NFL star Joe Mixon is boycotting some media for ‘disrespectful’ behavior as he refuses to discuss acquittal in street riot case
Cincinnati Bengals star Joe Mixon has refused to speak to reporters in his first practice session since he was found not guilty in his aggravated threats trial.
Mixon, 27, has been on trial since earlier in the week and after four days of deliberations between prosecutors and his attorneys, a Cincinnati judge ruled Thursday that the running back would not be charged with a misdemeanor of aggravated threats.
He returned to practice with the Bengals on Sunday but shied away from reporters’ questions after the session.
Mixon then announced that it would boycott questions from certain reporters from the following outlets: Sports Illustrated, The Cincinnati Enquirer, Pro Football Network and ESPN.
“That’s not happening,” Mixon said, claiming that behavior he perceived as disrespectful was the motive for his boycott, according to ESPN.
Joe Mixon declined to speak to reporters after being found not guilty in an aggravated threat case
A judge ruled Thursday that the Bengals running back would not face charges in the case
When asked about how disrespectful he felt the outlets had been, he simply replied, “You know how to do that.”
He hasn’t spoken to the media during the team’s scheduled access since the end of last season.
In April, Mixon decided to plead not guilty to the only crime he was charged with, related to allegations that he threatened and pointed a gun at a woman in Cincinnati on Jan. 21.
Previously, bail was set at $10,000 and the player was ordered to have no contact with the woman.
An arrest warrant was initially issued for Mixon in February, but it was lifted the next day.
Two months later, the Cincinnati Police Department announced that they had reinstated the charges on April 7 “after new evidence was uncovered during the pre-trial investigation,” but gave no further details.
When the warrant was issued on February 2, a police officer’s affidavit claimed Mixon aimed a firearm at the victim and told him, “You should be shot in the face.” “I should shoot you, the police can shoot me.” don’t get it.”
The warrant also said the altercation took place a few blocks from the Bengals’ Paycor Stadium just a day before Cincinnati beat the Buffalo Bills in a divisional round playoff game – but didn’t provide any further details on the circumstances.
The warrant was dismissed by the Hamilton County Municipal Court on February 3. The order said only that the city’s attorney’s office had requested the dismissal “in the interests of justice.”
Mixon rushed for 814 yards and seven touchdowns this season, his sixth. He also had 60 receptions for 441 yards, both career highs, and two touchdowns.
Mixon, 27, allegedly threatened and pointed a gun at a woman in Cincinnati in January
The NFL star attended court in Hamilton County, Ohio, with his attorneys all week
In 2021, he posted career-high streaks of 1,205 yards and 13 touchdowns for the Bengals, where he spent his entire career.
Mixon was a second-round draft pick from Oklahoma in 2017. Several teams said they passed him over concerns about his character after Mixon punched an Oklahoma student in the face in 2014.
He was suspended from the Sooners football team for a year and filed an Alford plea in which a defendant does not admit his guilt but acknowledges there is enough evidence to convict. He received a deferred sentence and was sentenced to community service and a counseling session.
Mixon is expected to play more, if not all, of the games for the Bengals after appearing in 14 of 16 competitions last season after substitute Samaje Perine left for the Denver Broncos.