Mathieu follows the stars to town
The opportunity to play with defensive end J.J. Watt and quarterback Deshaun Watson played a significant role in safety Tyrann Mathieu’s decision to sign with the Texans.
As soon as Mathieu was released by Arizona last week, Watt started recruiting him to come to Houston.
“I knew J.J. for a couple of years,” Mathieu said Monday at his introductory news conference. “We share the same agent (Tom Condon), and we’ve shared a couple of lunches together.
“We’ve been able to communicate via phone, text, social media — things like that.”
While general manager Brian Gaine was pursuing Mathieu, Watt pointed out how good the Texans’ defense could be with him at safety. Mathieu was intrigued by the idea of playing behind a front seven that included Watt, Jadeveon Clowney, D.J. Reader, Whitney Mercilus and
Bernardrick McKinney.
“I just wanted to come where guys are hungry,” Mathieu said. “Obviously, I’m very hungry at this point in my career.
“I wanted to come to a team that had great potential, a team that (can be) dominant on defense. I think I made the right choice.”
When the Texans defeated Arizona 31-21 last season, Watson was sidelined with a season-ending knee injury. But Mathieu had seen enough of Watson during his six starts to realize the rookie quarterback was special.
Playing on a team with Watson appealed to Mathieu.
“It was an exciting team to watch, especially when Deshaun was healthy,” Mathieu said. “I think having him gives a lot of us confidence. Any time you play on a team with a quarterback with his kind of capabilities, it always gives your team an advantage.
“The guys on defense are dominant as well. I don’t think I’ve ever played with a defensive line quite like they have here with Mercilus, Watt and Clowney. I’m going to have a lot of fun playing behind those guys, and that played a part in me coming here as well.”
Best decision
Mathieu signed a one-year contract for $6.5 million that could earn him a maximum of $7 million depending on his pergame roster bonuses.
“I tried to make the best decision for me and my family,” he said. “I felt like I had other options on the table — more money — but the Texans were the best decision for me.
“Getting released on the beginning of the new league year (March 14), I felt like I had to make a decision fast, but I wanted to make a safe decision. I wanted to make one that I was comfortable with.”
The Cardinals, who selected Mathieu in the third round of the 2013 draft, asked Mathieu to reduce his salary from $11 million to $8 million, and he refused. Coming to Houston puts the New Orleans native who played at LSU closer to his family.
“I think that played a part,” he said. “I did consider staying (in Arizona), and it was definitely hard to leave Phoenix — just being rooted in the community and having the kind of fan base that I had there.”
Mathieu has spent significant time in Houston two times. As a teenager, his family spent three months in Humble after they were uprooted because of Hurricane Katrina.
“We actually went to a shelter outside of Alexandria (La.), and then we moved (to) Humble,” he said. “We enrolled in school. We stayed for about three months until the schools opened back up in Louisiana.”
When he was kicked out of LSU for failing multiple tests for marijuana, he took off a year and spent time undergoing rehabilitation in Houston with John Lucas.
“He played a big role,” Matheiu said about Lucas helping him turn around his life. “I think the time I spent with him, just transitioning from college to the NFL, helped me a lot, especially with my recovery and pushing forward with my life.”
Now Mathieu is pushing forward with his career, joining a back end that includes new cornerback Aaron Colvin as well as veterans Johnathan Joseph, Kareem Jackson, Kevin Johnson and Andre Hal.
“I just want to prove my point that I’m one of the best safeties in this league,” he said. “Obviously, I had some setbacks. I had some challenges, and I try to take those challenges head on.
“I’m really trying to come here with a clean slate, a fresh start for me, and (I’m) trying to prove my point again. I try to put it all on the table. Whatever my coaches ask me to do, I always try to do it.”
Last season, Mathieu started every game for the first time in his career. He played on 99 percent of the Cardinals’ defensive snaps. Until last season, he missed time because of two torn ACLs and a shoulder injury.
“It was really weird,” he said. “I never got injured until I got to the NFL.
“After my fourth season, I told myself that I would do a little more. I try to take care of my body a little more. I think that’s what ultimately helped me get through the season.
“A lot of guys showed me the ropes, taught me some tricks, different things to do before a game, after games, and I think it kept me fresh. I felt like I got better as the season went on.”
Leadership skills
One of Mathieu’s characteristics the Texans value the most is his leadership. With the Cardinals, he was respected on the field, in the locker room and within the community.
“I try to lead by example,” he said. “I try to play as hard as I can and make the plays that count.
“Off the field, all I’m trying to do is really inspire these kids, inspire the youth, help my community in New Orleans, Arizona and, obviously, I have a new challenge in Houston.
“I’m really looking forward to not only the things I can do on the field but the impact I can have off of it, too.”