Miami Dolphins star Tyreek Hill addressed his pre-game detention by Miami-Dade police after Sunday’s win over the Jacksonville Jaguars, suggesting officials may have been “bad apples” while hoping to turn the traumatic incident into a “positive” for the community.
Hill was pulled out of Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium as he was entering the game. He was grounded by officials and released in time to make Sunday’s matchup while notching one touchdown, seven receptions and 130 receiving yards.
The Dolphins eventually bested the Jaguars 20-17.
Onlookers caught at least part of Hill’s detention on video, which quickly went viral.
He addressed the incident during his postgame interview.
“Obviously, everybody has bad apples in every situation,” Hill told the press. “I want to be able to use this platform to find a way to flip this and make it positive on both my end and Miami-Dade’s end so that we can team up together and do something positive for the community as it is. What is this all about?
“You guys are here to protect us as an individual, and I have a platform, and I want to be able to team up with you, so that’s all I have to say,” Hill continued.
Hill, a wide receiver, also acknowledged the ordeal while celebrating an 80-yard touchdown in the third quarter.
Hill put his hands behind his back to mimic being handcuffed, while his teammate, Jalen Weddle, played the role of a police officer.
When asked after the game why he thought police handcuffed him, Hill told reporters he had “no clue.”
“I wasn’t abusive because my mom didn’t raise me that way,” he added.
Since the incident came to light, an officer has been involved Place on administrative leave An investigation is pending.
“That should tell you everything you need to know after that,” Hill said in reference to the officer. He went on to thank his teammates for being there when it happened.
“I don’t want to bring race into it, but sometimes it gets kind of overwhelming when you do,” Hill said later. What if I wasn’t Tyreek Hill? God knows what that person or persons would have done.”
In addition to talking to the media, Hill sent several pointed X messages after the game.
“Nothing can stop you when you do,” Hill wrote. “Know that,” he added in a follow-up message.
Prior to Hill’s comments, his agent, Drew Rosenhaus, told ESPN Hill was “distraught” and called the detention “heartbreaking”.
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