By JOHN ZENOR, AP Sports Writer

FAIRHOPE, Ala. (AP) — Former LSU star Tyrann "Honey Badger" Mathieu is at the Senior Bowl attempting to repair his image and convince NFL teams that he has changed his ways.

The 2011 Heisman Trophy finalist was just a spectator Monday, watching ex-teammate Lavar Edwards and the rest of the Senior Bowl's South team practice. But Mathieu hopes to meet with interested NFL teams during his trip.

Mathieu knows he doesn't have room for more missteps off the field and said he'll understand if team officials react with skepticism.

"They have every right to do that," Mathieu said. "I'm not really looking forward to people trusting me today or tomorrow. Trust takes time, especially when you've done a lot of things for people not to be able to trust you. It may take two years. It may take five years, it may take until I'm 30 years old for people to start trusting Tyrann again. But the truth is, I'm doing the right things and just looking forward to being a football player."

Mathieu was dismissed from the LSU team last August for failing a drug test. He was arrested in late October along with three other former LSU players — including QB Jordan Jefferson — after police said they found marijuana at Mathieu's apartment.

He said his NFL ambitions haven't changed even if his days as the "Honey Badger" ended with his college career.

He has been training for the NFL combine in south Florida but was just in Arizona training with Patrick Peterson, a former LSU cornerback now with the Arizona Cardinals.

"I took a few days off from training just to come here and meet with a few coaches and just be back around football again," Mathieu said.

Mathieu, who didn't arrive with any meetings set up, said he knows his behavior will be scrutinized as much as his 40 time.