After signing a new two-year agreement with the Saints, Tyrann Mathieu talks with the local media.
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00:00 - Hey, how's everybody doing?
00:03 Excited to be back, fire away.
00:06 - Tyron, just what was kind of your motivation
00:10 for getting this done, getting the second year,
00:12 maybe working with the team a little bit
00:14 to make it happen?
00:16 - Well, to be honest, man, I've really enjoyed
00:19 really being a part of this team,
00:22 especially defensively.
00:24 I feel like we do a lot of great things.
00:26 I love the coaches.
00:28 I love the way those guys come to work and prepare.
00:32 And I like playing with my teammates too.
00:33 So, I'd probably say for me, man,
00:36 obviously, I'm from here
00:39 and it's a blessing to play here, right?
00:41 So to kind of keep that going, man,
00:44 it means a lot to me.
00:45 - Tyron, we know it's important for you
00:47 to play in New Orleans, be in New Orleans.
00:50 Does this kind of effectively give you the opportunity
00:52 to retire as a Saint and retire in your hometown?
00:55 - Yeah, I hope so.
00:57 But I'd probably say more than that, right?
01:01 I got another chance to help these guys win.
01:05 I'd probably say the last couple of years
01:06 has kind of been underwhelming, to say the least, right?
01:11 So to have another opportunity to suit back up
01:14 with these guys, help this whole city win,
01:18 that means a lot to me.
01:19 So I'm excited about that opportunity.
01:21 - What's been so enjoyable about playing
01:24 with this defense and these teammates
01:26 over the last couple of years?
01:28 - Well, it was a different system
01:31 from the ones that I was used to in the past, right?
01:35 And it took me a while to kind of get comfortable
01:37 and get going.
01:38 But between the coaches and the players,
01:41 all those guys were always supporters, right?
01:44 And once I really began to kind of understand the system
01:49 right in the scheme, I start to have fun again, right?
01:52 And I kind of felt that last year.
01:53 So to kind of be able to kind of keep that rolling, right,
01:58 and feel even more comfortable,
02:00 going into year three in the system,
02:03 that's exciting for me because I know
02:05 there's still a lot of football plays to be made.
02:08 And I think I still have enough in me to make them.
02:13 - Tyron, when you say underwhelming,
02:17 you just talk about the results of the season,
02:19 it's missing the playoffs.
02:20 Are you talking about yourself a little too
02:21 and some of that finally starting to feel it
02:25 in year two that you were just talking about?
02:27 - Well, I think realistically,
02:30 we all could have played better, right?
02:32 And so, but I think overall,
02:35 there's so much excitement, right?
02:36 And I think we all thought that we'd be much better
02:41 as far as wins and losses concerned.
02:45 But I love the group, right?
02:47 I love my teammates.
02:48 I love the building.
02:49 I love the coaches, right?
02:52 Like, I feel like we have everything we need, right?
02:55 You kind of just go through some rough patches, right?
02:57 But I think, you know, I know me personally,
03:00 I believe in the coaches.
03:01 I believe in the players in the locker room
03:03 to help us turn it around,
03:05 because I do believe we have enough guys,
03:07 you know, in our locker room that, you know,
03:09 we could be a pretty good football team.
03:11 - Hey Tyron, how important was that second year,
03:15 you know, just to add on,
03:17 and does it provide some stability for you at all?
03:19 Or what was kind of your thought process there
03:21 for trying to get that done?
03:24 - Well, you know, I'm getting older, right?
03:26 And so, you know, if I can just have things
03:28 kind of black and white, you know, for me,
03:32 that provides a lot of clarity, you know, for me.
03:35 So, and obviously too, man, you know,
03:39 I love playing this game, right?
03:41 So whether it was just one year or two years
03:44 or three years or four years, I'm always excited, man.
03:47 I'm always grateful to just be able to play the game.
