Former LSU cornerback Tyrann Mathieu was upset that an NFL assistant coach told USA Today he stopped counting all the drug tests he failed while in college.
Mathieu is visiting NFL teams ahead of the draft later this month to show he has cleaned up his act and that the talented from troubled player known as “Honey Badger” is worthy of being selected.
An anonymous NFL assistant coach who interviewed Mathieu said when he asked about the number of failed drug tests, Mathieu responded, “I quit counting at 10. I really don’t know.”
Mathieu contacted LSU on Friday to inform officials the story wasn’t entirely accurate.
“It is irresponsible and shows a lack of integrity for anyone to disclose medical information regardless of how it was gathered,” Mathieu said. “I would expect that conversations regarding my drug testing history during the course of my medical treatment would be private. LSU has a strong drug testing program and LSU went to great lengths to help me in my treatment and recovery. I understand that many people enjoy reading about the negative side of sports, but to publish those second-hand comments without being given a chance to address that comment prior to the publication of the article is irresponsible.”
Mathieu, a 2011 Heisman Trophy finalist, was booted off the LSU team before last season after a series of failed drug tests. In October, he spent time in jail on a drug-related charge.
Since then, Mathieu contends that he is on the straight and narrow and serious about a career in pro football. His impressive performance at the NFL Scouting Combine in February piqued the interest of NFL teams.
NFLDraftScout.com ranks Mathieu as the No. 12 cornerback and projects him as a third-round pick.
The NFL assistant who spike with Mathieu questioned how an college player could fail that many tests.
“If he flunked 10 tests before they suspended him, it shows that he got no kind of help,” the coach said.
Mathieu’s agent, Patrick Lawlor, told USA Today that the former LSU standout is in the midst of an 10-team NFL tour.
“This is his job interview,” Lawlor said. “It’s just a matter of presenting himself as a professional.”