Tyrann Mathieu had a serious issue with not being able to lay off the marijuana while at LSU. His inability to put down the herb ultimately cost him his college career, and now the artist formerly known as the Honey Badger has to make sure it doesn’t do the same to his future.
So how bad was it? One NFL assistant coach told USA Today Sports on Thursday that Mathieu was asked how many drug tests he failed in college before LSU suspended him.
“I quit counting a 10,” the coach said Mathieu responded. “I really don’t know.”
The coach, who chose to remain anonymous, added that it is clear Mathieu was not given the help he needed at school if he failed that many drug tests before the school took action. That probably has something to do with the fact that Mathieu was one of the best players in the country on a team that was competing for a national championship.
As we know, Mathieu’s drug use eventually became too much for LSU to handle. He was kicked off the team and spent some time at a drug rehab facility before eventually admitting that he “abused” himself through the use of marijuana. Mathieu now claims he has put marijuana use behind him.
While I’m sure the NFL team that asked him that question appreciates the honesty, his history of drug use is obviously a major concern for NFL teams who are considering taking a chance on Mathieu. The 20-year-old claims he was the best player at the NFL Combine in February and insists he is clean, but he is not very far removed from marijuana being a major part of his life. If he truly is on the right track, the hope is that Mathieu can stay there.