03:50 But I think two more seasons in the Big Easy,
03:54 you know, around family, around friends,
03:56 you know, around teammates that I love to be around,
03:59 and then still doing things for the community,
04:01 you know, that I love to be a part of.
04:02 So it's just a great opportunity for me, you know,
04:06 just looking forward to really the next two years.
04:09 - And I'm curious, did what happened with the safety market
04:13 kind of influence your decision at all?
04:15 What did you kind of make of,
04:16 just it seemed like a lot of big names
04:18 are getting released and that sort of thing?
04:20 - Yeah, I mean, it happens, you know, every year, right?
04:23 And, you know, I've been on that side,
04:26 you know, a few times, right?
04:28 And so, but it all goes back to just, man,
04:31 like that clarity part of it, right?
04:33 Like just knowing where you're going,
04:35 knowing where you're going to be, you know,
04:38 I think it helps you, especially in the off season
04:40 to kind of redirect and refocus
04:43 and just have that motivation going into next season.
04:46 - Kyron, it sounds like Jordan Houghton
04:49 might get a bigger role maybe moving forward.
04:52 Just kind of what was your year one review
04:54 of him playing next year?
04:55 - Well, I thought he played well.
04:58 You know, obviously, you know, he could have played better,
05:02 but I thought, you know,
05:03 given the situation and circumstances, you know,
05:06 us just kind of plugging him in and playing,
05:08 he's a smart kid and he's talented.
05:11 I know he went through some rough spots.
05:14 You know, I think all rookies go through that,
05:16 but I think overall, man, he's a good kid.
05:19 He's a great teammate.
05:21 You know, he's fun to be around
05:23 and he's another one of those young guys on our defense
05:26 that, you know, I think we're going to count on,
05:29 you know, for many years to come.
05:31 So, you know, I look forward to continuing to play with him
05:34 and just continuing to help him become the player
05:37 that we all know he can be.
05:40 - You know, Tyron, each the last two years,
05:43 17 games, 17 starts,
05:45 how much pride do you take in just the durability,
05:48 the availability that you've had
05:49 and as you've gotten later in your career,
05:51 is that something that you've had to maybe
05:52 spend more time on as your process changed
05:54 over the last, you know, four or five years?
05:57 - Yeah, I mean, you know, I struggled with a lot of injuries,
06:01 you know, early on in my career that, you know,
06:04 I kind of felt, you know, robbed me, you know,
06:06 of playing, you know, per se.
06:08 I think I missed close to 17 games, you know,
06:11 I think my first five years in the league, right?
06:13 So, and I think that kind of played a part in, you know,
06:17 me getting released from Arizona, right?
06:19 And I think as a youngster,
06:20 you don't really realize your availability, right?
06:23 Like it's all about your ability, right?
06:26 And I think as you get older,
06:28 you become more conscious of your availability, right?
06:32 Because your ability is not what it used to be, right?
06:36 So, you know, just being able to show up every day, right?
06:40 Every game, you know, every practice,
06:43 I think that's what it's all about.
06:45 Like, that's what we get paid to do, right?
06:47 And so I enjoy doing it.
06:49 For me, it's not work, you know?
06:51 So, and then too, for my teammates and coaches, man,
06:54 like I always want to be one of those guys
06:56 that they know is going to be there,
06:59 that they know that they can count on.
07:00 So I take a lot of pride in that.
07:02 - Terry Turner, you've also segued into
07:05 that mentorship role.
07:07 How much do you embrace it?
07:08 I know how much you talk about how Larry Fitzgerald
07:10 and guys like that were that for you early in your career.
07:14 - Man, that's what it's all about.
07:17 You know, especially if you're a guy like me,
07:20 who's been, you know, beyond blessed, you know, right?
07:24 You want to see that happen for young guys, right?
07:28 Teammates, guys who become more than teammates.
07:31 You want those guys to grow up
07:33 and, you know, have a lot of money, right?
07:35 Like have a lot of resources,
07:37 have a beautiful family, right?
