When Tyrann Mathieu was busy attempting to make a comeback into football, the first thing he did was shed his 'Honey Badger' nickname. First earned at LSU, the cornerback decided the nickname was associated with a part of life that he would rather forget and it was time to let it go. Mathieu got the nickname for his aggressive style of play and tough defending which is something he intends on displaying in Arizona. Mathieu said he would certainly embrace the nickname once again, but only if it is earned.
Mathieu continues to stay out of trouble now that he is part of the Cardinals after the team took a risk drafting him. He is focused on continuing to earn risk on and off the field and trying to make people forget about how he was at LSU. While taking part in a youth football clinic during the NFL Rookie Symposium, Mathiue said he would consider the nickname once again.
"I don't know if he's going to come back this fall. 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 said.
Mathieu thinks that one day that 'Honey Badger' nickname could have a positive connotation to it. He thinks the name just happened during a bad time when he was not making the best decisions. LSU defensive coordinator John Chavis was the first to refer to Mathieu as the 'Honey Badger'. Mathieu believes that going forward, if he continues to make the right decisions and be a positive role model, the 'Honey Badger' name could be positive.
Mathieu is certainly making all the right steps to making that happen. After signing with the Cardinals, the cornerback entered into the NLF drug testing program. He understands that right now with the spotlight bright on the NFL, he must make all the right decisions going forward, something he struggled with in first run with fame.
"I was young. I'd never been famous before. I'd never been a star on that level before. So it definitely got to me. It was definitely humbling to go through what I went through," Mathieu said.
Mathieu really took to heart what Adam 'Pacman' Jones said at the symposium. As an NFL player that he struggled with bad decisions, Mathieu related to everything the cornerback had to say. The reportedly talked multiple times over the event. Mathieu has also met with head coach Bruce Arians several times to discuss the changes he is making.
