Josh Peter

USA TODAY Sports

A longtime friend of Cardell Hayes, the man accused of shooting to death former NFL star Will Smith in New Orleans Saturday night, disputed Tyrann Mathieu’s characterization of Hayes.

Matthieu, who grew up in New Orleans and plays for the Arizona Cardinals, indicated on his Twitter account that he knew Hayes, 28, and tweeted, “… he been a hating (expletive) coward .... Never knew he'd grow up to be a killer tho .... May you get what you deserve coward.’’

Warren Matthews, who played football with Hayes at Warren Easton High School from 2001 to 2004 and has remained friends with Hayes, took issue with Mathieu’s comments.

Shooting death of ex-Saints DE Will Smith: What we know

“If he doesn’t know the situation, how can you say he’s a coward and he’s a monster?’’ Matthews told USA TODAY Sports on Monday. “For him to put that out, everyone is going to look at it as, ‘Well, Tyrann Mathieu is from New Orleans, he must know this guy, he must be stating the facts.’ Everyone is human. He can’t say that.’’

Matthews said Mathieu, who starred at LSU and plays safety for the Cardinals, might have met Hayes in New Orleans but does not know Hayes well. As a result, Matthews said, Mathieu’s comments were unfounded.

“(Mathieu) doesn’t do anything for the city,’’ he said. “But at the same time, Cardell Hayes has done a lot for people in general. Anyone you talk to, they can tell you the same exact thing.’’



Matthews described Hayes as a family man who helped friends and was part-owner of a tow truck company.

“He was always making people laugh,’’ Matthews said.

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Hayes was a standout defensive tackle at Warren Easton High School who attracted attention from Division I college programs but did not play college football, according to Lee Green, Hayes’ high school coach. Hayes had been playing for the Crescent City Kings of Gridiron Developmental Football League before the shooting.