(Photo Courtesy: KTLA.com)
Apparently, being an NFL Draft hopeful from LSU and also getting in trouble with the law aren’t mutually exclusive things.
That’s because in the midst of an NFL Draft where one of the biggest questions remains where Tyrann Mathieu will be selected after a slew of failed drug tests and an October arrest, another former Bayou Bengal was in the news and in the police blotter on Thursday night.
That man is Tharold Simon, who saw his stock rapidly rise last fall, ironically, thanks in large part to Mathieu’s removal from the team. With Mathieu’s suspension and Morris Claiborne’s departure to the pros, it allowed Simon to move from a role as a nickel cornerback into the starting lineup, where he led LSU with four interceptions in 2012.
Good times! Well, until Thursday night anyway, when just hours before Simon was set to get drafted, the Eunice, LA native was arrested Thursday night for allegedly threatening a police officer.
Here are the details, via KATC.com of Lafayette:
According to police records, Tharold Simon's car was blocking Beulah Street when an officer asked him to move it. According to the report, Simon told the officer, "I own Eunice," and "I'm gonna buy these projects and you are gonna be mine," (sic) before finally moving his vehicle. The officer noted in the report that Simon spun his wheels and "backed the vehicle in an aggressive manner" and turned his radio "all the way up" while moving his car. The report also says Simon told the officer that "the mayor was on [his] side" and that the officer would be fire if he wrote a ticket. Simon is charged with public intimidation, resisting an officer, and unnecessary noise violation. He was released on bond.
Safe to say that’s definitely not a good look for Simon, you know, especially as he gets set for the biggest weekend of his football career. Simon is projected by most experts as a mid to late draft pick, although now you’ve got to question whether or not any team will risk using a draft pick on him at all. Even if he does get selected, it’s safe to assume his draft stock will fall in the process, and Simon likely cost himself a few hundred thousand dollars in the process.
However, if you think a tiny little arrest was going to cloud an otherwise momentous day in Eunice, well, think again.
That’s because despite the arrest, “Tharold Simon Day” in the tiny town of Eunice will still go on.
As Mayor Rusty Moody explained it:
"In the United States, our justice system says everyone is innocent until proven guilty.”
It’ll be interesting to see if NFL General Managers agree.
For all his insight, analysis and opinion on college football, please follow Aaron on Twitter @Aaron_Torres.
Follow CrystalBallRun on Twitter @CrystalBallRun.
