The Cincinnati Bengals have released a statement in response to the news of Joe Mixon’s not-guilty verdict, and the team appears to be filled with a palpable sense of relief.
Mixon was accused of pointing a gun at a woman and threatening to shoot her during a road rage incident on January 21.
The organization expressed satisfaction that this matter is now behind them, allowing them to focus on getting back to business as usual.
According to the statement, Mixon’s presence on the football team is set to be a crucial one in the upcoming season, and the Bengals are eagerly anticipating what lies ahead.
Despite the troubling allegations that had been levelled against him, the Bengals have always had complete faith in Mixon, both as a person and as a player.
They remain confident that he will continue to be a valuable asset to the team, and are eagerly anticipating seeing him display his talents on the field in the months to come.
With this legal issue now firmly behind him, Mixon is free to devote his full attention to the sport he loves, and fans of the Bengals are eagerly anticipating the exciting things that he is sure to accomplish in the upcoming season.
In a statement released shortly after the trial, the Bengals said: “Since he joined the organization in 2017, Joe Mixon has been a valuable part of the Cincinnati Bengals. Joe has been a top-level running back with multiple 1000-yard rushing seasons, and he has been an even better teammate enjoying real popularity among his peers. During the past seven years, Joe has been active with the community, and his constant smile and energy have made him a favourite among thousands of fans. The organization is pleased that this matter is now behind everyone, and we look forward to an exciting season with Joe being an important part of the football team.”
A warrant for Mixon was initially issued in February but was dismissed the next day.
Two months later, Cincinnati police announced that they had refiled the charge on April 7 ‘following the discovery of new evidence during the investigative process,’ but did not provide further details.
When the warrant was issued on February 2, a police officer’s accompanying affidavit alleged that Mixon pointed a firearm and told the victim:
‘You should be popped in the face. I should shoot you, the police (can’t) get me.’
The warrant then also said the altercation happened a few blocks from the Bengals’ Paycor Stadium just a day before Cincinnati defeated the Buffalo Bills in a divisional-round playoff game — but included no other details about the circumstances.
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The warrant was dismissed in Hamilton County Municipal Court on February 3, with the order saying only that the city prosecutor’s office requested the dismissal ‘in the interest 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.
In 2021, he had rushed for career highs of 1,205 yards and 13 touchdowns for the Bengals, where he has spent his entire career.
Mixon was a second-round draft pick out of Oklahoma in 2017. Several teams said they passed on him because of concerns about his character after Mixon punched a female Oklahoma student in the face in 2014.
He was suspended from the Sooners football team for a year and entered an Alford plea, in which a defendant does not admit guilt but acknowledges there is enough evidence for a conviction.
He received a deferred sentence and was ordered to perform community service and undergo counselling.
