Tyrann Mathieu has gone down the Adam Jones path to salvation and has ditched the nickname that was associated with his past troubles. Like Jones, who goes by Adam now instead of “Pacman,” Mathieu has stopped going by his “Honey Badger” nickname. It’s a shame because honey badger was such a great nickname and fittingly described Mathieu’s style of play on the field. Fortunately, Mathieu says he is open to bringing it back.
“I don’t know if he’s going to come back this fall,” Mathieu told the Akron Beacon Journal regarding his nickname. “I really don’t know. But right now, I’m happy being Tyrann. Tyrann is a fun guy, and I’m just ready to play some ball.”
Mathieu was kicked off LSU’s football team before the season began last year because of multiple failed drug tests. He even went to rehab for the issue and was arrested on drug-related charges in October. Because of those past issues, Mathieu knows it will take a lot for his nickname to have a positive connotation again.
“I think [the nickname can have a positive connotation], but I think it’s going to take some time, just because ‘Honey Badger’ happened at such a bad time, a time where I wasn’t making the best decisions,” Mathieu told the Beacon Journal. “So going forward, if I’m able to make the right decisions, able to be that role model for the kids, I think the ‘Honey Badger’ can be a pretty positive person.”
I’m glad he has that attitude. Football is more fun when the Honey Badger is around. Tyrann Mathieu is boring. We want the Badger on the field, and Mathieu off of it. Do you think you can make that happen, Tyrann?
