Tyrann Mathieu 'cost himself millions,' but still possibly a third/fourth round pick

Tyrann Mathieu, aka the Honey Badger, was booted from LSU's team on Friday, shortly before the season began. He'll be eligible to enter the NFL Draft in 2013 and CBSSports.com's Mike Freeman reports that as of right now, many people see him as a third- or fourth-round pick, though he's a very divisive player for NFL teams.

By Will Brinson

Aug 10, 2012 at 3:15 pm ET • 2 min read

Mathieu's dismissal will cost him 'millions.' (US Presswire)

Tyrann Mathieu, aka the Honey Badger, was dismissed by coach Les Miles from LSU team on Friday for "team policies." Mathieu, a shorter, ball-hawking cornerback who ended up as a Heisman finalist in 2011, was a controversial player in college.

And he's even more controversial for NFL teams eyeing him as a draft prospect. CBSSports.com's Mike Freeman reports that he's an incredibly divisive player, but one who could still end up being drafted in the third or fourth round of the 2013 NFL Draft.

Mathieu booted from LSU
Hinton: Miles tosses Mathieu for 'team policies' Feldman: Bama jumps Tigers in CFB now Rang: Mathieu eligible for 2013 NFL Draft Huston: Mathieu exit doesn't affect Heisman Darst: College football's All-Castoff Team All-Americans: CBSSports.com's 2012 AA Team Draft Scout: 2013 NFL Draft Rankings Mock Drafts: Rang \| Brugler Eye on Blogs: NFL \| CFB

"He's a very divisive player among NFL teams," Freeman writes Friday. "Teams either really like him or they can't stand him. Not much middle ground. Most people I'm talking to in NFL still think Tyrann gets drafted in third, maybe fourth round, at latest."

Freeman spoke to one scout who pointed out just how badly Mathieu's poor choices (whatever they may have been; the rumor mill is hot with chatter of a failed third drug test) hurt his short-term financial future.

"My mock had him middle of first round," the scout told Freeman. "Just cost himself millions."

Interestingly, Mr. Badger wasn't even listed on Chris Huston's Heisman Watch list -- Huston told me that Mathieu had "effectively a zero percent chance" of winning the award -- but that's mainly because defensive players don't win the Heisman.

The draft is what matters for his wallet, and NFLDraftScout.com's Dane Brugler had Mathieu projected 19th overall in the latest (July 23) rendition of his 2013 NFL Mock Draft.

2012 will obviously have a huge effect on Mathieu's stock. If he's allowed to transfer to another NCAA school and play this season, he can put up big stats, stay out of trouble and get his stock cranked back up. The Honey Badger might not find things that easy though. CBSSports.com's Bruce Feldman pointed out on Friday that Mathieu must be eligible to play at LSU this year (even though he, quite obviously, won't) if he's to be eligible to play anywhere else in 2012.

So LSU could effectively end his shot at playing in the NCAA in 2012, depending on how they fill out his release documents. Maybe he ends up in the NAIA. Maybe he ends up in the UFL. Wherever he goes, he's a good bet to be a hot topic before the draft not only because of his off-field issues, but because of his on-field divisiveness.

Regardless, getting the boot from put a serious damper on what was about to be a pretty bloated bank account.

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