CINCINNATI, OH - MAY 11: Cincinnati Bengals owner Mike Brown looks on during a rookie minicamp at Paul Brown Stadium on May 11, 2012 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)

A NFL team, facing backlash for drafting a controversial player, writes letter to fans explaining its decision

The team tries to justify a polarizing choice.

The Cincinnati Bengals made one of the most controversial picks in the 2017 NFL Draft when they selected former Oklahoma running Joe Mixon in the second round with the No. 48 overall pick.

Related: ESPN's Todd McShay launches into teams who drafted players with off-field concerns 

Mixon broke a woman's jaw while at Oklahoma, and his draft stock rightfully suffered despite his talent on the field.

Bengals owner Mike Brown knew the pick would be controversial, so he wrote a letter to the fans about why he thought it was OK to pick Mixon.

Brown said the Bengals selected Mixon because he is a "rare football talent," and he believes Mixon has improved his conduct in years since the incident.

"In making our decision, we took a risk," Brown wrote in an open letter to fans posted on Cincinnati.com. "In this case, the risk has an upside as well as a downside. We believe Joe has put this behind him and that he can turn into the player and community member that creates a plus for Cincinnati.

We are going to do everything in our power to make this happen. Our hope is that time will prove that this opportunity is deserved, and perhaps - if given a chance - Joe can write a chapter in Cincinnati sports history that both he and Cincinnati can be proud of."

The Bengals have received some backlash for taking Mixon. This scathing editorial from a TV station in Cincinnati is anti-Mixon and called his drafintg "inexcusable."

If Mixon performs well on the field, some fans likely won't have an issue with his pick—especially if he behaves well off the field.

However, drafting someone who punched a woman in the face and broke her jaw will never sit well with some fans. It was a risky pick that could pay off for the Bengals, but if Mixon messes up again off the field, Brown and Co. will have to answer for their decision.

(h/t Cincinnati.com)