Pete Thamel will call your ass at all hours of the day from blocked phone numbers and then try to pay people off to get the story he wants…allegedly

A day after Pete Thamel and Sports Illustrated released their cover story on Tyrann Mathieu, and more importantly, his potential eligibility issues, comes word from the Honey Badger’s family that Thamel and SI harassed them when they refused to be interviewed for the story.

“They called from blocked numbers repeatedly, asking me why I was dodging them,” Tyrone Mathieu said.  “They came to my home and that of my elderly mother on multiple occasions.”

Tyrone Mathieu hired a law firm last week to attempt to stop SI’s interview requests.  The letter from Irpino Law Firm in New Orleans is addressed to Peter Thamel and Sports Illustrated and reads in part, “You have been consistently harassing Mr. Mathieu and his family regarding personal issues. Mr. Mathieu informed you that they have no desire to respond to your inquiries. Despite repeated assertions of this position… you have trespassed on the Mathieu’s property and otherwise violated their privacy… Demand is made that you cease and desist from any attempts at making contact with Mr. Mathieu or any member of his family.”

Sheila Mathieu calls the article “unfortunate” and says she can’t understand why Sports Illustrated would respond so viciously to a family’s decision to keep private matters private.

“They twisted things and cobbled together details from past articles because we wouldn’t sit down with them,” she told FOX 8 Sports.  “We have always believed in being a tight-knit family. God first, family second, work and school third. That’s what Tyrann is doing now, and he’s on an avenue to success, making good grades and putting his life in order.”

Thamel will probably claim that this was less harassment and more an investigative reporter trying to get to the bottom of a situation…but Auburn fan knows better, Pete…they know you were sleeping in your car outside of their houses, calling them from unlisted numbers at all hours of the night, and bribing club owners and promoters to get the story you wanted…

Oh…