Following former Auburn football S Smoke Monday’s significant knee injury during New Orleans Saints training camp, there was natural skepticism about whether or not the former Tigers DB was ever going to live out his NFL dream.
While Monday signed a three-year deal with the Saints this offseason, He only gets $140,000 (including a $20,000 signing bonus) guaranteed. That kind of money is chump change in the NFL. Any significant injury before a player even plays could have front offices skittish on keeping him for the long haul.
Luckily, there’s optimism that Monday will be back in the league someday because of the support he’s receiving from one of the NFL’s top safeties, Tyrann Mathieu. Mathieu is currently missing the early part of camp due to a personal family matter but has praised Monday for his ability and study habits.
NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo had that scoop and shared it on his verified Twitter account Tuesday evening:
#Saints rookie S Smoke Monday suffered what’s believed to be a significant knee injury today, sources say. Monday, an undrafted free agent from Auburn, has drawn praise from teammate Tyrann Mathieu for his ability and study habits.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) August 2, 2022
Former Auburn football S Smoke Monday has a massive supporter in the NFL
Luckily for Smoke Monday, he has a star supporter on the Saints that signed a first-time deal with the organization this past offseason just like himself. Mathieu was a key element of the 2019 Super Bowl LIV Champion Kansas City Chiefs as an All-Pro defender and was named to the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s 2010’s All-Decade Team.
That’s what you call pull.
Assuming the Saints stick with the 2020 Auburn football All-SEC Second-teamer, Monday’s NFL dream will survive this significant knee injury. If for some reason they don’t, there’s enough of a reason for other teams to consider giving him a training camp invite.