Did Anthony Lima ask the question that led Cincinnati Bengals running back Joe Mixon to boycott questions from certain reporters this year? He and Ken Carman say that is the obvious conclusion based on what has been reported.
Last week as part of their regular “Around the AFC North” segment, Lima asked Sports Illustrated’s James Rapien if reports of Mixon pointing a gun at a woman would be a distraction for the team.
Rapien said it wouldn’t be a distraction, but the Bengals are aware of the situation and know it could lead to a suspension for Mixon.
After practice on Sunday, Ben Baby of ESPN reported that Mixon had said that he would not be taking questions this season from a number of outlets, including Sports Illustrated.
“So [Rapien] goes from saying it’s not a distraction to clearly, I think, got off the phone with us and then said, ‘I’ve got to do my job. I’m a journalist in Southwest Ohio ‘or a journalist in, you know, northern Kentucky. Either way, it’s pretty clear that the seeds of discontent are starting right now. They’re starting to grow in Cincinnati,” Lima said Monday morning on 92.3 The Fan in Cleveland.
He and Carman reminisced about the reaction they got from journalists in Baltimore last year when Lima suggested Justin Tucker hold out from Ravens camp for a new contract. Lima said that the other teams in the Browns’ division should worry about the show’s ability to sew discontent in locker rooms.
“It starts out with an innocent question to a beat reporter and from there it spreads. I’d be nervous today. In fact, I wonder if we were to talk to Mo Edgar, who’s also down there [at ESPN 1530] in Cincinnati, if he would even blame James.”
