Joe Mixon will not be embraced by many football fans.
According to an HBO Real Sports/Marist Poll, 87% of fans said they would be opposed to their team drafting a player with a history of violence toward women. That means Mixon, who punched a woman in the face while he was at Oklahoma and was suspended for one season for his crime, could rub a lot of people the wrong way if he’s selected at next week’s NFL Draft.
Along with Baylor receiver Ishmael Zamora, who published video of himself beating a dog on social media, Mixon was not invited to the combine because of his violent past. Mixon is a first-round talent who will require a second locker because of all the baggage he’ll bring to the team that selects him.
Making matters worse for Mixon, it was reported this week that he was accused of punching another girl while he was in high school. It remains to be seen if an NFL team gives Mixon a job while anthem protester Colin Kaepernick remains an unsigned free agent, presumably because of the distraction he poses for any team that picks him up. Mixon will also be an incredible distraction.
While Mixon is highly unpopular among football fans because of his violent past, more alarming is that 3% of fans would actually support selecting an abuser to play for their team, while 9% of respondents said it would make no difference to them.
The survey polled 1,062 adults in March. It was sponsored and funded in partnership with HBO Real Sports and The Marist College Center for Sports Communication.
While fans are clearly opposed to players with violence issues, they are more split on drug use. More than half, 59%, said it makes no difference to them if a team selects a player with a history of marijuana use. Only 28% of fans would be opposed to picking a player busted for pot.
While fans are more liberal about weed, NFL teams are not as open minded. Minutes before the draft a year ago, video emerged of Laremy Tunsil smoking a substance that appeared to be pot. Scared off by his alleged drug use, Tunsil was passed over by several teams before the Dolphins took him with the 13th pick.
“Football fans are clear on their view of NFL athletes and domestic violence,” Keith Strudler, director of the Marist College Center for Sports Communication, said. “Physical violence against women is unacceptable, defying the myth that fans will excuse transgressions that don’t impact athletic performance.
“Conversely, marijuana is hardly a concern among fans, something the league should consider in their own codes of conduct.”
Other interesting data points found in the HBO Real Sports/Marist Poll:
• Most football fans older than 60 (83%) are turned off by PED use, while most younger than 30 (68%) are against it.
• Of those polled, 67% of Americans classify themselves as football fans, against 34% who claim they watch no football.
• President Donald Trump remains popular among NASCAR fans with a 50% approval rating. Most basketball fans (62%) and tennis fans (61%) disapprove of Trump’s performance thus far.
• The overwhelming majority of basketball and tennis fans (73%) feel the Affordable Care Act should be left alone while 35% of NASCAR fans and 30% of hockey fans feel obamacare should be completely repealed.
In September, HBO Real Sports and Marist conducted another poll and found 54% of Americans believe professional athletes should be required to stand for the national anthem. The same survey also found the majority of Americans (58%) were OK with athletes taking on social issues.
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