LSU head coach Les Miles spoke about how he regrets dismissing Tyrann Mathieu in the wake of the safety signing a lucrative deal.
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The Arizona Cardinals recently made Tyrann Mathieu a very rich man. The former LSU Tiger just signed a five-year extension with $40 million in guaranteed money.
Tyrann Mathieu is now the highest paid safety in the NFL based on total value and by average annual contract. pic.twitter.com/bL8XGmFGw0
— Desmond Purnell (@DesmondPurnell) August 2, 2016
Mathieu’s story is one of adversity and redemption, as some thought his NFL career could be in jeopardy after he was dismissed from the LSU football team before the 2012 season.
It seemed like an obvious decision at the time, based on Mathieu’s personal problems, but his former head coach seems to have regrets about the move, based on some recent comments.
“That’s one of the worst things I’ve ever done,” Miles said Wednesday on the dismissal of Mathieu.
Miles may regret the move based on the thinking he could have helped Mathieu turn his life around, but it was clear Mathieu was not in a great place personally while at LSU.
Personal beliefs on drug use aside, college players must follow the rules presented by the NCAA. Mathieu was unable to do so, leaving Miles without much of a choice but to dismiss him from the program.
Luckily for Miles, Mathieu was indeed able to turn things around and become one of the premier safeties in the NFL. He has battled back from two ACL tears in his three years in the NFL, with this new contract showing just how much the Cardinals believe in him even though he tore his ACL in December.
Miles does not need to worry about any sort of guilt, and should not feel bad about dismissing Mathieu. He had to keep the integrity of the program in mind, placing it over the skill of one player.
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