FAB 2. SHOULD THE BUCS CONSIDER DRAFTING MIXON?
Do you believe in second chances? Do you believe in forgiveness?

You will have to believe in both if you would entertain the possibility of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers selecting Oklahoma redshirt sophomore running back Joe Mixon in the 2017 NFL Draft. Mixon is the talented rusher that heinously punched Amelia Molitor in the face back in 2014, breaking bones in her face.

I’m not here to suggest that the Bucs would – or should – draft Mixon in April. I’m here to present the facts and let you decide.

If you think that any man – even at age 17 like Mixon was – who hits a woman is automatically disqualified from joining your beloved Buccaneers you are entitled to that right.

Knowing that Mixon hit Molitor is one thing. Seeing it is quite something else as we’ve come to learn in our social media-driven society, which like the NFL, is full of hypocrisy.

Former Baltimore running back Ray Rice was arrested for assaulting his wife in March of 2014, but wasn’t released by the Ravens until video of him punching her in an elevator, knocking her unconscious, surfaced six months later in September. The NFL suspended him indefinitely, but later reinstated him after he appealed the decision in federal court. No NFL team has signed him since, despite the fact that Rice, a three-time Pro Bowler, was only 27 in 2015 when he was reinstated.

Chiefs WR-KR-PR Tyreek Hill – Photo by: Getty Images

Kansas City rookie Tyreek Hill, a Pro Bowl and All-Pro receiver and return specialist and one of the hottest players in the NFL right now and helped the Chiefs claim the AFC West title. In 2014, Hill, who was a 20-year old return specialist at Oklahoma State, punched and choked his pregnant girlfriend during an argument, which caused him to be expelled from the university. Hill transferred to West Alabama and was drafted in the fifth round this year by Kansas City due to his blazing 4.25 speed and productivity in college.

What is the main difference between Hill and Rice? There was no video of Hill, which is why he’s playing in the NFL and making hundreds of thousands of dollars.

“The reality is Ray Rice, that situation, is transformative,” one AFC general manager told SI.com for a story this week on Hill’s controversial rise to NFL stardom. “Like the fundamental thing is, and this is fair or unfair, but it’s the truth. With [Greg] Hardy there were pictures, with Rice there was video and with Hill there was nothing. And that’s why he’s playing.

“You can make the argument he choked a pregnant woman. There’s no defense of that. They’re all bad, but that might be the worst of the three.”

Which brings us to Mixon, a player that has first-round talent and may be the second-best running back in the NFL draft behind Florida State’s Dalvin Cook and ahead of Stanford’s Christian McCaffrey and LSU’s Leonard Fournette. How will the NFL treat Mixon and his situation because video of him hitting Molitor has been made public?

My mind is not yet made up on Mixon. I’ve got a daughter who is three years away from going to college, so this topic hits home for me – pun definitely not intended.

So let’s examine Mixon the way Bucs general manager Jason Licht, director of player personnel John Spytek and director of college scouting Mike Biehl will have to beginning this month as the Sooners star followed fellow OU running back Samaje Perine into the NFL Draft, foregoing his final two years of collegiate eligibility.

The Player
If you think this isn’t worth discussing, just know that the Bucs need to address the running back situation in the draft given Doug Martin’s looming three-game suspension to start the 2017 season, his penchant for being injury-prone and the fact that he will turn 28 on January 13.

With Martin and Charles Sims’ ineffectiveness last year the Bucs are going to draft a running back in 2017, and regardless of what you think about Mixon he is going to play in the league next year – even as an undrafted free agent as LeGarrette Blount was in 2010 after he was suspended for much of the 2009 season at Oregon for punching a Boise State football player after a game. The Bucs will do their due diligence on Mixon to see if he’s a candidate to play in Tampa Bay, and if he is, what round he’ll be worth the controversy that will undoubtedly arrive with him.

Oklahoma RB Joe Mixon – Photo by: Getty Images

Here are the facts about Mixon, the football player, who was Rivals’ top-ranked running back in 2013 and turned down 46 other offers to play football at Oklahoma. At 6-foot-1, 226 pounds, Mixon is a big back with tremendous acceleration and breakaway speed. While I’d like to see him pound the pile a bit more and be more physical at the point of attack, Mixon does have a wicked stiff-arm and doesn’t shy away from contact.

