Niner Noise
FanSided

The biggest question facing each NFL team in 2017

By Peter Panacy

Mar 2, 2017; Indianapolis, IN, USA; San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch speaks to the media during the 2017 combine at Indiana Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 2, 2017; Indianapolis, IN, USA; San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch speaks to the media during the 2017 combine at Indiana Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jun 13, 2017; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cincinnati Bengals running back Joe Mixon (28) runs drills during minicamp at Paul Brown Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 13, 2017; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cincinnati Bengals running back Joe Mixon (28) runs drills during minicamp at Paul Brown Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports /

Cincinnati Bengals

How big a distraction will Joe Mixon be?

The Cincinnati Bengals have a reputation for taking players with checkered pasts. And the latest example, of course, is former Oklahoma running back Joe Mixon.

Mixon’s assault video toppled his NFL Draft stock into the second round, where Cincinnati picked him up at No. 48 overall. This inexcusable action didn’t prevent the Bengals from taking on another character risk — they have a few already — but now the focus shifts to how effective Mixon will be on the field.

And what ramifications the Bengals will experience because of their choice to pick him.

Talent-wise, Mixon is tremendous. There’s no doubting that. Yet his previous actions will follow him, and the team, around throughout his entire rookie year.

Is this the kind of attention an already questionable Bengals team needs heading into an uncertain future?

Probably not.