Tyreek Hill was detained by police hours before the Miami Dolphins season-opener on Sunday. The reaction to the incident has been overwhelmingly in support of Hill and the release of the police bodycam footage has only solidified that stance for many.

The Miami Dolphins also put out a statement on Monday evening in support of Hill. The wording of the Dolphins’s statement is very strong considering this is an NFL team addressing law enforcement. Maybe even surprisingly so as they called the police’s actions towards Hill and teammates Calais Campbell and Jonnu Smith aggressive, violent, maddening, and heartbreaking.

Here’s the full statement.

“We are proud to have a strong and positive relationship with the Miami-Dade Police Department and other law enforcement agencies and recognize that the vast majority of officers do serve the community with the utmost character and desire to protect all citizens. However, as is on full display in the videos released tonight, there are some officers who mistake their responsibility and commitment to serve with misguided power. While we commend MDPD for taking the right and necessary action to quickly release this footage, we also urge them to take equally swift and strong action against the officers who engaged in such despicable behavior.”

MIAMI — Tyreek Hill believes that if he weren’t a famous football player, officers may have shot or arrested him during a police confrontation that “went from 0 to 60,” the Dolphins star said Monday.

The wide receiver was driving to the Dolphins-Jacksonville Jaguars game on Sunday when Miami-Dade police stopped him just outside Hard Rock Stadium, handcuffed him and put him face down on the pavement.

“If I wasn’t Tyreek Hill, Lord knows, I probably would have been, like, worst-case scenario, I would have been shot or would have been locked up” and “put behind bars, you know, for a simple speeding ticket,” Hill told NBC News.

“And that’s crazy that officers would take it, you know, to that level.”

The Miami-Dade Police Department has launched an internal affairs investigation, and at least one officer has been taken off the streets in the wake of the confrontation, which was captured on video that has been widely shared on social media.

Hill insists he was cooperative with police, rolling down his window and giving his identification. He said he was in no rush because he was within the shadows of Hard Rock Stadium and had no reason to be anxious or in a hurry.

“It just went from 0 to 60, man, from the moment that those guys pulled up behind me, knocked on my window, it went from 0 to 60 immediately,” said Hill, adding that he called team security officials from the car.

A representative for the police union said Hill was at fault for not being “immediately” cooperative with officers.

The police department declined to comment on the union’s account, saying police officials must wait until the internal affairs investigation is completed before they publicly discuss the incident.

Hill was cited for reckless driving and driving without a license, said his agent, Drew Rosenhaus. 

Hill, 30, thanked teammates — tight end Jonnu Smith and defensive lineman Calais Campbell — who were driving by, saw him being detained and stopped to help.

Campbell was handcuffed even though he was standing off to the side, Hill said. The highly respected Campbell, 38, is a former Walter Payton Man of the Year winner.

“When I saw Jonnu and Calais pull up … I didn’t feel alone anymore,” Hill said. “They ended up handcuffing Calais for just being 6-8 I think. But it was crazy. It was crazy how that same officer who took me down handcuffed Calais for just standing on the side.”

Ultimately, Hill said, he’s happy no one was injured or worse.

“That officer was really on a power trip,” he said. “He felt like he just needed to … do something that day, you know. But like I said, I’m glad nobody was hurt.”

Hill is one of pro football’s best-known playmakers.

His 77 career touchdown catches are fifth among active players and 36th all time, just behind No. 35 DeAndre Hopkins (78) and the retired Harold Carmichael and Charley Taylor, who are tied with 79. Carmichael and Taylor are both in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

The incident didn’t appear to affect Hill’s on-field performance in Sunday’s season opener; he caught seven passes for 130 yards and a touchdown in Miami’s 20-17 victory.

Faced with first-and-10 from the Miami 20, late in the third quarter with the Jags leading 17-7, quarterback Tua Tagovailoa connected with Hill on a slant at the Dolphins’ 46-yard line.

Hill then raced past two Jaguars defenders to complete the electrifying 80-yard TD, which sparked the Miami comeback.

Hill put his hands behind his back, feigning that he was being handcuffed, as teammate Jaylen Waddle came up to walk him off as if he were the arresting officer.

“You got to learn how to laugh and have a good time,” he said. “Man, whenever people think you’re … having a bad situation or having a low moment, I always try to find the good in every situation. That’s one way I’m able to stay so strong-minded as a young male, well, as a young Black male.”

He said he was also grateful that his pregnant wife, Keeta, wasn’t in the car.

Under normal circumstances, she would have been along for the ride. But she was running late Sunday and decided to travel to the stadium on her own, they said.

“I’m so relieved she wasn’t [there], because if they would have tried to pull my wife out the car, Lord knows what would [have] happened,” Hill said. “I’m glad she wasn’t in the car.”

Jesse Kirsch reported from Miami and David K. Li from New York City.

MIAMI GARDENS — The Miami Dolphins beat the Jacksonville Jaguars, 20-17, on Sunday in the season opener at Hard Rock Stadium.

Jason Sanders won it with a 52-yard field goal as time expired.

Tua Tagovailoa and Tyreek Hill connected on an 80-yard touchdown.

Excessive force by police? Tyreek Hill incident overshadows Dolphins win | Schad

Jevon Holland had the biggest play of the game with a critical forced fumble.

Let’s overreact, or not, on this Overreaction Monday.

Overreaction? Yes. I mean, look, Holland had an outstanding game and is a very good player. But the Dolphins seem unlikely to view safety as a priority position, compared to say, cornerback, edge rusher, offensive tackle and receiver. Miami can always franchise tag or transition tag Holland next offseason, if necessary. Holland is clearly a player worth signing. But keep in mind – Miami did let a defensive tackle and guard walk last offseason.

Miami’s lack of run game is a problem

Overreaction? Yes. Look, Miami had 81 yards and only 3.2 yards per carry, which is well below all goals and targets. The Dolphins’ offensive line didn’t get much traction and Raheem Mostert had only six attempts for nine yards. De’Von Achane was Miami’s greatest threat as a receiver, which is important to monitor. But it’s one game. Too early to panic.

This offensive line is not good enough

Overreaction? Maybe. I mean, look, Tua Tagovailoa was sacked three times, which is not ideal. The run game didn’t get going. There were a few penalties. We have confidence in offensive line coach Butch Barry and what he proved in his Year 1 with Miami. We think the tackles will be fine. But we’re closely monitoring the interior.

Jake Bailey is a Pro Bowl punter again

Overreaction? Maybe not. I mean, OK, Bailey had three punts inside the opponents’ 20 and two inside the opponents’ 10. It’s a great start for the former New Englander. Bailey had a pretty good camp. Since kickoffs are so anti-climactic now, perhaps we can shift our attention to the punters. Punters are people, too.

This team is not a Super Bowl contender

Overreaction? Yes. I mean, come on, it’s one game, and Miami found a way to win. Finding a way to win is usually what separates bad karma teams from good karma teams and Miami could use some good karma in 2024. This was not a front-run win. It was a come-from-behind win in which they were seconds from trailing 24-7. A win’s a win’s a win. It’s not easy to win games in the NFL, something pretty much every coach says.

The Report Card: Miami Dolphins vs. Jacksonville Jaguars | Schad

Joe Schad is a journalist covering the Miami Dolphins and the NFL at The Palm Beach Post. You can reach him at jschad@pbpost.com and follow him on Instagram and on X @schadjoe. Sign up for Joe’s free weekly Dolphins Pulse Newsletter. Help support our work by subscribing today.