Mixon’s assault of Molitor occurred at Pickleman’s Gourmet Café in Norman, Okla. on July 25, 2014. He was subsequently suspended from the Sooners football team for the entire 2014 season and was not allowed to practice or attend games. After being reinstated for the 2015 season, Mixon’s talent was so great that it prompted the coaching staff to have him split carries with Perine, who had just come off a redshirt freshman season in which he rushed for 1,713 yards and 21 touchdowns.

Mixon rushed for 753 yards and seven touchdowns on 113 carries (6.7 avg.) and caught 28 passes for 356 yards (12.7 avg.) with four touchdowns as a redshirt freshman in 2015. His first career reception resulted in a 76-yard touchdown against Akron. It took him a while to turn in a huge performance during his redshirt freshman season, but totaled 102 yards and two touchdowns in a 55-0 blowout at Kansas State. The next week against Texas Tech, Mixon had 154 yards rushing and two touchdowns on 16 carries (9.6 avg.).

After a 68-yard touchdown catch in a 62-7 rout over Kansas, Mixon had 88 yards and a touchdown on eight carries against Iowa State. His second 100-yard game came in a 58-23 win at rival Oklahoma State where he rushed for 136 yards and two touchdowns, including a 66-yard jaunt, on 14 carries (9.7 avg.).

In 2016, Mixon led the Sooners in rushing with 1,274 yards and 10 touchdowns on 187 carries (6.8 avg.) along with 37 catches for 538 yards (14.5 avg.) and five more scores. Mixon also threw a 26-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Dede Westbrook in Oklahoma’s 38-17 win over Kansas State, a game in which he rushed for 88 yards and caught three passes for 34 yards and a TD against the Big 12’s best defense.

Mixon had 117 total yards and a touchdown on 11 touches in a 33-23 loss to Houston in the season opener, but posted 117 yards rushing on 13 carries (9.0 avg.) the next week in a 59-17 win over Louisiana-Monroe. The next week in a 45-24 loss to Ohio State, Mixon had 78 yards rushing on nine carries (8.7 avg.), and should have received more touches. Those came the next week in a 52-46 win at TCU in which he rushed for 105 yards, including a 65-yard touchdown, on 16 carries (6.6 avg.) and had 70 yards receiving on five catches.

Mixon had a monster game in a 66-59 win at Texas Tech, posting a career-high 263 yards rushing and two touchdowns, in addition to catching four passes for 114 yards and three more scores, including one from 56 yards. Mixon had a 68-yard touchdown run called back due to a holding penalty in that game, too. Mixon also had one of the prettiest one-handed catches that you’ll ever see that he turned into a 43-yard touchdown.

The big plays continued down the stretch with a 52-yard touchdown run against Kansas to cap off a 109-yard all-purpose performance on just 11 carries. Against Baylor, Mixon rushed for 124 yards, including a 56-yard TD run, on 14 carries (8.9 avg.), in addition to catching five passes for 63 yards. After rushing for 147 yards and a touchdown on 24 carries (6.1 avg.) in a 56-28 win against West Virginia, Mixon had 99 yards on 11 carries, (9.0 avg.) including a 79-yard touchdown run, and a receiving touchdown in a 38-20 win over Oklahoma State.

Mixon got the start over Perine in the 35-19 win over Auburn in the Sugar Bowl, rushing for 91 yards and two touchdowns on 19 carries (4.8 avg.), while catching five passes for 89 yards (17.8 avg.). Coming into that game Mixon had 10 runs for 30 yards or more, which was tied for fourth in the nation, and he added another one against the Tigers.

With his superior receiving ability, Mixon is a complete three-down back that could essentially replace Martin and Sims, who is entering a contract year, but has only been healthy for one of his three seasons in Tampa Bay. Is his talent worth the controversy that comes with it?

That’s what Licht and the Bucs’ front office and ownership must determine. Perhaps they like another running back even more or just as much. Perhaps they won’t even consider Mixon at all after they do their research.

Let’s investigate Mixon, the person, as Tampa Bay’s scouts will do this offseason.

