So far, thanks to TMZ, Mixon’s most public appearance of his first offseason in Cincinnati has been at a Future concert with current teammate Adam Jones.
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A picture with the former “Pacman” may not be the best look, given Jones’ own, different off-field troubles. When the Bengals announced Mixon as their second-round pick, he was naturally, immediately and correctly lumped in with Jones, Vontaze Burfict and others: players who might not have got that opportunity to play with other franchises around the league.
Coach Marvin Lewis can’t ever shake the heat on the second-chance reputation the team has developed. That’s especially true when he says things like the league’s looser celebration rules don’t set a “very good example for young people.”
But beyond what may seem like semi-hypocrisy, that’s the identity of Cincinnati. It can’t be hidden. Nothing going forward with this regime can change that rep.
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The Bengals have gotten mixed results on Jones and Burfict. They’ve been key defensive performers at times, but they still are remembered more for the meltdown that cost Cincinnati that ever-elusive playoff win vs. the Steelers in 2015.
There’s no room for a mix with Mixon. His misstep, in today’s NFL, comes with a much bigger — and deserved — dark cloud than Jones and Burfict’s respective issues. He needs to be a model citizen off the field and an impact player on it.
He’s not an aging extra defensive back a la Jones, or an oft banged-up outside linebacker such as Burfict. In terms of faces of the franchise, running back comes with a much higher profile. Andy Dalton and A.J. Green have gotten a fair share of attention as the principal cast members on offense, but circumstances in Cincinnati now have Mixon front and center.
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He can’t just be third in a committee with Jeremy Hill, coming off more ineffectiveness, or Giovani Bernard, coming off major injury. With the Bengals taking the highest type of risk with Mixon, anything else than the richest reward won’t do. He needs to come through as a featured talent, stat.
Now that Mixon is officially a Bengal, the Cincinnati rookie is best off staring into the heavy glare and doing everything with his teammates and coaches to deflect some of it.
The Bengals believed enough in Mixon to draft him, despite a videotape of him assaulting a woman. They won’t apologize for the pick, but already should have accepted they’ll never convince everyone to accept it. That doesn’t mean they don’t go all in trying to do so.
