"Honey Badger don't care" I think we all remember Brent Musburger cramming this phrase down our throats every Saturday during the 2011 college football season. Well the honey badger is back and from reports coming out of Cardinals camp he is better then ever.
Here is a quick refresher course. Tyrann Mathieu was an absolute stud for LSU during the 2010 and 2011 seasons but was excused from the team in 2012 for violating team rules (media and just about everyone else said it was multiple failed drug tests but that was never confirmed). Before the draft Mathieu said he worked to be better everyday but most draft "experts" weren't buying it and projected him to be a later pick in the draft (he went 69th overall to the Cardinals) and if you think Mathieu doesn't have a chip on his shoulder about it just check his twitter
I'll never forget what mike mayock said about me... I'll blow him a kiss on my first game changing play
— Tyrann Mathieu (@Mathieu_Era) July 17, 2013
So all that brings us to the current Arizona Cardinals camp where Mathieu hasn't only stood out he is in 100% beast mode picking balls off left and right... "Tyrann is getting his hands on a lot of balls," quarterback Carson Palmer said recently. "He's so quick and explosive in and out of breaks and reading concepts and knowing coverages and weaknesses in where we're trying to throw the ball."
If you aren't taking Carson Palmer's word for it here is a great video via the Cardinals web-site, VIDEO HERE
Now to the important stuff how this can help your IDP fantasy football team. Mathieu is a turnover machine and with him on the field with his mentor Patrick Peterson the Cardinals have a solid secondary. In his two years at LSU Tyrann was credited with 11 forced fumbles (think Charles Tillman punch) and 136 tackles (not bad for an undersized guy). The biggest thing about Mathieu is he has a nose for the end zone like Ed Reed. As soon as the "honey badger" gets the ball he is thinking 6. Nice side prize with Mathieu is if you get individual points for players returning kicks because it looks like he is going to win the punt returner job in Arizona.
Mathieu can also rack up the return pointsI would wait to draft Mathieu but not too long. The buzz he is creating for himself at the Cardinals camp will be big enough so "that guy" in your draft will reach for him. If you are in an IDP dynasty league Mathieu should 100% be circled on your draft sheet.