4:34pm: The NFL is opening its own investigation, as noted by Andy Slater of Fox 640 (Twitter links). The league is seeking the video which shows the incident, and is also requesting to interview every member of law enforcement involved in the case. Plenty of time likely remains until any decision is made by the NFL with respect to discipline, but their decision to open an independent probe marks a notable development in this unfolding situation.
12:57pm: While briefly rumored to be fading from the radar, latest Tyreek Hill off-field storyline is not going away. More details are coming out about the Dolphins wide receiver committing an alleged assault at a Miami-area marina last week.
The marina employee Hill is believed to have struck is a 57-year-old man, according to Sheldon Fox and Ruben Rosario of WSVN. The Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office is investigating Hill for misdemeanor battery, Angie DiMichele of the South Florida Sun Sentinel reports. Hill, 29, has been accused of slapping the employee during a dispute that came about after the receiver and others attempted to board a boat without permission.
Hill and an unidentified man were fishing for tarpon from the marina dock, which a Kelley Fishing Fleet employee told police (via DiMichele) is illegal. Two women in Hill’s group joined the men on a docked private boat. After being told to exit the boat, Hill “became enraged” at the boat captain and needed to be restrained by other members of his group, DiMichele reports. An expletive-laden tirade ensued, with Hill soon identifying himself as “No. 10 from the Miami Dolphins,” telling the boat captain that he could “buy you and the boat.”
Surveillance video backs up this report, according to the Sun Sentinel, which notes the employee Hill slapped is not the boat captain that initially drew his ire. Hill, whom DiMichele adds was “feeling disrespected,” slapped a Kelley Fishing Fleet employee on the back of the head as he walked by. The alleged victim did not initially know it was a Dolphins player who had hit him, but after the incident, Hill told one of his associates to give the man $200, DiMichele adds. The employee did not accept the money.
The video in question will certainly come into play regarding potential NFL discipline. The employee whom Hill is believed to have slapped ran into an office, as the receiver was being held back by a member of his group, and locked the door. The aforementioned Hill associate later told the accuser the receiver wanted to apologize, leading to the $200 offer. After the employee re-emerged from the office and declined the money, Hill left.
NFL discipline will almost definitely not commence until the State Attorney’s Office’s investigation wraps. No charges are necessary for the league to act, as past suspensions have shown, and Hill’s history could affect potential NFL punishment, Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio notes.
The talented receiver came into the league with ugly baggage, having pleaded guilty to punching and choking his pregnant girlfriend while in college. The 2014 incident led to Hill being booted from the Oklahoma State football and track teams. Hill finished his college career at Division II West Alabama, seeing the arrest lead to a drop into the 2015 fifth round, where the Chiefs selected him. In 2019, an audio tape of Hill threatening the same woman, the mother of his children, produced a child abuse investigation. Limited in part by a lack of cooperation from a Kansas City, Kan., District Attorney’s office, the NFL did not suspend Hill. The Chiefs subsequently signed Hill to a three-year, $54MM extension, one that included protections for the team in the event of more off-field issues.
Hill has become one of this era’s best wide receivers. The Dolphins sent a five-pick package, including a 2022 first-round choice, to the Chiefs for the accomplished speed merchant in March 2022. Miami then made Hill the NFL’s highest-paid receiver, at $30MM per year. Hill totaled career-high numbers in receptions (119) and yardage (1,710) during his first Dolphins season. A suspension would certainly change the complexion of Miami’s offense.
If you want to fish off the side of a boat, just go buy your own boat.
really now
Outstanding work by the Dade County clowns…er cops and a great use of taxpayers money. I understand members of the “slap squad” are up for promotions if they can bring this nefarious trio to justice…link to youtube.com
Leave the comedy to the professionals. This wasn’t it.
Because Chicago police are so great. In fact your judicial system releases criminals w/o bail.
The optics just don’t look right if you ask a criminal who has plans to be the President of the United States to post bail.
Didn’t expect you to bring politics into a NFL site. But I guess you just can’t help yourself. Miami is much better off than the murder capital of America, Chicago.
“murder capital of America, Chicago.”
Chicago is nowhere near the murder capital of America. St Louis has almost three times as many murders per capita.
I’m not the one trying to turn this into a political website. He’s needlesly been ranting about Miami PD for a few days.
I’m not sure 2 comments constitutes a rant arty! If I engaged in a tirade (like a certain someone does) every time Belichick is mentioned…that might possibly be considered “ranting”.
My rants stay on football, not police departments & politics. There’s a difference.
We would look rather ridiculous arguing over whose rants have more merit. I still consider you one of my best friends on here arty! and I apologize if my comments have upset you.
kingkeg LMAO Chicago has 166 murders in 2023.
St Louis has 65.
Throw “per capita” in there all you want, but Chicago is the undisputed champion every year…
I’m old enough to remember when Chicago was “MAGA country” and you couldn’t brave a snowstorm at 3am to get a subway sandwich… without getting bleach thrown on you and a shoestring draped around your neck.
Some rough streets, I tell ya
He could buy you and the boat but of course he wont. I’d love to know how you get enraged when you’re the breaking the law. I can’t believe that Hill is still the same POS he was years ago when he was beating up his own kids.
You need to get a Google.
Both that incident and the one at OState turned out to be nothing but fabrications by his crazy-pants girlfriend, who thought blackmailing him with false charges would keep him from dumping her.
This incident, however, seems quite different. Sounds like he was being an arrogant b–ch himself.
Come on, Tyreek. I’m finding it hard to be a fan.
You can’t own people reke
Tell that to Patrick Mahomes.
He owns 33 defensive starters and their coaches in LA, Vegas and Denver.
“I’m #10 from the Miami Dolphins”
Glad to see bills mafia can read.
Chiefs fan here. Always thought the guy was a wonder on the field, and a time bomb waiting to explode off the field. Glad they moved him when they did.
In Veach we trust.
ericm25
so was slap behind the head like a Gibbs type of slap??
Slapping a man is actually a huge step up for him.
Shows what a seedy, back alley type franchise that the Dolphins have evolved into. First blatantly cheating with the Brady tampering and now this. Becoming the Pats overnight… well, without the winning.
Did Mr. Ross slap you, @stabby?
Hell hath no fury….you know the rest.
Ya gotta love how the “disrespected” athlete disrespected everyone in sight.