Tyrann Mathieu says he knows alleged killer of Will Smith, calls him (expletive) coward

Arizona Cardinals safety and former LSU star Tyrann Mathieu has never been one to hold back his feelings. Sunday was no different, when Mathieu took to Twitter to express his thoughts on the shocking death of New Orleans Saints star Will Smith.

Mathieu said he personally knows the man who allegedly shot and killed Smith on Saturday night in New Orleans. In a series of tweets, Mathieu ranted about the suspect, Cardell Hayes, and the type of lifestyle he might have lived.

Mathieu, who grew up in the same area as Hayes, is no stranger to adversity and has often spoke about his rough upbringing. He barely knew his mother and his father has been in prison for most of Tyrann's life. His football career was nearly derailed by drug use when he was kicked off the team at LSU after being arrested for marijuana possession.

Now, at 23, Mathieu has worked hard to turn his life around and build a successful NFL career for himself. The former Heisman trophy candidate was picked by Arizona in the third round of the 2013 NFL Draft. He earned first-team All-Pro honors last season, but suffered a season-ending ACL injury in Week 15 against the Philadelphia Eagles.