re: .

Just some random thoughts -

Whenever I read or here about football players getting in trouble (not just referring to TM here, more generally), whether it be drugs, fights, domestic violence issues, or whatever, I often think about the idea of taking the good with the bad. Now, I'm not excusing the behavior, and if rules are broken, appropriate disciplinary action should follow.

What I'm getting at is, football is a violent game full of passion and emotion. There are a range of different personality types and predispositions that can make up a good football player. But in certain instances, with some of these players that have a strong inclination toward wild behavior, I wonder that if you were to hypothetically take away the innate piece of their makeup that was the impetus for the wild behavior that led to getting in trouble, you might be simultaneously taking away the piece of their makeup that made them a good football player.

I mean, ideally you'd like to tame the off-field behavior while maintaining the violent on-field mindset. But maybe for some the dichotomy isn't that easily achieved, or maybe not at all. I think this is more applicable to certain positions than others. I think it definitely comes into play for defensive players because of the violent, attacking nature of playing D. The first example that comes to mind is the NFL Network's #1 Defensive player in NFL history Lawrence Taylor.

With regard to Mathieu specifically, maybe he's an instance of this. Maybe the thing that drove him to tweet maniacally was the same thing that drove him to play like a savage on the football field.

Maybe if you take marijuana out of TM's life, he's not the same football player. In my own experience, I can attest to a creative value and other positive aspects of using marijuana.

Astronomer Carl Sagan also had positive things to say about the usage of cannabis.

TM was probably the most unique & dynamic player I've ever seen at LSU. I wish him the best of luck.