Cardinals’ Mathieu, Fitzgerald named to NFL Network’s Top 100 Players list
Jun 22, 2016, 6:01 PM
Congratulations, Tyrann Mathieu and Larry Fitzgerald, as you are the latest Arizona Cardinals to be named to the NFL Network’s Top 100 Players list.
Following in the footsteps of Calais Campbell, who came in at No. 71, and Chandler Jones, who was ranked 48th, defensive back Tyrann Mathieu is listed at 28 while WR Larry Fitzgerald is just ahead of him at No. 27.
See why #AZCardinals S @Mathieu_Era grabbed the No. 28 spot in the 2016 #NFLTop100 list.
📺 https://t.co/SkWKGKfpcg pic.twitter.com/c8jHaoXp02
— Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) June 23, 2016
For Mathieu, who finished the season with 89 total tackles along with five interceptions, 16 passes defensed, one sack and one forced fumble before tearing his ACL in Week 15, it is his first time being ranked in the top 100 by his peers.
“He plays way bigger than what he’s listed at, I know that,” Bears tight end Zach Miller said of the 5-foot-9, 186-pound third-round pick.
“He’s a jack of all trades,” Steelers receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey added. “I don’t know if you call him a safety.”
From there, highlights of Mathieu intercepting passes and making big hits played.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if they could stick him outside at the corner position; he could probably get the job done,” the wideout continued.
Mathieu, who calls himself a hybrid defender, someone who is not just a cornerback or a safety, is entering the final year of his contract and while there has been talk from both the player and team about a desire to get something done, so far the sides have been unable to come to an agreement.
As for Fitzgerald, it is the team’s all-time leading receiver’s sixth time being voted among the top 100 players by his peers, and his standing at 27 represents a big jump from last season, when he was ranked 68th.
#AZCardinals WR @LarryFitzgerald is a savage. He's also No. 27 on the #NFLTop100 list.
📺 https://t.co/Bou0nyrvmA pic.twitter.com/OiWpLTdCXQ
— Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) June 23, 2016
“It’s just unreal to see a guy that has been doing it at a high level for that long,” Steelers linebacker Arthur Moats said.”I feel like he has the surest hands in the league, and then also, he’s blocking.”
Moats cited a big block Fitzgerald put on Seahawks safety Kam Chancellor.
“Everybody knows what Bam Bam Kam does,” he said.
Thought to be on the downside of his illustrious career, in 2015 Fitzgerald caught a career-high 109 passes for 1,215 yards and nine touchdowns. However, when looking to define his outstanding campaign, there is one catch in particular that stands out among the rest.
Frostee: "Look at him!"
Calais: "That's 2008 vintage Larry."
Frostee: "Na that's 2016 I Gotta Have it."#NFLTop100https://t.co/rTZzE9RNOG— NFL Network (@nflnetwork) June 23, 2016
“We let grandpa run for 70 yards, that was a tough one that still bothers me,” Packers defensive lineman Mike Daniels said of the catch-and-run in overtime.
Though Fitzgerald did not score on that play, he did reach the end zone a couple downs later on a shovel-pass, which propelled the Cardinals to the NFC Championship Game. In all, 2015 saw Fitzgerald named to his ninth Pro Bowl, and at 32 is showing no signs of slowing down.
