GLENDALE A person with knowledge of the situation tells The Associated Press that the Arizona Cardinals and All-Pro defensive back Tyrann Mathieu have agreed to a five-year, $62.5 million contract extension, with $40 million guaranteed.
The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity Tuesday because the agreement had not been officially announced.
The big contract comes despite Mathieu's major injuries to each knee in two of his first three NFL seasons.
The agreement is further evidence of his remarkable rise after being out of football for a season following his dismissal from LSU for marijuana-related offenses.
Mathieu was considered a risk when the Cardinals chose him in the third round (69th overall) in the 2013 draft but quickly developed into one of the team's top players and evolved into a vocal leader with no off-field issues.
