Tyrann Mathieu Sees Mugshot Of Man Who Killed Will Smith, Knowns Him, Tweets To Him

Sep 13, 2015; Glendale, AZ, USA; Arizona Cardinals safety Tyrann Mathieu reacts prior to the game against the New Orleans Saints at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

They say it’s a small world. Here’s another example.

Arizona Cardinals all-pro defensive back Tyrann Mathieu learned news of the tragic murder of former Saints long-timer and Super Bowl Champion Will Smith, who was gunned down after a routine fender bender turned rogue in New Orleans Saturday night.

Turns out, Mathieu knows the guy.

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Mathieu, who attended LSU, is a New Orleans native, and has had obviously had some prior run-ins with the man now charged with second-degree murder.

Maybe football could be the link, considering Deadspin reported “Scout.com ranked Hayes among its top high school recruits from the state of Louisiana in 2004, though the Times-Picayune notes it’s not clear where Hayes ended up playing college football, if anywhere. Hayes’s original scouting report indicated he had interest from LSU and Florida, among other schools. The paper also reports Hayes appears to have been playing in the Gridiron Developmental Football League, a minor league football organization, as recently as last year”

Mathieu was one of several NFL players to hop on Twitter to express their sorrow for Smith’s death, actually tweeting the message directly to Hayes, saying:

“I know that dude, he been a hating ass coward…. Never knew he’d grow up to be a killer tho…. May you get what you deserve coward,” Mathieu wrote.

Police say there is no evidence to suggest Will Smith and his killer knew each other, even though Hayes did mention he did  security with the Saints at one point previous.

Hayes’ bail is currently set at $1 million.