The Cincinnati Bengals have selected former Oklahoma Sooners running back Joe Mixon in the second round of the 2017 NFL Draft.
Exactly one week ago, Mixon reached a civil settlement agreement with the woman he punched at Oklahoma as a freshman, Amelia Molitor, also an Oklahoma student at the time. Molitor sued for intentional infliction of emotional stress, which has now been settled. The terms remain confidential.
Following the settlement last Friday, NFL Network's Mike Garafolo released comments from both Molitor and Mixon.
"I am happy we were able to bring the lawsuit to an end. 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," Molitor's statement read. "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."
While it’s been a wild ride from the 2014 incident to the 2016 release of the evidence to Mixon being drafted on Friday, it appears both parties are prepared to move forward.
"I'm thankful Mia and I were able to talk privately. I was able to apologize to her one-on-one," Mixon's statement read. "The way I reacted that night, that's not me. That's not the way I was raised. I think she understands that.
"Talking together helps move us past what happened. I know I have to keep working to be a better person, and this is another step in that direction. I love working with kids, and I'm looking forward to more chances to do that kind of work. I want to lead a life that inspires them, and I hope I can lead by example from today forward."
Mixon’s assault on Molitor was unacceptable and horrible behavior, but three years later both parties seem to be moving on as Mixon tries to make up for his past.
His future will now be in Cincinnati as a member of the Bengals.