The Punch
In October of 2014, Mixon entered an Alford plea, which is a guilty plea in criminal court whereby a criminal case defendant does not admit guilt to the criminal act, but admits that the evidence the prosecution has would be likely to persuade a judge or jury to find the defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

Mixon was charged with a misdemeanor and given a one-year deferred sentence. He had to perform 100 hours of community service as well as undergo counseling.

On July 16, 2016, nearly two years after being stuck by Mixon, Molitor broke her silence and spoke to The Oklahoman newspaper about the incident for the first time. She revealed that her jaw was wired shut for eight weeks, but she still attended classes beginning in August although she felt like an outcast because of her altercation with a popular OU football player.

“Sitting here, dealing with an extremely traumatic injury, having my name dragged through the mud,” Molitor told The Oklahoman. “The physical part was manageable for me. All the rest seemed unbearable. Almost immediately, I was made to feel like it was my fault. When you’re at such a vulnerable point, you tend to believe it.”

Molitor told The Oklahoman that the incident “broke my heart. Irreparable damage has been done.”

She told the newspaper that OU game days were like Christmas, but that she no longer went to any football games.

“I refuse to attend a game with him on the field,” Molitor said. “Which sucks. It used to take a lot to miss a game. It was the highlight of my week. Just can’t support that.”

On July 22, 2016 Molitor filed a civil suit against Mixon seeking at least $75,000 in damages for negligence, willful and wanton misconduct, and intentional infliction of emotional distress. On November 21 a judge tossed out the negligence claims, stating that she should have filed an assault and battery charge against Mixon instead. However, plaintiffs only have one year to file that kind of lawsuit in the state of Oklahoma and she missed that window of opportunity.

“At the end of the night, a group of apparently drunk people started harassing us,” Mixon said in a public statement that was released on November 22. “Some of my teammates were wise enough to leave. I did not, and I am sorry.

“The situation got tense. Racial slurs were hurled at me. I should have left, but I did not. A woman shoved me. I was upset and I should have left, but I did not. Then, she slapped me, and I reacted poorly – I struck her. It was a bad reaction, one that does not reflect my character or my values. I am sorry.”

On December 23 right before the Sugar Bowl, Mixon spoke at length publicly about the altercation at a press conference where he also took questions from reporters. He thanked Oklahoma head coach Bob Stoops for giving him a second chance and apologized to Molitor multiple times.

“Coach Stoops, our academic program, our coaches, my players, President Boren – they all forgave me and what I did,” Mixon said. “Some things came with it. I have some things I have to do to fulfill a couple of requirements to have a second chance to get on a team. I had 100 hours of community service. I had counseling. Still, to this day, I seek it for my own benefit.

“They gave me an opportunity and a second chance. Like I said, I was willing to do anything I could to make myself better as a person and a player on the field.”

Mixon was asked why he waited over two years to apologize, and referenced his attorneys.

“I actually took the initiative to go to them and tell them, ‘There’s got to be a day that comes where I can make my apology. It’s not like I’ve been hiding nothing. I’ve been wanting to say something, but at the end of the day, I was just doing what I was asked. … I didn’t want to wait so long, but I was advised to keep my mouth closed. “Now I’m here at this day still trying to apologize.

“It was very difficult. It was tough. Honestly, it haunted me. It still haunts me to this day. I dream about it. If I could … if I could go back I would do whatever I could to change the outcome of that situation. I definitely would have walked – ran away and went about the situation differently. I wouldn’t be in that situation.”

A tearful Mixon said the incident changed his life.

“At the time, like you guys know, I was 17, 18 years old,” Mixon said. “I was young. Right now I’m 20 years old and I’ve grown up a lot over these past two and a half, three years that I’ve been at OU. I can’t do nothing but thank Coach Stoops for giving me a second chance and having me prove that I deserve it.

“Hopefully people around the world will learn from my mistake. I’m willing to teach.”

When asked if Molitor called him a racial slur, as he had told police, Mixon said there was no excuse for his behavior. He also said that he doesn’t drink alcohol or smoke marijuana, and was sober the night of the incident.

“Honestly, it really doesn’t matter what she did to me that night,” Mixon said. “It’s all on me – the reason why I’m in this position right now and I take full responsibility on what happened that not. It’s never okay to hit a woman – never. And I will preach that to anybody.

