Tyreek Hill's teammates defended him after he was detained by Miami-Dade County police and handcuffed near the Dolphins' Hard Rock Stadium just hours before Sunday's win over the Jaguars.
Dolphins wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr., who began the season on the physically unable to play list due to an injury, appeared disoriented at the scene where a fellow receiver was stopped by police. video Obtained by TMZ.
“What the hell happened?” Beckham asked, talking to Dolphins defensive lineman Calais Campbell, who was also at the scene.
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Some said speeding may have also been a factor.
“Ask me if I know what a 720S is. That car is fast,” Beckham said.
Hill's attorney, Drew Rosenhaus, was seen speaking with officers.
Warning: Explicit language
Hill was taken into custody for “driving in a manner that placed himself and others at extreme risk,” the South Florida Police Benevolent Association said in a statement.
Hill was handcuffed for “not immediately cooperating,” according to the PBA.
According to ESPN's Jeff Darlington, Hill received two traffic tickets for careless driving and a seat belt violation. Reported Monday.
Campbell said after the game that police told him they had briefly handcuffed Hill because he “failed to comply with direct orders.”
Campbell was not charged.
Video footage of the incident showed Hill being handcuffed and lying face down on the ground before multiple officers helped him up.
One of the officers at the scene has been placed on administrative leave, and the Miami-Dade Police Department launched an internal investigation into the incident on Sunday.
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At first, Hill didn't understand why he was being stopped. According to DarlingtonAfter the game, he asked him about it.
“Speeding, reckless driving, that sort of thing,” Hill, who played Sunday, told Darlington.
Hill also said he didn't know why he was handcuffed.
“I felt like he was being polite. He didn't swear. He said he put his hands on the wheel like he was taught from a young age and I believe he handled everything appropriately,” Darlington said during an appearance on “First Take” on Monday.
Darlington said video showed officers banging on the car window and lowering it, but Hill did not do so.
Hill explained they are still determining what happened during the incident.
“Right now we're still trying to put it all together, so we don't know yet what happened.” Hill told reporters after the game:He said he wanted to become a police officer one day and that he had “a lot of respect for police officers.”
Hill described the situation as a “surprise” that came to him on his way to work.
“As I was leaving the house I told my wife, 'Babe, I'm going to work and get ready for the day.' I didn't know it at the time, but I got quite a surprise on the way there that day.” “It's a big part of what I've done,” he told CBS Sports NFL reporter Melanie Collins after the game.
“But at the end of the day, I have a job to do and my job is to come to this stadium and play great.”
When asked about his teammates turning out to support him that morning, Hill praised them.
“Hey, that’s cool, I’m excited. [them] “I'm in the middle of a fight,” Hill said.
“It just goes to show that this is more than football. The camaraderie I get outside of football is amazing because they really did risk their lives for me.”
“…I have no comment on that. [his detainment] Hey…let bygones be bygones. Move forward and learn from it…Free Cheater.”
Hill had seven catches for 130 yards against Jacksonville, including an 80-yard touchdown catch that led to Miami's offensive rally in the third quarter to lead the team to a 20-17 victory.
Hill and Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle celebrated the touchdown with a handcuff stunt reminiscent of the police standoff.
One fan was seen holding a sign that read, “Free Tyreek.”
The Dolphins have just a short week left before hosting the Bills at home in Miami on Thursday.
