Larry Brown Sports

Tyrann Mathieu knows that some of the decisions he has made over the past five months or so may have completely derailed his NFL plans. Mathieu was kicked off LSU’s football team last summer following a series of failed drug tests. Rather than transferring, he decided to stay at LSU in hopes of rejoining the team next season. Then in October, he was arrested on drug-related charges and decided to enter the 2013 NFL draft.

Now, the “Honey Badger” is hoping some NFL team will take a chance on him in April. The 20-year-old cornerback is looking to make some changes in his life, and that includes ditching the “Honey Badger” persona.

“I think at LSU, the Honey Badger (person) came to an abrupt end,” Mathieu said Monday while watching some of his former teammates practice for the Senior Bowl, via The Shreveport Times. “I definitely want to do it the right way this time.”

Mathieu is obviously looking to start fresh, which makes sense given all the mistakes he has made since last year. His nose for the ball made him an intriguing NFL prospect, but now teams have to wonder if he can keep his act together.

“I think people will be (skeptical), and they have every right to do that,” he said. “I’m not (expecting) people trusting me. Trust takes time, especially when you have done a lot of things for people not to trust you. It may take two years, five years or until I’m 30 years old but the truth is I’m doing the right things and I’m looking forward to being a football player.”

While we understand what he is trying to accomplish by ditching the nickname, people are still going to call Mathieu the “Honey Badger” if he ever plays in the NFL. Adam “Pacman” Jones tried to ditch his nickname when he got himself into trouble several years ago, and he has had little success. Having said that, I’m sure Mathieu will be happy with anything his teammates and fans call him if an NFL team is willing to give him a shot.

Tyrann Mathieu was once the most exciting player in college football, but his promising career went downhill quickly after he was kicked off LSU’s football team following a series of positive drug tests. Mathieu decided to remain at LSU rather than transfer to another school. His plan was to rejoin LSU’s team next season, but those plans were derailed by an October marijuana arrest. He announced a month later that he would enter the 2013 NFL draft.

In an interview with ESPN on Saturday, Mathieu finally came clean about his problems. His admissions are part of an effort to show NFL teams and fans that he has matured.

During the interview, Mathieu talked about the moment when he decided he wanted to change his life.

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Tyrann Mathieu and three other former LSU players were arrested on drug-related charges on Thursday afternoon. Yes, again. According to WAFB, Baton Rouge police say Mathieu and Jordan Jefferson were charged with simple possession of marijuana, Karnell Hatcher was charged with second offense simple possession of marijuana and Derrick Bryant was charged with possession with intent to distribute marijuana.

Officers say they responded to a call at 3:30 p.m. on Thursday at an apartment building in Baton Rouge about a man who was trying to force his way through the complex’s security gate. A police news report said the following.

“The man was confronted by a maintenance worker and words were exchanged. Before officers arrived the man had been let into the complex by a resident and was seen going into an apartment. When officers went to the apartment and knocked on the door it was answered by the resident, Tyrann Mathieu, age 20, police said.

“Officers immediately smelled a strong odor of marijuana and obtained consent from Mathieu to search the apartment. Inside they found three other men, including the one who had allegedly tried to force his way through the gate. He was identified as Jordan Jefferson.”

The big story here is obviously the Honey Badger. Officers searched his apartment and reportedly found a marijuana grinder, digital scale and 10 bags of high grade marijuana. This is the same Mathieu who was dismissed by the LSU football team over the summer for multiple failed drug tests and later entered a drug rehabilitation facility.

Mathieu was widely considered to be the best defensive back in college football before his suspension. Earlier this season, he was spotted in the stands at an LSU game and rumors have swirled that he was hoping to rejoin the Tigers at some point in the near future. This changes all of that, and at this point Mathieu will be lucky if he ever plays football again.

H/T Ian Rapoport

A year ago, Tyrann Mathieu was an All-American and Heisman Trophy finalist after starring on LSU’s defense and special teams. Who figured he not only would not be playing for LSU a year later, but that he’d be watching their games from the stands?

That’s what’s happened now that the Honey Badger has enrolled in the school as a student after being kicked off the football team for multiple positive drug tests. Mathieu watched the game about 10 rows up by the 17-yard line according to Jeff Duncan of the Times-Picayune (he couldn’t score seats at the 50?).

Mathieu is hoping to clean up his act and be added back to the team at some point in the future. I’m not sure who can say they saw this coming.

It would appear that Tyrann Mathieu does not intend to play football this fall at LSU or any other school. According to Fox 8 in New Orleans, Mathieu checked into a drug rehabilitation clinic in Houston on Monday and will remain there for an undetermined period of time. The Honey Badger and his parents decided as a family that it would be best if he remained at the facility in the near future rather than concerning himself with school or football.

Fox 8 reports that Tyrann’s father, Tyrone, said that he and Tyrann agree that until he “conquers his demons” he will not be able to succeed in whatever it is he chooses to do in the future. If he takes care of his drug problem, they believe football will sort itself out.

Mathieu is also reportedly being mentored by former NBA player and coach John Lucas. You may remember Lucas from the time he gave up on JaMarcus Russell, but he has developed programs that help athletes work through the problems of addiction and handle the added pressures life can present them. Hopefully for the Honey Badger, the end result is better than it was with JaMarcus.

H/T Deadspin

Tyrann Mathieu reportedly had interest in returning to LSU’s football team next year after being dismissed from the team last week, but that will not happen. The Heisman Trophy candidate is permanently ineligible to play football for the school.

Mathieu, aka the “Honey Badger,” was kicked off the team last week for reportedly repeatedly testing positive for marijuana. Though Mathieu was exploring his transfer options, a report from ESPN said the defensive back was considering sitting out the season and enrolling in classes in hopes of being reinstated for the 2013 season. But that won’t be happening.

“He’s permanently ineligible to play football at LSU,” LSU senior associate athletic director for NCAA compliance Bo Bahnsen told USA Today Sports. “That’s definite. That’s what was said Friday.”

LSU’s substance abuse policy reportedly states that a third violation of drug use will result in “permanent ineligibility to participate at LSU.”

Mathieu can continue as a student at LSU, but he has lost his scholarship. It looks more and more like transferring is his only option if he wants to continue his collegiate playing career.

Some may think LSU’s actions are an overreaction to a minor problem, but it sounds like Mathieu was given many opportunities to change and he didn’t. Maybe this sort of punishment will teach him some discipline and respect for rules.

LSU coach Les Miles announced on Friday that he had kicked Tyrann Mathieu off the football team for a violation of team rules.

“This is a very difficult day for our team,” Miles said, per Scout.com. “We lose a quality person, teammate and contributor to the program. However, with that being said, we have a standard that our players are held to and when that standard is not met, there are consequences.”

The Times-Picayune reports that Mathieu failed a drug test recently, leading to his dismissal. The “Honey Badger” was also suspended a game last season after testing positive for synthetic marijuana, making him a repeat offender.

Mathieu emerged as a top cornerback and kick/punt returner for the Tigers last season. He scored four touchdowns, had two interceptions, and forced six fumbles, leading to an invitation to the Heisman Trophy ceremony in New York. Now he’ll take his talents and trash talking ways to another school.

LSU kicker Josh Jasper says his ex-teammate is transferring to McNeese State in Louisiana:

@tm7_era already transferred to McNeese! Staying in the boot #LA

— Josh Jasper (@JoshJasper30) August 10, 2012

Nothing is official, but it was reported earlier that McNeese State was one of the schools he was considering. If he transfers there, he wouldn’t have to sit out the upcoming season. He still has two years of eligibility left and will likely leave for the NFL draft after the season.