“There’s no way you should hit a female – period. Even a male, but at the end of the day, there’s no way you should hit a female – period. I reacted wrong, and I apologize to Miss Molitor. … I can’t express enough how sorry I am. I’m hoping one day I can apologize to her face-to-face and ask her for [her] forgiveness.”

Molitor said she didn’t want to leave Oklahoma despite the incident, but Mixon said the thought of transferring to another school did cross his mind.

“Honestly, I did, but at the end of the day, I wasn’t going to run from what happened,” Mixon said. “I thought it was only right to stick by Coach Stoops because when he came into my parents’ house he told me he was going to have me in his corner, and he was going to protect me like I was one of his. He did that to everyone on our team. When you make a commitment, you stick with it. I’m grateful for the second chance that Coach Stoops gave me, and I’m trying to do everything I can to be the best person I am and the best teammate I am.”

Mixon did address another incident that happened at OU that led him to be suspended for the Iowa State game in 2016. He received a parking ticket and ripped it up and threw it at the female parking enforcement officer.

“I made a mistake,” Mixon said. “I shouldn’t have ripped the ticket and threw it on the ground. That’s on me and I apologize to the woman I affected right there.

“It was a frustration deal. The first ticket you ever got, I’m sure a lot of people – I don’t know how people react – but at the end of the day I should have just took the ticket, smiled and said, ‘Thank you’ and walked away.”

Has Mixon truly learned from these incidents and has he matured? If you’ve watched the attached highlight videos and his press conference, which I encourage you to do, is he worth the risk of bringing to Tampa Bay?

His talent is undeniable, and reports from Oklahoma say he is well liked by his teammates. His overall game reminds me of that of Pittsburgh’s Pro Bowl running back Le’Veon Bell, who despite missing 17 games over three seasons due to injury (14) and suspension (three), has rushed for 4,045 yards and 26 touchdowns in his first four years in Pittsburgh, while catching 227 passes for 2,005 yards and five more scores.

Bell, perhaps the league’s top three-down back, rushed for 1,268 yards and seven touchdowns this season in 12 games, while catching 75 passes for 616 yards and two touchdowns. In last week’s 30-12 playoff win over Miami, the former first-round pick exploded for 167 yards rushing against the Dolphins, which set a Steelers playoff record.

Oklahoma RB Joe Mixon – Photo by: Getty Images

Could the Bucs use a Bell-type running back? Of course, especially given Martin’s unknown status for 2017.

Trust that Licht will do his homework. He thoroughly investigated Tyrann Mathieu while with the Arizona Cardinals, and did more research on Jameis Winston, who was accused of sexual assault at Florida State, before making the former Heisman Trophy winner the first overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft. Mathieu and Winston have stayed out of trouble in the NFL and risen to the level of Pro Bowl status.

Licht also did a good deal of homework on defensive end Noah Spence, who was Tampa Bay’s second-round pick last year. Spence was expelled from Ohio State due to ecstasy usage while on the Buckeyes football team and transferred to Eastern Kentucky in 2015 where he managed to stay clean. Spence’s first season in Tampa Bay was successful and without incident. He was a model teammate and citizen, and has a bright future with the Bucs.

Perhaps Tampa Bay would be the ideal destination for Mixon with Winston and Spence – players that have faced their share of public scrutiny and overcame it – around to support him. Throw in former Sooners great Gerald McCoy, who is in Mixon’s corner, and it’s not hard envisioning the 20-year old running back having success in red and pewter.

“I remember Joe when he was in high school – seeing how talented he was,” McCoy told me. “In college, it’s been no surprise. He’s always been gifted. From what I hear through the grapevine he’s a hard worker and a good kid. His talent speaks for itself.

“I don’t know what will happen with Joe. That’s for other people on teams to decide. I know he’s talented and if somebody takes him they’ll be getting a good player.”

If Mixon runs a 4.5 time in the 40-yard dash or faster, as expected, he could be drafted as high as the second round. He’s going to play somewhere in the NFL in 2017. Will that be in Carolina, Minnesota or Tampa Bay perhaps?

What do you think about Mixon, who will be one of the most debated players in the 2017 NFL Draft? Let me know in the comments section below.

Forgive him?

Or forget him?