My first reaction when I saw the bodycam footage of Tyreek Hill’s arrest by Miami-Dade Police was simple: Here we go again. There are certain players who can’t get out of their own way. They’re always in trouble. And it’s always someone else’s fault.
Let’s be clear: this whole incident was caused by Tyreek. If you’re going to break the law, if you’re going to do something stupid, have a little respect and humility.
If you make a mistake, if you drive recklessly without your seatbelt on, then – at the very least – you approach the officer politely and roll down your window. If you don’t? If you resist? Then there’s trouble.
But that’s Tyreek Hill. Not enough humility, too much arrogance. That’s what got him into this position in the first place. He should have behaved very differently. Fortunately, he’s admitted that now.
The Dolphins star has been on a charm offensive since the incident. Of course, he’s going to do everything he can to make this story sensational. But what’s really interesting? The Miami Dolphins and NFL players have said they stand by Hill.
Tyreek Hill was dragged from his car and handcuffed by police officers in Miami on Sunday
DailyMail.com columnist Tim Howard gave his take on the Dolphins star’s confrontation
The very people who blacklisted Colin Kaepernick. He got down on his knees to protest police brutality.
We hear the same message after Hill was handcuffed. Apparently it’s okay to protect the players now. But Colin Kaepernick still isn’t.
I support the fight to end police brutality against the African American community.
I like good cops and I hate bad cops. Some of my childhood friends ended up in the police force – and they got corrupt. I don’t like them, they’re bad people.
I do like good cops. And the fact is, they have a position of power. Of course, they sometimes abuse that position. But I do respect good police and good law enforcement.
I have never been a victim of brutality myself. But I am the parent of a wonderful young man who is a freethinker and who questions many things in our society – authority, his mother, his teachers, everyone.
Colin Kaepernick (center) kneels in protest of police brutality in 2016
Hill was arrested by police shortly before the Dolphins’ season opener against the Jaguars
That’s what teenagers do. I like that about him, I think it’ll serve him well. But not when a cop pulls you over.
I tell him all the time: If you get pulled over, the most important thing is to get home alive. You’re mixed race, you wear your hair natural. So keep your hands on 10 and two, open all the windows, turn on the interior lights, don’t make any sudden movements.
Why? Because I can’t trust the good cop to show up on a random night. I have to make sure my son shows respect. This is America, and as the father of a young man just coming of age, this is my reality.
I’ve never met Kaepernick, but I would love to. There aren’t many people who would have the courage to take a stand like he did.
Kaepernick is a very strong-willed character and he will get his day. But the former 49ers quarterback has been banned from the NFL since 2016. Tyreek Hill returns to the field Thursday night. I hope he learned some important lessons.
Mauricio Pochettino has been officially confirmed as the new coach of the US national team
Mauricio Pochettino is officially the new head coach of the US national team. In the past few days, he has learned everything he needs to know about the changes that need to be made in the run-up to the 2026 World Cup.
The US was defeated by Canada and then by New Zealand. What was clear? These players need more fight, more arrogance, more guts and more down-to-earth determination.
When we lost 2-0 to Canada, my expectations were simple: at least we’re going to kick people and let them know this isn’t going to be easy. Instead? It was a piece of cake for Jesse Marsh’s team.
That doesn’t mean the USMNT can’t play expansive football. But the foundation of every team has to be fighting. It doesn’t matter who’s injured. It doesn’t matter if we have a coach or not.
The United States were defeated by rival Canada before drawing against New Zealand
Pochettino must demand that as a basic requirement. And if players don’t answer the call? Identify someone who does – and he becomes an example.
In the past I’ve had managers who’ve said: if you want to get into this team, you have to play like him.
The problem for Pochettino is time. You would hope that within four games his stamp on this team would be clear.
By then we should have clear indications of how the manager wants to play and how he wants to deploy certain players.
But look at the calendar: four games is a big chunk of time between now and 2026. He needs to get started straight away.