Buccaneers Should Still Be Cautious After Joe Mixon Settlement
Despite the settlement, the Buccaneers need to be careful when looking at Joe Mixon.
This is an interesting addition to the equation. The Buccaneers have dipped their toes into the water regarding a controversial figure. Joe Mixon, in case anyone forgot, visited the Bucs as part of the offseason preparations for the NFL draft. Mixon is regarded by some as the most talented running back in this year’s draft class.
However, we all know by now about the incident that is negatively affecting his draft stock. He slugged a woman named Amelia Molitor, breaking bones in her face. The incident was caught on tape and released to the public prior to the NFL Combine. He was banned from that event, but had a solid pro day back at Oklahoma. The Bucs are interested, especially with Doug Martin‘s situation still being up in the air.
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In the recent past, you have seen my strong opinions about Joe Mixon. His wrongdoing is something that deserves special attention, in my opinion. However, there has been a recent development bringing Mixon back into the news.
Per Jake Trotter of ESPN, Mixon has reached a settlement of the civil case that was pending between he and Ms. Molitor. The terms are confidential.
Apparently, Mixon and Molitor were able to settle their differences privately to their satisfaction. So, how should the Bucs react as far as the draft? Should they rest easier in considering Mixon?
Let’s take a look at Molitor’s statement, as reported by Trotter:
"“I am happy we were able to bring the lawsuit to an end,” Molitor said in the statement. “Joe and I were able to meet privately, without any attorneys, and talk about our experiences since that night. I am encouraged that we will both be able to move forward from here with our lives. “From our private discussions I am satisfied that we are going to put this behind us and work towards helping others who may have found themselves in similar circumstances. I greatly appreciate his apology and I think the feelings he expressed were sincere. We both could have handled things differently. I believe if we had a chance to go back to that moment in time, the situation would not have ended the way it did."
First of all, give credit to Mixon. Being able to swallow his pride and meet with her is a strong first step. But, it is enough?
The statement feels very rehearsed to me. Yes it is going to be prepared, Molitor is not going to just speak off of the cuff. But do we really know that these two are OK with it now? Both of them put out prepared statements. There is something to be said about hearing people speak from their hearts. Could the generic statements be part of the agreement?
From this news, it’s difficult to get a feel for how sincere Mixon really is. That is only going to take time and seeing what his actions are in the future. Admittedly, assaulting a woman is an issue that strikes right at the heart of my morals, making me a tough judge. Mixon is still not worth the PR risk, with such a big running back class.
Next: Winston Impressed by Martin
To me the answer is still “no” to Mixon. How do you all feel, given this news? Let us know…