07:38 So that's important for me because I always had guys,
07:43 you know, in my huddle that was like that, you know,
07:47 that always inspired me, right?
07:49 To be better, to do more in the community,
07:51 to, you know, raise my kids the right way.
07:53 So, you know, I hope and pray that I can continue
07:56 to kind of be, you know, a positive influence,
07:59 you know, on the young guys, you know, as far as that goes.
08:03 - Hey, Tyron, you mentioned that you and your teammates
08:06 just had high expectations for the season
08:09 that maybe didn't pan out.
08:10 Is there like any one moment or one game
08:13 that you look back on this season
08:14 that maybe you regret more than most?
08:16 Or you consider a turning point?
08:18 - Oh, man, I'd probably say the one that I regret the most
08:22 was, you know, probably that Rams game.
08:25 You know, we just weren't ready, right?
08:29 I think our coaches did a great job
08:31 and I think our coaches did everything they could
08:33 to kind of prepare us.
08:35 But I think as a team, we just wasn't ready.
08:38 And, you know, I think given the way we ended the season
08:42 and how we had to claw and kind of fight and scratch,
08:45 like that was a huge game for us, you know?
08:48 And we just wasn't ready, like we just didn't do it.
08:52 So I think had we won that game and showed up
08:57 and played, you know, to the level that, you know,
08:59 we were capable of playing, I think, you know,
09:01 we would have probably punched out a ticket in the playoffs,
09:04 you know what I mean, last year.
09:05 So I think about that game a lot, man,
09:07 because it's like, that was a great unit we were playing.
09:10 That was a great team.
09:11 You know, Sean McVay is a great offensive line, right?
09:13 And I think as a defense, you know,
09:15 we consider ourselves a pretty good defense
09:17 and we just didn't show up that day.
09:19 So, you know, that was one of those games from last season
09:23 that hurt me the most, you know, when I look back on it.
09:29 - Hey, Tyron, there's obvious win-win elements to this deal.
09:34 Obviously the average value goes down a little bit,
09:37 helps the Saints, you get an extra year of security,
09:39 but you had a year left on your deal.
09:41 What was the, sort of the impetus for deciding
09:44 to change it at all?
09:46 - Well, say it again, I'm sorry,
09:49 I couldn't really hear your question.
09:51 - Yeah, I mean, you didn't really have to do anything
09:54 with the deal since you had one year left on it.
09:56 Was it you that kind of wanted to see,
09:58 can we extend this or was it a way to work with the Saints
10:01 and sort of bring the value down?
10:03 What was sort of the reason to change the deal
10:06 that you already had in place, I guess?
10:09 - Yeah, I think, you know, for one, you know,
10:11 I've made a lot of money in this league.
10:13 I think I like, you know, the situation I'm in,
10:16 you know, right now with the Saints,
10:17 I think I've come along, you know, in the system, right?
10:20 So for me, like, that's exciting, you know?
10:23 And I think, you know, where I'm at today,
10:26 you know, in my life today, like, you know,
10:28 I would have just took a one year deal, took some off top,
10:31 but I love to be in New Orleans, man.
10:34 I love to be around family.
10:36 I love being able to be in the community, right?
10:39 Like, and not have to live out of town
10:41 and come back in for a weekend or two, right?
10:43 Like I'm here, right?
10:44 So that means a lot to me.
10:46 I still feel like there's a lot more for me
10:48 to do in the community.
10:50 And so, you know, just having that extra year
10:52 to kind of be able to do all the things
10:55 that I really want to do while I'm home,
10:57 that was really important for me.
10:59 - Hey, Tyron, that's kind of what I wanted to ask you about.
11:03 How much of this is kind of going on
11:06 on your, the kind of personal legacy
11:08 you're building in your hometown
11:10 and wanting to be here to kind of accomplish the things
11:14 outside of being a Saint?
11:15 - Yeah, man.
