Players speak about New Orleans violence after Will Smith's death

Will Smith's tragic death has shined a light on the violence happening in New Orleans.

There were 164 homicides in New Orleans last year, according to NOLA.com, and already 32 this year. Since Feb. 28, there have been 20 homicides in New Orleans. Smith was the 31st homicide in New Orleans this year according to NOLA.com's tracking map.

Amid the outpouring of grief for Smith, the former New Orleans Saints defensive end and captain, NFL players with ties to New Orleans are speaking out about the current state of the city.

"It's so dangerous, I tell you, I fly in and I fly out of town. That's how scared I am," Arizona Cardinals defensive back and New Orleans native Tyrann Mathieu told Fox Sports Radio, via NOLA.com. "And this is where I came from. I love my city to death. But it's senseless.

"These kids have no motivation. They have no drive. They don't go to class. They don't go to school. They can't go to the park and to the playground like (I did). The grass is four feet high. They have no rims, no basketball goals at the court.

"If you go to one of these recreational parks, they kick you out at 5 p.m. Well what do you want these kids to do from 5-9? Their moms and dads aren't present. They have no choice but to run the streets and hang around people that don't have their best interest and that's what's really getting to me."

Mathieu said he was "very, very lucky" to find success, given all he went through growing up in New Orleans. He said he had a responsibility to speak out, not just for the youth in the inner city of New Orleans, but everywhere else.

"How can we help these kids?" Mathieu told Fox Sports Radio. "How can we get these kids to realize there are only so few Lil Waynes? Everybody can't be Lil Wayne. Some of us have to pick up a book. All of us aren't gifted athletically ... Some of us have to strive in other areas of our life to be great. And it doesn't mean we have to make millions of dollars."

The emotion in Mathieu's voice during the Fox Sports Radio interview is jarring. It's clear the issue is very important to him (the full interview is at the bottom of this post). Saints quarterback Drew Brees also spoke about the issue of violence in New Orleans during an interview with The MMQB.

“The problem,” Brees told The MMQB, “is New Orleans perennially is way up in these homicides statistically. We become desensitized to it. And so many people die, but we pay attention when it’s Will Smith; that forces so many people who wouldn’t normally deal with it to deal with the reality of a terrible thing, the gun violence in the city.

“People are going to make arguments now about gun control. And it just seems to me … This is about the way … the way human beings treat other human beings …”

Saints cornerback Keenan Lewis grew up in New Orleans. He took to Instagram to post a thoughtful message about New Orleans and its issues with violence (NOLA.com published it; Lewis' Instagram account is set to private):

"When people ask me where I am from, I am always proud to say New Orleans that 504. But it's sad when tourist starting to believe the area code is 911. I know it's hard for tons of people to survive in this city. When there is not to much to look forward to.

"For example, guns has replace football, basketball and baseball. Funerals have more attendance than schools. Coffins get more bodies than sleeping beds and everyday tears are continuing to pour out. We're are family, we can make a difference. We can not expect the mayor, the city or polices to do it by themselves. It's not possible.

"Listen to the stories from some of your parents, grandparents and older relatives, when they was coming up. They enjoy those times because their hearts was feel with love and it was okay to love one another. Not to make this a race thing because that is not my message but for my African American brothers we have to understand the importance of family. Children need their fathers and mothers. Please let stop subtracting these numbers and adding on to the small amount we have....

"New Orleans it's time we get our city together. Love all and I hope this message can have a special place in each and every one of you'll hearts and mind..... Love Keenan Girod Lewis."