Jul 29, 2013; Glendale, AZ, USA; Arizona Cardinals safety Tyrann Mathieu (32) looks on during training camp at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports
Tyrann Mathieu making a nice early impression for Arizona Cardinals.
"Tyrann Mathieu is one preseason game and a couple weeks of training camp practices into what he and the Arizona Cardinals hope is a long NFL career, so it’s too soon to know what he’ll be as a pro.But at this moment, it has been nothing but good news for Mathieu. He had a sack, a pass defensed and even two special teams tackles in the Cardinals’ first preseason game. He has drawn incredible praise. From ArizonaSports.com, there was this passage:One scout told me that Tyrann Mathieu was, “pound-for-pound, the best player on the field.” And while conversing with an offensive assistant coach he told me that he believed, “No. 32 was going to change the team.”While that is certainly some camp hyperbole, the Cardinals surely aren’t regretting their third-round gamble on the troubled defensive back, who missed all last season because he was suspended at LSU.The player and team each deserve a lot of credit for that.Mathieu had to understand that he was running out of chances. His well-documented issues with marijuana ended his college football career prematurely, and threatened his NFL career too. He has taken the lessons to heart.Frank Schwab, Yahoo SportsLeadership of Arizona Cardinals’ John Abraham makes him father figure.John Abraham was depressed, and this time, the Hennessy and Coke wasn’t working. That’s been his drink of choice, and a couple three-rock glasses of the stuff normally did the trick.But Abraham couldn’t take the edge off, not on this particular day 10 years ago when he was a young rising star for the New York Jets.Never mind that the defensive end had been named to a second Pro Bowl in his first three years — he added another a year later — or that he was coming off two seasons in which he registered 13 and 10 sacks, respectively.“When I was in New York, I was away from home and I went through a lot of bad things there,” said Abraham, who was born in Timmonsville, S.C., and was a first-round pick of the Jets in 2000.“I was going through my DUI, which I can talk about openly, and a lot of other different things that I felt were bringing me down. All the different coaches, certain people, the business part of football, the ups and downs of life.”Bob McManaman, azcentral.com.Arizona Cardinals vs Green Bay Packers player of the game.The first preseason game is behind us, putting a check in the W column. In watching the game there were a few players who stood out as candidates for player of the game in my mind. My nominees are:Carson Palmer, QB. Palmer is up here for going 4/6 for 77 yards, a TD pass and posting a 149.3% QB rating. Keeper, right?Patrick Peterson, CB. PP21 is up here for picking off Graham Harrell and putting the Cards in excellent field position to score, which they did. It’s PP21 showing the world they need to watch him.John Abraham, DE. Abraham makes the list for peeling off the left end and strip sacking Harrell. A great start to the recent signing by GM Steve Keim.Sam Acho, LB: Acho is very cerebral, knows where to be and how to play the game. He’s always in position to make a play, and that’s why he’s here now. Cashing in on Abraham’s strip sack, Acho scoops up the loose ball for the Cards. Can’t get enough turnovers.Tyrann Mathieu, CB: The HB was all over the place in yesterday’s game. He sacked Harrell and added a TFL. He made some nice moves on the punt he returned. He made things happen.C Deveau, Revenge of the Birds One scout told me that Tyrann Mathieu was, “pound-for-pound, the best player on the field.” And while conversing with an offensive assistant coach he told me that he believed, “No. 32 was going to change the team.”John Abraham was depressed, and this time, the Hennessy and Coke wasn’t working. That’s been his drink of choice, and a couple three-rock glasses of the stuff normally did the trick.But Abraham couldn’t take the edge off, not on this particular day 10 years ago when he was a young rising star for the New York Jets.Never mind that the defensive end had been named to a second Pro Bowl in his first three years — he added another a year later — or that he was coming off two seasons in which he registered 13 and 10 sacks, respectively.“When I was in New York, I was away from home and I went through a lot of bad things there,” said Abraham, who was born in Timmonsville, S.C., and was a first-round pick of the Jets in 2000.“I was going through my DUI, which I can talk about openly, and a lot of other different things that I felt were bringing me down. All the different coaches, certain people, the business part of football, the ups and downs of life.”Bob McManaman, azcentral.com.The first preseason game is behind us, putting a check in the W column. In watching the game there were a few players who stood out as candidates for player of the game in my mind. My nominees are:Carson Palmer, QB. Palmer is up here for going 4/6 for 77 yards, a TD pass and posting a 149.3% QB rating. Keeper, right?Patrick Peterson, CB. PP21 is up here for picking off Graham Harrell and putting the Cards in excellent field position to score, which they did. It’s PP21 showing the world they need to watch him.John Abraham, DE. Abraham makes the list for peeling off the left end and strip sacking Harrell. A great start to the recent signing by GM Steve Keim.Sam Acho, LB: Acho is very cerebral, knows where to be and how to play the game. He’s always in position to make a play, and that’s why he’s here now. Cashing in on Abraham’s strip sack, Acho scoops up the loose ball for the Cards. Can’t get enough turnovers.Tyrann Mathieu, CB: The HB was all over the place in yesterday’s game. He sacked Harrell and added a TFL. He made some nice moves on the punt he returned. He made things happen.C Deveau, Revenge of the Birds"