The NFL recently issued Texans running back Joe Mixon a $25,000 fine, attributing it to his criticism of officiating following Houston’s loss to the Chiefs. However, there’s a twist—the remark in question wasn’t actually made by Mixon.
Fans familiar with NFL games involving the Chiefs often anticipate moments when controversial calls seem to favor Kansas City, particularly in high-stakes situations.
This perception has fueled widespread belief that the Chiefs receive preferential treatment when it comes to penalty decisions during pivotal moments of games.
While this notion may come across as yet another conspiracy theory within the league, the skepticism gained more traction during the Chiefs’ 23-14 win over the Texans in the AFC Divisional round. Patrick Mahomes and his team benefited from a questionable call, prompting further scrutiny.
In a postgame comment, a player indirectly hinted at unfair officiating by saying, “Everybody knows how it is playing up here. You can never leave it into the refs’ hands. The whole world sees what it is.”
This statement, combined with the outcome of the game, likely solidified the views of those already convinced of favoritism.
The NFL used these remarks as grounds to penalize Mixon, informing him through an official letter that he would be fined $25,000 for publicly criticizing officials.
However, the situation took an unexpected turn when Mixon realized the quote the league cited as the basis for the fine was not his.
According to the letter Mixon received, the league claimed he had said, “Why play the game if every 50/50 call goes with Chiefs.
These officials are trash and bias.” Yet, this comment was actually made by a retired wide receiver, not Mixon.
The confusion appeared to stem from a poorly constructed article that presented the two quotes in quick succession.
While anyone with basic comprehension could discern that Mixon was only responsible for one of the comments, the NFL seemingly failed to make the distinction.
