Cardinals' Mathieu reflects on journey from jail cell to All-Pro status
Arizona Cardinals safety Tyrann Mathieu is one of the preeminent defensive players in the NFL, but his professional ascent wasn't always guaranteed.
Mathieu was a prodigious collegiate player at LSU, capturing SEC Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2011 along with the Chuck Bednarik Award for the country's best defensive player.
However, Mathieu's tenure was marred by numerous failed drug tests for marijuana, and he was dismissed from the team before the 2012 season. Mathieu reached his nadir when he was arrested for possession of marijuana in October 2012 and spent 12 hours in a jail cell. He said the experience altered the trajectory of his career.
"When I walked into jail, all the inmates were disappointed at me," Mathieu said to CBS Sports' Pete Prisco. "It was one of those reality checks for me. I had to sit in a cell by myself. If they had put me in cell with them, they would probably try and beat me up. It was a reality check for me. They loved me. But it was a simple fact the apple doesn't fall from the tree. I was one of those that was fortunate enough to make it. They felt everything I did was for them, and it was almost a spit in their face."
Mathieu said that because he he was "basically abandoned" by his birth mother and his birth father went to prison, he used to feel like he had an excuse to smoke marijuana.
"For me, I always felt I had an excuse to smoke pot and do all sorts of things that knuckleheads do," Mathieu said. "I woke up one morning after I went to jail and said, 'I don't want to be that person anymore. I am tired of making excuses for myself. I am tired of letting people down. Most importantly, I am tired of disrespecting myself.'"
Since he was selected in the third round of the 2013 NFL Draft, Mathieu's been a model citizen and emerged as one of the leaders of the Cardinals' venerable defense. Head coach Bruce Arians called Mathieu his favorite player after Mathieu tore his ACL in December.
He's evolved into one of the league's best players, equally adept at free safety or cornerback, and believes he'll be in top form entering the 2016 season after months of grueling rehab.
"I can't tell you how much better I feel every day," Mathieu said. "I just had surgery two months ago and I am able to do five- and six-hour workouts. I don't run home and try and take a nap. I run home and do some sit-ups. Try to get yoga. I am not tired. I am in such a great place. I am going to be better than I was. In order for me to be who I want to be I have to sacrifice something. I always hear J.J. Watt say that. And he's probably the best player in the game right now - defensively. He always talks about sacrifice, sacrifice, sacrifice. I take heed to that."