Tyrann Mathieu comments on facing Joe Burrow and the Bengals this past season
Tyrann Mathieu never played at LSU with Joe Burrow and Ja'Marr Chase. Mathieu was in Baton Rouge seven years before Burrow transferred from Ohio State to LSU (Chase signed with LSU the same offseason). But the three players share a bond as former Tigers. That bond, however, wasn't something Mathieu was thinking about when the […]
Tyrann Mathieu never played at LSU with Joe Burrow and Ja'Marr Chase.
Mathieu was in Baton Rouge seven years before Burrow transferred from Ohio State to LSU (Chase signed with LSU the same offseason).
But the three players share a bond as former Tigers.
That bond, however, wasn't something Mathieu was thinking about when the Kansas City Chiefs played the Cincinnati Bengals twice last season (once in the regular season and once in the playoffs).
The Honey Badger was there to win. And he acknowledged that stopping Burrow and Chase was a massive challenge (Mathieu and the Chiefs lost both games to the Bengals).
"It was tough to stop Joe," said Mathieu this week (via The Jordy Culotta Show). "The league is built for guys like Joe and Ja'Marr. When you piece together the mental and smarts of the game, he will be doing that for a LONG time. I see a lot of Brady in him. He doesn't flinch."
Mathieu added that Burrow has championship composure.
Mathieu is still a free agent this offseason. And he's looking for a team that has great leadership in the locker room and guys who want to win.
I can't think of a team with better locker room leadership and a desire to win than the Bengals (thanks to Burrow).
Mathieu joining some LSU buddies in Cincy would be a great story. The only problem is that the Bengals would have to trade safety Jessie Bates, which isn't out of the question. Bates was franchise tagged by Cincinnati earlier this offseason. The two parties have been trying to work out an extension for nearly a year.
If the Bengals can't work out an extension, they'd be wise to trade Bates. That would then open the door for Mathieu to sign.
That's a long-shot scenario, but it's the only way I could see Mathieu joining Burrow and the Bengals this offseason.
Featured image via Albert Cesare/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK
