Chris Graythen
The former LSU star is hoping to repair his reputation with NFL teams.
Tyrann Mathieu, the former LSU defensive back known as "Honey Badger," is at the Senior Bowl to try and remedy his tarnished image. Mathieu is not participating in the event, but is hoping to meet with team officials and give his story of how he is attempting to turn his life around. When he arrived in Mobile, Ala., he had no meetings set up, according to the AP report.
Mathieu spoke with reporters in an effort to show how he is moving forward from his past problems, which include being dismissed from the LSU football team following a failed drug test and an arrest in October after authorities found marijuana in his apartment. The embattled star said he won't give up in his effort to change people's minds, no matter how long it takes:
"I'm not really looking forward to people trusting me today or tomorrow. Trust takes time, especially when you've done a lot of things for people not to be able to trust you. It may take two years. It may take five years, it may take until I'm 30 years old for people to start trusting Tyrann again. But the truth is, I'm doing the right things and just looking forward to being a football player.''
Before becoming associated with his off-field problems, Mathieu was a dynamic player on the field for LSU. He tied for the team-lead in tackles on the Tigers' 2011 SEC Champion and BCS runner-up squad. He also ran two punts back for touchdowns and scored twice on defense. The NFL is always looking for talent, and it wouldn't be the first time team executives looked past a player's history if Mathieu were to find a place to play.
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