phoenix: On Bruce Arians, new rules, the draft
NFC coaches take questions at NFL owners meeting
Vacations are a curse for the highly ambitious. But in the summer of 2017, Tyrann Mathieu took a deep breath.
He crossed the ocean for the first time. He went to Greece with his girlfriend. He attended matches at Wimbledon. Along his journey, he kept hearing the same question:
Are you the Honey Badger?
“Nobody knows me by my real name,” he said.
Mathieu and his moniker remain inseparable, feeding his appeal and capturing his indomitable persona. But at age 25, he’s learned another lesson. Great stories don’t mean much without a great player attached. And back home, the Cardinals safety isn’t feeling the same kind of love.
Not like he once did.
“In the NFL, it’s, ‘What have you done for me lately?’ ” Mathieu said. “And that’s fair. But the moral of my life story is to have all these challenges, to face all kinds of adversity and people who are always counting me out. I always seem to find a way.”
LISTEN: Cardinals Insiders Podcast: Is Mathieu back to being the Honey Badger?
Mathieu has always been a force of nature, a testament to the human spirit. He stands 5-foot-9 and weighs 174 pounds, but is capable of lifting an entire defense with courage and passion. He is an inspiration to addicts, underdogs, teammates and those who won’t be defined by physical limitations.
He is also tormented by what he can not control, finishing three of his first four NFL seasons on injured reserve.
“If I stay healthy, there’s no doubt in my mind that I can be the most dominant defensive player in the league,” Mathieu said.
That’s not hyperbole. And that’s what makes Mathieu’s story so difficult.
In sports, many celestial careers have been sabotaged by misfortune. Bo Jackson was felled by a hip injury, derailing the greatest athlete in American history. Concussions are threatening the transcendent talents of NHL star Sidney Crosby. Bill Walton played in only 47 games in the five years following his MVP season in Portland. That’s the risk of being a professional athlete.
Mathieu is different. He’s the rare athlete who is being punished for what makes him special on a football field. His fearless nature and love of battle have made him what he is today, an undersized impact player who can’t stay healthy. And while nothing is fair in the NFL, it represents a cruel twist of fate for a player who can slay personal demons and dominate a game inhabited by giants.
The injury struggles have changed Mathieu. He came to training camp without bold proclamations or highly publicized goals. He knows he can’t lead from the trainer’s room, and his only mantra is to “quiet the noise.”
“I’m trying to focus in and play at my own pace,” Mathieu said. “I want to fly under the radar the entire camp. I want to live up to my own expectations. I want to run my own race. I believe in myself, even though a lot of people are doubting me. That’s fine. I prefer it that way.
“People are starting to bail on me. Listen, I don’t take it personally. That’s just the way of the world. As long as I believe in myself, nothing else matters. And if I didn’t believe in myself, that would be a tragedy.”
Fortunately, Mathieu is much better when he’s uncomfortable, when he has to prove himself all over again. He was the only player who earned the praise of head coach Bruce Arians during a sluggish practice on Monday, and seems to be rounding into the form that once made him an MVP candidate on defense.
He’s also at a professional crossroads. The Cardinals build a safety net into his lucrative $62.5 million extension, where his contract was back-loaded in case Mathieu can’t stay healthy.
According to reports, his $5.75 million salary next season becomes guaranteed on the first day of the 2018 league year. A roster bonus of $5 million is due two days later. He also has a $10.75 million salary in 2019, of which $8 million becomes guaranteed on the first day of the 2019 calendar.
In other words, Mathieu will have to do something he’s rarely done to secure a future in Arizona and see the end of that contract: Stay healthy.
“I look at this as another challenge,” Mathieu said. “The contract issue, a lot of people are talking about that. I don’t really care about that. I’m just trying to play my game. I’m healthy and I’m confident. I’m reacting and not thinking, which is hard to do when you’re not healthy.
“At the end of the day, it isn’t about X’s and O’s. It’s about, ‘Can you tackle? Can you cover? Can you be counted on?’ The game won’t change and neither will I. It’s all about putting my passion out there on the field, tackling and covering, leading by example.”
The rare summer vacation helped clear his head. During his time abroad, Mathieu served as a goodwill ambassador for the Cardinals’ upcoming game in London. He coached a team of flag football players between the ages of 8-12. According to Neil Reynolds, a football analyst for Sky Sports, Mathieu stayed long after a fan forum had ended, signing autographs and taking pictures with British Cardinals fans.
He also witnessed the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace, and let’s hope the same doesn’t happen with his starring role in Arizona. After all, Mathieu is the team’s bonfire, their spiritual leader on defense. It’s about time he catches a break.
RELATED: Cardinals linebacker Markus Golden pass-rushing toward stardom
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RELATED: Tyrann Mathieu knows pressure is on
Reach Bickley at [email protected] or 602-444-8253. Follow him on twitter.com/dan.bickley. Listen to “Bickley and Marotta” weekdays from 12-2 p.m. on 98.7 FM Arizona’s Sports Station.
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