Sport

Dolphins star Tyreek Hill detained by police on way to stadium for season opener

Wide receiver released after alleged driving violation and is expected to play against Jacksonville

Tyreek Hill of the Dolphins (left) was detained and then released for an alleged driving violation on his way to Miami’s stadium ahead of their opening game of the NFL season. Photograph: Rich Storry/Getty Images
Tyreek Hill of the Dolphins (left) was detained and then released for an alleged driving violation on his way to Miami’s stadium ahead of their opening game of the NFL season. Photograph: Rich Storry/Getty Images
Tom Lutz
Sun Sept 08 2024 - 16:34

Dolphins star Tyreek Hill was detained and then released for a driving violation on his way to Miami’s stadium for the team’s opening game of the season on Sunday.

Video posted to social media showed the 30-year-old being handcuffed as he lay on the floor face down next to his sports car. ESPN reported that Hill was initially stopped for speeding before arguing with law enforcement officials. He was also reportedly cited for reckless driving.

The Dolphins said Hill would be available for selection in their game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, which was due to kick off hours after the incident.

“This morning, Tyreek Hill was pulled over for a traffic incident about one block from the stadium and briefly detained by police,” the Dolphins said in a statement. “He has since been released. Several teammates saw the incident and stopped to offer support. Tyreek and all other players involved have safely arrived to the stadium and will be available for today’s game.”

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Hill’s agent, Drew Rosenhaus, was travelling in the same car as his client and called the incident “a heartbreaking situation” and “completely unnecessary”.

“I love Tyreek. I hated to see him in the situation he was in with the police … apparently he got a ticket for a moving violation entering the stadium,” Rosenhaus told ESPN.

“How things escalated into the situation that they were in, in handcuffs and being held on the ground with police, is mind boggling to me. I’m deeply concerned by that. Very troubled. We will be looking into it. We will be investigating this. We will look out for Tyreek, but I’m not going to make any allegations at this time. The most important thing is Tyreek is OK physically, mentally he was very distraught about what happened.”

Hill is one of the best receivers in the NFL, and has been named to the Pro Bowl in every season since he entered the league in 2016. He led the league in receiving last season with a career high 1,799 yards. He won the Super Bowl with his previous team, the Kansas City Chiefs, in February 2020. He was traded to the Dolphins in March 2022 and signed a four-year, $120 million (€108.25 million) contract extension that makes him the highest-paid wide receiver in the NFL.

Sunday’s incident had echoes of a similar situation earlier this year when the world’s number one golfer, Scottie Scheffler, was arrested before the second round of the US PGA Championship over a traffic incident. The charges against Scheffler were later dropped.

Elsewhere in the NFL, the Dallas Cowboys have reportedly signed quarterback Dak Prescott to a record $240 million, four-year contract extension, making him the highest paid player in league history.

Prescott and the Cowboys spent the offseason locked in negotiations on a long-term contract, and came to terms only 90 minutes before the start of their regular season. According to ESPN, Prescott’s new deal includes $231 millio in guaranteed money and will make him the first player to receive $60m a year on average.

Prescott was the MVP runner-up last season after leading the NFL with a career-best 35 touchdown passes. But the 31-year-old’s playoff record dropped to 2-5 when he threw a pick-six as part of a first-half meltdown for Dallas in a 48-32 home wildcard loss to Green Bay that was stunned the franchise from owner Jerry Jones on down. – Guardian