Mixon pick draws the ire of TV station
One of the most talked- about players going into the NFL Draft is already causing controversy in Cincinnati.
The ABC television affiliate in the city, which could potentially air an NFL wild- card playoff game this season, is calling for a boycott of the Cincinnati Bengals following the team’s selection of former Oklahoma running back Joe Mixon during the second round.
“Enough is enough, Bengals. We can excuse another season without winning a playoff game. We can’t excuse drafting a player like Joe Mixon,” the station wrote in an editorial. “Instead of buying a Bengals ticket this year, take the $ 50 or more you would have spent on that ticket and donate the money to a nonprofit that works to prevent violence against women.”
As for Mixon, he sounded thankful that there was a team out there that was willing to take a risk on him.
Mixon, who was shown punching a woman in the face on a 2014 security video, had no idea when he was going to be drafted this week. When the call finally came from the Bengals, he got emotional.
“You know, I am still sitting here crying. I can’t believe it. I can’t believe it,” Mixon said in a conference call, via ESPN. com. “You know, I am thankful and very honored … to be a Cincinnati Bengal.”
Bengals Coach Marvin Lewis has seen the video, which shows Mixon throwing a punch that left Ameila Molitor with several fractured bones in her face, and he’s not trying to downplay what happened.
“I don’t know who isn’t disgusted with what they saw,” Lewis said.
The Bengals coach then added that it’s time for Mixon to “move forward.”
“That’s one day in a young man’s life, and he’s had to live that since then and he will continue to have to live that, and he gets an opportunity to move forward and write his script from then on,” Lewis said. “It’s come to a conclusion with the young lady. They’ve come to their statements, her statement about how they both could’ve handled the day better. But again, that doesn’t change it.”
Mixon and Molitor reached a civil settlement in the case on April 21, although terms weren’t disclosed.