The NFL apparently takes criticism of its referees so seriously that you can get fined for criticizing remarks you didn’t actually say.

The quote Mixon was fined for came from former Bengals wide receiver TJ Houshmandzadeh. Mixon actually said: “Everybody knows how it is playing up here. You can never leave it into the refs hands. The whole world see, man.” The NFL later re-issued the fine, this time using Mixon's actual postgame comments. He clearly doesn't agree with the fine.

The league fined Joe Mixon $25,000 for something he never said, and the Texans running back called out the NFL on social media.

Houston Texans running back Joe Mixon is lashing out at the NFL over a fine he received for something he didn't say. Mixon started out by tagging the NFL on

On Saturday, former NFL wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh was among many observers to rail—fairly or unfairly—against perceptions of officiating bias in favor of the Kansas City Chiefs.

Mixon presents a difficult look for the Chiefs. He is strong between the tackles but also has the ability to create havoc as a pass catcher. The Texans will be missing slot receiver Tank Dell due to an injury suffered at KC in Week 16 and could rely on Mixon to absorb some of those intermediate routes.

Joe Mixon just got fined by the NFL for something a former player tweeted following Saturday’s loss in Kansas City.

The NFL has fined Houston Texans running back Joe Mixon for something he did not say. Mixon was fined $25,000 for allegedly attacking officials after the Texans’ playoff loss to the Kansas City Chiefs,

Texans running back Joe Mixon has been handed a reissued $25,000 fine by the NFL, in this instance for his actual comments about the officiating in the divisional round matchup between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Texans.

A week later, former Bengals running back Joe Mixon is in hot water with the NFL and fined — for comments he didn’t say. As it turns out, the comments were actually said by former Bengals wideout T.J. Houshmandzadeh.

According to reports, the league fined Mixon for a post on X by a former NFL player, who criticized the refs in Houston's loss to Kansas City Saturday.