In a stunning turn of events, Tyreek Hill found himself in the midst of a whirlwind of controversy before the start of the NFL season. The star wide receiver for the Miami Dolphins was detained by Miami-Dade police outside of Hard Rock Stadium for a driving violation on Sunday morning. Despite the unexpected incident, Hill managed to stay focused and take the field against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
His arrest could have been a major distraction for most players, but Hill drew inspiration from the support of his loved ones and teammates. “At the end of the day, I still got a job to do and nobody worried about if [Tyreek] come in, drop three passes because he’s still thinking about the little scenario,” Hill said. “Nobody thinking about that man. I still got a job to do.”
Hill maintained his innocence, stating that he was stopped by the officer for speeding/reckless driving on his way to work. Despite his efforts to cooperate and remain respectful, a video of his detainment surfaced on social media, causing a stir. “I have no idea, for real. No idea — no idea man, it’s crazy,” Hill expressed. “I wasn’t disrespectful because my mom didn’t raise me that way. Didn’t cuss, didn’t do none of that. Like I said, I’m still trying to figure it out, man.”
The situation escalated further when two of Hill’s teammates, Calais Campbell and Jonnu Smith, also became involved as witnesses to his arrest. Campbell attempted to defuse the tension but was also cited for ‘disobeying a direct order’ by the officer. Despite the chaos, the solidarity among the players was apparent.
“I’m just glad that my teammates were there to support me in that situation because I felt alone,” Hill reflected. “When they showed up, it made me realize we have a f*****g good team this year dog. For them to put their life on the line. It was amazing to see man.”
After being released by the police, Hill and Campbell were able to make it to the stadium in time for the game. While the incident was undoubtedly a setback, Hill’s agent Drew Rosenhaus confirmed that he was issued a ticket for a ‘moving violation entering the stadium’. It was a tumultuous start to the season for Hill, but his resilience and determination shone through in the Dolphins’ Week 1 victory.