11:18 You know, I'm pretty sure a lot of people would,
11:21 they're probably going to remember, you know,
11:22 the Honey Badger.
11:24 But as far as community, you know, related things go, man,
11:29 like I feel like it's still so much more,
11:31 you know, for me to do, right?
11:34 And I think if I'm able to do the things
11:36 that I really want to do in the community,
11:38 I think a lot of people will remember me for that.
11:41 And that'll be more than a blessing.
11:43 That'll be more than enough.
11:44 So, you know, I'm pretty sure I still have
11:47 some Honey Badger fans,
11:48 but I'm really hoping I can leave a lasting impact,
11:50 like in the community.
11:51 I hope I'm one of those guys that people remember and say,
11:55 man, like he always gave us his time.
11:57 Like he always shared whatever he had.
11:59 Like he was always willing to give it to,
12:01 you know, someone less than.
12:03 So like, for me, like that means a lot to me.
12:07 And I think I still have an opportunity to kind of,
12:10 you know, achieve some of those goals
12:12 that really has nothing to do with football.
12:21 - Anything else, Tyron?
12:22 - Yeah, just going back to what I was asking
12:24 about the safety market earlier with,
12:26 do you sense that the NFL is still like valuing
12:30 the safety position as it once did?
12:32 Or is this with so many guys being released as off season,
12:36 like, is that a sign that maybe they don't value safeties
12:39 as they used to?
12:40 - I mean, maybe so, you know, I think,
12:45 you know, obviously, you know,
12:48 some safeties are truly valuable, right?
12:51 Like they can play multiple positions.
12:53 But I think in certain schemes and certain systems, right?
12:57 Like you can go for a younger guy, right?
12:59 Like you can just plug and play a younger guy
13:01 and you can get by.
13:03 It's very, very unfortunate because I felt like,
13:06 you know, I've been in the league 11 years
13:08 and I felt like at one point, you know,
13:10 the safeties were really valuable, right?
13:12 Like, 'cause those guys can do a lot of different things,
13:14 but, you know, it seems as if the league
13:16 is kind of getting away from it, you know, so to say.
13:18 But, you know, I think a few of those guys,
13:21 they'll be all right, they'll be fine.
13:23 You know, whatever system they play in,
13:24 wherever they land.
13:26 So, but you worry about those guys, you know,
13:29 younger than you, right?
13:30 Like those guys that you know deserve
13:32 to really be paid, right, top dollar.
13:35 So I'm hoping those young guys
13:37 that's much, much younger than me, man,
13:39 could, you know, hopefully this is over with
13:42 and those guys can, you know, reap the benefits, you know?
13:44 But for right now, man, it's looking ugly.
13:49 -Thank you. -All right.
13:50 Kind of along those lines, what was your reaction
13:53 to the news that Marcus May is going to be released
13:56 considering he signed a deal around the same time you did?
14:00 Yeah, I mean, you know, obviously, man,
14:03 you know, I think with May, man,
14:04 it was one of those situations like,
14:06 damn, you know, right?
14:07 Like, you know, you wish he had played more, right?
14:10 You wish he had more time with us.
14:12 But, man, he was a great teammate when he was here.
14:16 You know, he was easy to be around.
14:18 He was fun to be around.
14:19 And, man, when he put on his pad and he played for us, man,
14:23 he tried his best to play big, you know?
14:25 And so he's a veteran.
14:28 You know, he's been in this league a while.
14:29 Like, wherever he goes, wherever he lands,
14:32 he'll be all right.
14:34 But, you know, it's just one of those situations
14:35 where, you know, you look back on it,
14:37 you'll say, man, well, you know, you wish he was healthy
14:40 and you wish a lot of things, you know, went differently.
14:43 But, man, he's a good dude.
14:46 And he was one of those guys that, you know,
14:48 I talk about, man.
14:49 Like, it was fun to come to work and work with that guy,
14:52 you know, each and every day.
14:53 So just really wishing him the best.
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