Less than 24 hours after one of the strangest incidents — and responses — in Miami Dolphins history, teammates were still processing how receiver Tyreek Hill went from on the ground, handcuffed by police , to helping lead the team to a last-second 20-17 comeback victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars.
“That’s something I’ll tell my grandkids when I’m 70 years old,” safety Jordan Poyer said Monday. “Yeah, everybody, Tyreek got arrested and went out there and went crazy on the field.”
Hill wasn’t actually arrested. He was detained by police over a traffic incident while entering the Hard Rock Stadium parking lot. Miami-Dade police placed the officer involved on administrative duty while it investigates.
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Within a matter of hours, Hill went out and caught seven passes for 130 yards, including an 80-yard touchdown to pull the Dolphins within 17-14 in the third quarter. Miami won on a last-play, 52-yard field goal by Jason Sanders after trailing 17-7.
Linebacker David Long referred to previous incidents involving police when asked about Hill.
“I wouldn’t say it’s scary but you know it’s something I’m used to seeing,” Long said. “But it was wild out there.”
Long said the incident could have "tested" Hill's resolve.
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"It's crazy that he mentally could lock back in and go out there and finish the game that he did," Long said. " ... That could have thrown him off his game. He could have had a bad game."
Calais Campbell, Jonnu Smith tried to intervene
Teammates Calais Campbell and Jonnu Smith tried to intervene to help calm the situation. Soon, all the players were inside the home locker room, trying to prepare for the 1 p.m. season-opener. Poyer said players were monitoring their phones to see what had occurred at about the time Hill came in.
“He came in the locker room and he got dressed like he was playing and we’re all ready to go,” Poyer said. “So yeah, it was like it never happened, really. And he went out there and went crazy like he always does.”
Metro-Dade Police said it had opened an internal affairs investigation into the matter and would not release any information until the investigation concludes. Miami-Dade Police Department Director Stephanie Daniels told The Miami Herald on Monday morning she had seen some body-cam footage from the incident.
“That is why one of the officers is placed on administrative duties,” she said.
Steadman Stahl, president of the Police Benevolent Association, said in a statement that Hill “was not immediately cooperative with the officers on scene who, pursuant to policy and for their immediate safety, placed Mr. Hill in handcuffs. Mr. Hill, still uncooperative, refused to sit on the ground and was therefore redirected to the ground.”
The statement reiterated that Hill wasn't arrested. It said he was later issued two traffic citations.
Dolphins reporter Hal Habib can be reached at hhabib@pbpost.com . Follow him on social media @gunnerhal. Click here to subscribe.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Tyreek Hill impresses Miami Dolphins teammates performing ‘like it never happened'
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