Cincinnati Bengals running back Joe Mixon announced he will not be speaking to reporters from certain sports media platforms because of what he deemed to be “disrespectful behavior.”
Joe Mixon coming off the sidelines | Cincinnati Bengals
As reported by ESPN’s Ben Baby, Mixon didn’t really go into detail but did indicate that he feels like he has been treated unfairly by certain news outlets in their coverage of him. Specifically, he said he wants nothing to do with Sports Illustrated, The Cincinnati Enquirer, Pro Football Network, and ESPN.
Joe Mixon has been the center of a media firestorm in the midst of his trial for aggravated menacing stemming from an incident that occurred in January. It was alleged that the former Oklahoma standout pointed a gun at a woman during a road rage incident. Authorities originally charged Mixon with the incident in February, dropped the charge, then refiled it, following further investigation.
The Cincinnati Bengals released a statement Thursday saying they were “pleased that this matter is now behind everyone.”
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Since he joined the organization in 2017, Joe Mixon has been a valuable part of the Cincinnati Bengals,” the team said. “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.
However, Joe Mixon isn’t ready to put everything behind him. He’s still got a chip on his shoulder based on the coverage around the case.
Joe Mixon talks with the media following the 2023 AFC Championship Game | Cincinnati Bengals Talk
To be fair, the Cincy star did clarify to Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio that he’s not boycotting the outlets as a whole, but rather specific reporters. He named Baby, Kelsey Conway, James Rapien, and Jay Morrison as the reporters he will not speak to.
Joe Mixon ran for 814 yards and seven touchdowns in 2022. He also had 60 receptions for 441 yards, both career highs, and two touchdowns. The steady ball carrier has amassed 5,378 yards and 40 TDs in his six-year career in Cincinnati.