APThe roller coaster ride that’s been the life and career of Tyrann Mathieu the past year has officially come to an end at the collegiate level.
As expected, and as first reported by ESPN.com‘s Joe Schad, the former LSU cornerback announced Thursday that he has decided to forego his remaining eligibility and will make himself available for the April NFL draft.
“I am committed to tackling my personal issues and will work to better myself every day as a man first and only then as a football player,” a portion of Mathieu’s statement read. “I will always consider myself an LSU Tiger.”
A 2011 season that ended with Mathieu as a Heisman Trophy finalist and his name on numerous postseason All-American teams gave way to a series of developments that led to today’s decision. August 10, Mathieu was dismissed from the Tigers football program for what turned out to be the failure of multiple drug tests. While speculation flew that he would drop down to the FCS level, Mathieu ultimately returned to school at LSU — following a brief stint in rehab — and some around him held out hope that he could return to the team after sitting out the 2012 season.
While that was never a realistic possibility, the door was all but officially slammed shut after an SI.com article hinted at Mathieu and others running afoul of NCAA bylaws as well as a late-October arrest on marijuana-related charges.
At this point in time, the best-case draft scenario would be in the second- to third-round range, although he’ll have several off-field hurdles to clear with NFL teams to even be selected that high.
Lions
What a wasted life.
His college career sure went up in smoke
Can’t help but think another season played somewhere, anywhere, would give him the opportunity to try and climb back to being a first rounder by showing he could stay clean for a whole season…unless he knows he can’t and figures he should get whatever signing bonus he can while he can (not that it will be very much at whatever mid-round spot he’s drafted at).
scalpemseminoles says:
Nov 29, 2012 12:26 PM
His college career sure went up in smoke
———
Literally !
I hope this young man somehow ends up on a team with a locker room full of “pros”. He could be a great player if he can keep himself clean.
I don’t see a 3rd round
No one cares about another bum.
6th-7th round at best. Too risky for an earlier pick since he hasn’t played this year.
Tyrann,
If you think getting to the NFL will make your personal struggles cease to be, you are mistaken and in for a big surprise…
PacMan 2.0
Did anyone tell him they do drug tests in the NFL?
trojan33sc says:
Nov 29, 2012 1:17 PM
PacMan 2.0
——
All depends on where he winds up. If he ends up with the Cowboys, etc then quite probably yes. As much as I hate to say it, he needs to end up with the Patriots. Giants, Steelers,etc whose coaches and organizations do not put up with much crap. He would either have to get himself in order or be out of the league.
Late round at best. I agree with wabbitslayer, the honey badger should go play ANYWHERE for another year in order to show he can stay clean.
Some team will take a chance on him – no question he has talent.
As a friend I want nothing but the best for my bud but I just don’t know that he’s ready for this, whether it be emotionally or physically. I pray that he’s thinking long and hard about this and remembering those long talks he and Coach Miles had along with those of us who really care. He’s got God given ability and talent and I just hope that it’s used for the good. Tyrann’s not a bad kid, he just made some bad choices on some things. For those who find it necessary to criticize you should’ve had to go thru his childhood. For those that know I’m sure you’ll agree nobody should have to live that way. Bud, I know you’re watching all of what’s being said and you know those of us who truly care wouldn’t hurt you but please think long and hard about this. We only want what’s best for you and hope you know we’ll always be in your corner.
Yes, he should stay in school BUT he needs that money now. I can see him going in the third round. Some team will take a chance.
Sounds like a pick for St. Louis.
@suprmous
We are all impressed you are his personal friend. Did you see him on campus one day and that made you a personal friend. I watched Alabama embarrass him at the BCS National Championship last year so I guess I am his friend too.
He’ll be out of the league in a year or two and then we can stop talking about another never-was
The one thing I’ll say here is that he’s used up every punch on his “he had a tough life” card.
Hello Bengals!!
timh, for the record we’ve been friends long since before he went to play at LSU. He’s not the evil person that you and countless others make him out to be. This kid’s got a heart but he’s just made some bad choices. Are you so perfect that you can say you haven’t made bad choices. Get a life and if all you’ve got to do’s knitpick go pick on your dawg. The rest of the World would like to be spared of your holier than thou attitude.
So he’ll get rewarded w/ millions of dollars. Makes perfect sense.
@suprmous
Glad you are best friends with him. Do you guys smoke weed together? Again, I saw him TV so I’m best friends with him too. Also, maybe you should try this new thing called Spell Check.
Enough with the “Honey Badger” garbage.
timh…how about grammar check?
Honey Lion.
Detroit.
At 5′ 8″, at best, biggest impact would be special teams, if that. CFL, here he comes.
@dexterismyhero
Grammar check would be good. You should try using it.
@timh: Again, I saw him TV so I’m best friends with him too.
==================================
Really? I saw him TV? Idiot.
