It's been said that Honey Badger don't care, but what may be more accurate is that Honey Badger don't play - at least not for the LSU Tigers.
The team, which played in last year's national college football championship game, announced this afternoon that their top player and arguably the nation's best cornerback, Tyrann Mathieu, has been dismissed for violating team policy.
“This is a very difficult day for our team,” head coach Les Miles said. “We lose a quality person, teammate and contributor to the program. However, with that being said, we have a standard that our players are held to and when that standard is not met, there are consequences."
Miles added, “It’s hard because we all love Tyrann. We will do what we can as coaches, teammates, and friends to get him on a path where he can have success. We are going to miss him.”
LSU did not say which team rule Mathieu broke. The 20-year-old All-American ran into trouble last year when he and two other players violated the team's drug policy. ESPN reported at the time that the trio tested positive for synthetic marijuana.
Mathieu and the others were suspended for their team's game against Auburn.
Despite missing the game, Mathieu was still a finalist for the Heisman Trophy, awarded to college football's best player, as a sophomore. In addition to winning the Chuck Bednarik Award, given to the top defensive player, he came in fifth in Heisman voting with 34 first-place votes and was the only defensive player among 10 finalists.
According to LSU, the Columbus, Ohio, native who attended high school in New Orleans, has registered 133 tackles - 16 for a loss - in 26 games for the Tigers. He also has four picks, 11 forced fumbles and eight fumble recoveries, as well as four touchdowns, two on punt returns and two on fumble returns.
The 5-foot-9, 175-pound Mathieu got his nickname for his fearlessness on the gridiron. Honey badgers are known to scrap with animals many times their size, including lions, and even tangle (successfully) with poisonous snakes.
Said the Dallas Cowboys' Morris Claiborne, a former teammate of Mathieu's: "Tyrann deserved the nickname ... because the honey badger takes what it wants, and Tyrann takes what he wants on the field," ESPN reported today in a profile.
The sports network had to add an editor's note, saying, "This story was published prior to Tyrann Mathieu's dismissal from LSU's football program on August 10."
Now he knows. rules are for everyone,
HB should not be picked up by any college team. It sends the wrong message. He should not be considered for the Heisman either. Definitely sends the wrong message.
For what reason? Nobody even knows what he even did to violate team policy.
LOL – tested positive for synthetic marijuana...surely in an effort to avoid detection for marijuana, he used that toxic stuff they sell in certain shops instead. Well played, dum-dum...well played...
Honey badger don't care. Honey badger just keep playing.
This guy could be a best-selling author – 'Dumb for Dummies'.
So he's "suspended"- off the team. Now will he stay off? For far too long big time athletics, especially college football, has been the tail that wagged the dog. I'd believe perhaps we're beginning to make some progress if by some miracle he's not welcomed back as someone who's "paid the price" and "seen the light" and "turned over a new leaf" or whichever cliche is used, but I don't expect it.
He was kicked off the team for failing his 3rd drug test. The first failed test requires the football player take drug counseling. The 2nd failed test requires a suspension, which he was suspended last year at the beginning of the year. The 3rd offense and he is kicked off the team for good. He won't be playing for LSU anymore. Foolish choices have cost him much. If he transfers to another top college team, he will have to sit out for one year. Rumors abound that he is going to transfer to a lower rated school so he can play immediately.
Status quo. The latest prerequisite for college sports nowadays is to have at least one felony rap against you. I doubt you can even qualify for PRO sports without one or two. At least some kind of rap sheet shows character!
Thisth isth tha Hunny Badger. Hunny Badger donut care. Guess what Honey Badger has to eath for the next three weeks? Yep. Cobra. You got it, straight & pure Cobra.
Are you on something?
Let him go back to the "Hood" and run interference for the Drug Kings. Have a good life, dude...Hey, maybe Penn State will take him, they have very little to offer, after all one of their great performer's is in prison and this dude can join him later in life.
And what about Randy Travis....
The area of New Orleans Tyrann is from is in no way 'the hood."
If I'm gonna get busted for smokin some weed...it sure as hell ain't gonna be the fake stuff. C'mon now.
Due to NCAA drug testing requirements, a college football player has a 2 week period in which to smoke pot and still have 30 days necessary for a clean urin test. If the player is going to smoke they will do so during this 2 week period.
So he smoked marijuana. Who the heck even cares? I hate to say, LSU needs him a hell of a lot more than he needs them. If I were him I'd ditch them like a bad habit and head to a better team.
There's only one, and Saban has the same standards there.
I care. I don't and cannot abide people who use drugs illegally.
Should do the same for woods. Kick him off the PGA tour.
Any program that takes this guy should be given a one year death penalty. Of course some school will pick him up and "turn the lad around" but it's all baloney and he could be a good example for other athletes if he is just flat out gone for good. At some point coaches and administrations need to do what is right for the sport, not just look to make a buck or win a trophy.
Big deal! My goodness, just some weed. Synthetic stuff, although he could have killed hmself, he did not killl anyone. Cmon man!