Tyrann Mathieu: Rookie Symposium Educational, Inspiring
By Mike Dyce
Tyrann Mathieu had a stellar sophomore season at LSU. His on field abilities stole the show in LSU Tiger’s games and landed him as a Heisman Finalist. Heading into his Junior season enthusiasm and optimism was abound and he was looking to replicate that season and head into the 2013 as a potential top 10 pick.
However, his off-field issues would get him dismissed from the team and cause him to sit out the entire 2012 season. Consequently his draft stock dropped as well.
The NFL has an annual Rookie Symposium to educate the incoming players about the league and set them up to succeed, avoid off-field problems and manage their money.
Tyrann Mathieu has already learned that lesson the hard way, but he didn’t find the symposium to be repetitive, he learned.
“I didn’t look at it redundant, I looked at it as more people trying to help me,” Mathieu said, via the Cardinals website. “My process is a bit different than the rest of the rookies there. For me, it was an experience I needed. …
“For me, [the Symposium] was real educational, inspiring and one of those reality checks and I’ve had a few of those since I’ve become an Arizona Cardinal.”
For Tyrann Mathieu, it is all about positive thinking he has learned.
“I try not to put those negative thoughts in my head, that I’d be out of the league in three years,” Mathieu said. “(Former Pro Bowl safety) Brian Dawkins and Aeneas Williams said it best: Stop saying you’re going to go broke, stop saying you’re going to be out of the league, start speaking things into existence. Positive things.”