Texans sign safety Mathieu
The “Honey Badger” is headed to Houston.
The Houston Texans said Monday they had signed unrestricted free agent safety Tyrann Mathieu.
Mathieu was released last week by Arizona after five seasons when the two sides couldn’t rework his contract. The 25-yearold safety was due for $18.75 million of his contract to be guaranteed when the league year officially began and Arizona saved nearly $5 million in cap space by cutting him.
He has 11 career interceptions, four sacks, 41 passes defensed and 303 total tackles in 66 NFL games during a career plagued by injuries. Only last season did Mathieu appear in all 16 games, and he finished with two interceptions along with 74 tackles. He was an all-pro in 2015, when he had five interceptions and 17 passes defensed.
Mathieu became a star in the Arizona secondary after being selected in the third round of the 2013 draft following a troubled college career at LSU. A finalist for the Heisman Trophy as a sophomore, he got into trouble with marijuana and eventually was kicked out of school. Mathieu spent an entire season out of football and slid to the third round before the Cardinals took a chance on him.
His rookie season ended prematurely when he tore the LCL and ACL in his left knee.
His big 2015 season was cut short when he tore the ACL in the other knee. His absence was sorely felt as the team that went 13-3 before being routed by Carolina in the NFC Championship Game.
Despite the injury, the Cardinals rewarded him with a five-year, $62.5 million contract, with $15.5 million guaranteed. Off the field, he was a model citizen and with his fierce style and natural charisma, was among the most popular players on the squad.
Pouncey to join Chargers: Veteran center Mike Pouncey agreed to a two-year contract with the Los Angeles Chargers.
The three-time Pro Bowl selection was released by Miami last week after he refused a pay cut. He started all 16 games for the Dolphins last season, his seventh in the NFL.
Vikings obtain Siemian: The Minnesota Vikings finalized their trade with the Denver Broncos to acquire quarterback Trevor Siemian, to be their backup to free agent prize Kirk Cousins.
The Vikings sent a 2019 fifth-round draft pick to the Broncos for Siemian and a seventh-round choice this year.
Siemian was a seventh-round selection by the Broncos. He started 24 games over the past two seasons, going 13-11 for the Broncos. For his career, Siemian has 30 touchdowns and 24 interceptions.
Redskins sign Scandrick: The Washington Redskins signed cornerback Orlando Scandrick to a two-year deal worth up to $10 million.
The Dallas Cowboys released Scandrick over the weekend after he made 38 tackles in 11 starts last season. Scandrick started 69 games and appeared in 125 with Dallas since being taken in the fifth round of the 2008 draft.