Ex-LSU star Tyrann Mathieu says he has learned from suspension and arrest

INDIANAPOLIS - Tyrann Mathieu said he has not smoked marijuana since Oct. 26, 2012.

Mathieu, an all-American defensive back at Louisiana State in 2011, did not play last season after disciplinary problems related to marijuana use prompted a suspension and eventually an arrest on a possession charge. He entered a drug rehabilitation program and now hopes to repair his image, secure a spot in the NFL, and resist the temptations that put his career in jeopardy.

"I've been through it. I know what it's like not to have football," Mathieu said Sunday at the NFL scouting combine. "I know what it's like not to be the center of attention, and I know what it's like to be humiliated. To go back down that road, nah, not a chance in this world. Not a chance in my lifetime again."

The player known as "Honey Badger" said he would be open with NFL clubs about his past.

"My best friend right now is honesty," he said.

Mathieu estimated that he cost himself millions of dollars, although his draft stock was always a matter of debate. He is 5-foot-9 and 186 pounds and not exceptionally fast, but his performance can override those measurements. A 2011 Heisman Trophy candidate, Mathieu was an explosive punt returner at LSU.

As NFL Network analyst Mike Mayock said, Mathieu is a better football player than athlete. But first he must prove he is committed to avoiding past pitfalls.

"I thought my bottom was when I got kicked out of school, but I think when I got arrested in October, that was a different bottom," Mathieu said. "This time the rehab was for Tyrann. I just wasn't going to do it for publicity or because my school told me to go. I actually wanted to get my problem corrected."

Utah defensive tackle Star Lotulelei will not work out Monday after his medical examinations revealed a heart condition, according to an ESPN report.

This development could have major ramifications in the first round if the condition concerns teams. Lotulelei is considered one of the draft's top prospects and a potential target of the Eagles at No. 4.

According to the report, Lotulelei's left ventricle was pumping at only 44 percent efficiency; 55 percent to 70 percent is the normal range.

Lotulelei, who did not meet with reporters as scheduled this past weekend, was due to return to Salt Lake City for further tests.

The brothers of Eagles center Jason Kelce and running back Bryce Brown are trying to boost their stocks at the combine.

Cincinnati tight end Travis Kelce is one of the draft's top tight ends. At 6-foot-5 and 255 pounds with receiving and blocking skills, he is a better prospect than his brother. But he also must overcome character concerns stemming from a season-long suspension in 2010 for violating team rules, and an abdominal injury that he played through last season.

Travis Kelce said he learned that draft stock and NFL success are not always related when he watched his brother succeed after slipping to the sixth round.

"It's just been a completely different situation than him, and I've definitely noticed that," Kelce said.

Kansas State linebacker Arthur Brown, who is Bryce's older brother, said that brotherly conversations helped him learn what to expect in the NFL, where he will try to match the success of Bryce's rookie season.

"It was helpful to watch Bryce and his mentality, his approach not necessarily to the game but the business side of it," Brown said. "Definitely will be an eye-opener. It has helped me in this process leading up to the combine and the draft."