The Miami Dolphins suffered a disappointing loss to the New York Jets on Sunday afternoon that ended their season. And it seems like star wide receiver Tyreek Hill quit on the team in the middle of the game.
During his postgame press conference, Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel told reporters that Tyreek Hill refused to enter the game for the Dolphins even though he was able to play.
“I was informed that he was unavailable right before a drive,” McDaniel said according to Pro Football Talk. “I was not informed that it was a new injury, and I think at that point of time my focus was on the players and I didn’t take the time to go and try and figure out more into that. There were guys on the field that were competing, and we were trying to win a game, so my focus was there.”
McDaniel was then asked specifically whether or not Hill pulled himself from the game, but he didn’t have a firm answer to that.
“I was informed he wasn’t available, and I didn’t really have the time to dig more into that and we’ll see what comes of that after watching the tape and talking to coaches and the training staff,” McDaniel said.
McDaniel was then asked how he found out that Hill was not available.
“It was discussed by the coaching staff on the headset and the play clock was running, so I moved on and called plays for people that were out there,” McDaniel said.
When asked about the situation himself, Hill initially said he has been “dealing with a little issue” all season and that “coach kind of pulled me out,” but he backtracked a bit when he was asked more specifically if he was removed by McDaniel because of his wrist injury.
Instead, Hill seemed to indicate that he was no longer interested in playing after it was clear that their playoff chances were over.
“Just one of those issues, man, that like you know, you look up at the scoreboard, Chiefs are down [to the Broncos] and it’s like, OK,” Hill said.
To make matters worse, it seems that Hill did not just quit on the Dolphins in that game. It sounds like he quit on the team completely and intends to leave Miami this offseason.
After the game, Hill also made it pretty clear that he is ready to leave the team during the offseason, too, saying “I’m out, bruh.”
“I don’t even know, bruh,” Hill said according to Omar Kelly of the Miami Herald. “This is my first time I haven’t been in the playoffs, man, so, I mean, for me, I’ve just got to do what’s best for me and my family. If that’s here, or wherever the case may be — I’m [about to] open that door for myself.
“Yeah, I’m opening the door — I’m out, bruh,” Hill continued. “So, it was great playing here, but at the end of the day, I’ve got to do what’s best for my career and what’s best — because I’m too much of a competitor to be just out there.”
Clearly, this cold spell the end of Hill’s time in Miami.