Lew-sor
@dexterismyhero
Try to comprehend this: Grammar is not when a word is accidentally omitted. Grammar is when a sentence is constructed incorrectly. Maybe when you graduate from from high school you will understand the difference.
@timh
Try to comprehend deez nutz: Grammar is not a verb.
timh, you’re a punk. I’m old enuff to be your mom most likely and I dare say I’d be proud to know I had a child like you. If you were my child you wouldn’t be spittin out garbage like you are and you’d remember what a good dose of displine would do. However, it’s clear that you’re one who fits into your own demented l’il world where nobody other than those that feel the same way you do exist. What a pity because when you get down on your luck as all do at one time in our lives don’t think your begging will go on hearing ears. You may get help but it won’t be as charitable as what it could be if you didn’t have the holier than thou attitude you’ve got.
He knows they drug test there, right? CFL baby!
I hate to say it, but he’s a man without a position in the NFL. There are some great defensive coordinators and schemes that make the best of these type of players, but you don’t have to spend a 3rd round pick to get them. There aren’t a lot of Tampa 2 teams left out there, but I could see him doing well in that type of scheme.
For all his faults Janoris Jenkins showed an obvious fit in the NFL, but with Matheiu I don’t think the combine will be kind to him. Rather than hoping to go as high in the draft as possible he probably should be hoping to go to a team that can find a way to use his talents on the field.
If I had a vote, I would vote him for the heisman.
Appears to be an ideal candidate
SEC. Check
Trouble with drugs. Check
At least one arrest. Check
Been in jail. Check
Never graduated. Check
A really good athlete. Check
Doesn’t arrear his football skills will be useful in the NFL. Check
A one season wonder. Check
Undefeated team. He plays in the SEC for crying out laud. Not even the New England Patriots could do this
National championship. Well you can’t have everything
I could see him being a third corner and really solid special teams guy. I wouldn’t want to see him returning punts against my team. I could see him covering the slot, he seems to always be around the ball.
I hope he makes corrective actions to his behavior issues. I wish this young man the best I luck.
“of luck”
Mr. Jobs appears to feel “arrears” is a better choice than “appears”. Too bad he didn’t mark it through college.
@irish1958
” Too bad he didn’t mark it through college.”
How do you MARK it through college? Do they teach that at ND?
So he’s a young guy with discipline problems and demons within his personal life that could result in him being an unfulfilled talent and people are suggesting that he should go to the Lions?! That is one of the last teams that he should go to in the NFL. He’ll only have a chance of making something of himself if he gets extremely lucky and lands somewhere like Baltimore or New England.
irish1958, I’ve run into fans of ND like you face to face at times over the years and all I can do’s pray for you because trying to reason with the likes of you and timh is totally useless. You’re all full of hate and don’t care about others and it wouldn’t surprise me if you didn’t care about your own family let alone yourself. I repeat but now this’ directed to you, I’m probably old enuff to be your mother and if you were my child you’d know what a good taste of displine was all about. It’s a shame that you spit hate like you do and support a fine university that you do. It’s paradoxial to say the least. Heaven help you, timh, and all of those that follow your way of thinking.
@suprmous
You have called me and others names on this board several times. In addition you continually judge people that disagree with you and then you have the nerve to say you would discipline us if you were our mom. First off, if you are old enough to have children my age you don’t act like it. You act like a 10 year that didn’t get her way and now you are mad. Grow up and stop judging others and stopped whining and calling others names!!!
You should be so lucky I’m not your mom. For starters you’d definitely know what a good dose of leather across your backside would both feel like and do for your attitude. As for whining, I do believe the pot’s calling the kettle(s) black. As for me judging others, have you fallen and hit your head and don’t remember it? To say I’m judging others is about as assinine as you being an angel in all of it’s glory. Think things out before you speak.
@suprmous
You are whining and you obviously are off your meds as you sound like a total loon. And I welcome you to attempt any dose of leather on me. Lastly, stop acting like you the mother to everyone on here. I am 57 years old and if you are old enough to be my mother (thank God you aren’t) you would in your 80’s. Now go take your meds and shut the hell up as everyone is tired of you!
timh, you poor thing. Don’t you know that you’re ranting like you do will cause you to have a stroke? You’re not too far off on my age but as for as being on meds, no I’m not but maybe some antidepressants would help you. You really should respect all of your elders more. BTW, I haven’t seen very many tell me they’re tired of me as you suggest. Have you been elected to be their mouthpiece, Dearie? What a fool you are to think that you can speak for others.
@suprmous
Another totally insane post. You really have some mental issues you need to resolve. Very sad.
The Packers would be a perfec fit for the Honey Badger. woodson has a few years left, and he could do a lot of growing up at Lambeau. One thing about the Packers is they don’t put with any shit….Please TT please consider this guy !!!
Packers…..and big deal , he made a mistake he smoked some weed. It should be legal anyways. You people act like he was shooting up heroine !!