Tyreek Hill – August 11, 2022
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Thursday, August 11, 2022
WR Tyreek Hill
(There was a play to TE Mike Gesicki where he catches a touchdown in the back of the end zone. It sounded like someone yelled “feet, feet, feet” like in the moment. Was it you and was there that level of communication on the field?) – “No, I was just yelling ‘touchdown’ all the way, man, because you know how Steph Curry do this and turn around when Klay (Thompson) is shooting the ball? It was one of those moments for me, man, so I don’t know who was yelling ‘feet’ – probably his coach because that’s the tight end coach he is, but as you saw, Mike came out here, made some plays today and building off what he’s already started from OTAs to now. I’m happy for him.”
(You’ve always played with an elite tight end, a Hall of Fame tight end. How important is that to opening up the field for you?) – “It’s definitely important. That’s why I’m always in Mike’s (Gesicki) ear. Next time y’all interview him, just ask him, ‘how aggravating is Tyreek?’ Like literally, ask him that question and he’ll tell you, man, ‘Tyreek is literally in my ear all the time about the greatest tight end, the greatest tight end.’ And I tell him all the time that (Travis) Kelce was my best friend on the Kansas City Chiefs. We hung out together. We did a lot of things together, so I told him I need that same relationship with him. Like when I came here, I want you to be my best friend. The tight end is always my best friend. It was the same way in high school, too. I don’t know why. (laughter)”
(So when you say that, what does TE Mike Gesicki say to you? What’s his response?) – “Oh, he’s down. He’s down to hang, so hopefully we can get some volleyball in because he is a huge volleyball guy. And also go surfing sometime.”
(You’ve got to fight off TE Durham Smythe though.) – “I’m not worried about Durham, man. Durham’s no comp for the ‘Cheetah,’ baby. (laughter)”
(I asked Head Coach Mike McDaniel about CB Xavien Howard earlier today and he said that he feels like you guys kind of have the same kind of mentality where it’s like you guys are the leaders of your position groups and you have to really set the tone. Going up against “X” every day, just how have you seen him approach? He seems like he’s just very, very business-like, but how do you see him approach his business?) – “You know what, man, I try to get a good read on guys and this is like a personal conversation between me and ‘X’ – I had a chance to talk to ‘X’ and I’m like, ‘dude, how are you feeling today?’ He’s like, ‘I feel good, man.’ So I’m like, ‘how did you do yesterday?’ He’s like, ‘I didn’t do too good. I gave up a pass to Julio’ or whatever and I was like, ‘so what you going to do about it today?’ He was like, ‘man, I’m going to kick his ass today, dawg. I didn’t really like that.’ For me, I’m feeling the same way. I’m like, ‘damn, I got clamped up. I’m going to go attack whoever I’ve got to attack today.’ You know what I’m saying? Usually when you see guys like that at a certain level like that, they get real complacent, man, so for him wanting to come back out here and grind and compete with one of the best at all positions, receiver Julio Jones, is amazing for me. It motivates me to keep wanting to get better each and every day because I don’t want to be that guy that goes into the team meeting room and Coach (McDaniel) pulls up a film of me and ‘X’ and he’s scrapping me like crazy. I don’t want to be that guy in front of the whole team.”
(I’m not going to ask you if you want to play in the preseason because I’m pretty sure I know the answer, but do you need preseason reps or do you think practice is enough to get you ready for the season?) – “To me, I feel like I need to work, but whatever Coach (McDaniel) sees fit for this team. I came here to play ball. Football is football to me, so if I’m out there in the preseason I’m going to give 110 (percent).”
(Did you play a lot in the last couple years in the preseason games?) – “Yes, sir, I did. So it really doesn’t matter to me. I’m just thankful for the opportunity. I feel like football – like a lot of people tell me that football is only a short stint of our life so each and every game that I get, I’ve got to take full advantage of it.”
(How do you feel the offense did today?) – “We had our ups and downs. I feel like we can be better mentality-wise. A few false starts in the receiver room that can be corrected, but all of our mistakes were correctable so it’s nothing like crazy. So like I say, the sky’s the limit for this offense as you can see. It’s very electric, very fun to watch, a lot of playmakers, so I’m very excited.”
(Head Coach Mike McDaniel told us last week that your attitude has helped him set the standard as far as how accountability goes in this locker room. What kind of responsibility did you feel like you were shouldering when you first joined this team?) – “Well me being me, dawg, I want to be the guy that’s always pointed out because I feel like I love a challenge no matter what. So if I do bad on something, if I mess up a play or something like that, I want to be that guy that Coach (McDaniel) calls out on film. Because if you think about it like this, if Coach is calling out like, the fifth, sixth receiver who’s barely getting reps, he’s going to feel some type of way. But if he’s able to call me out and then call that guy out again, that guy is going be like, ‘okay, he’s calling out ‘Reek’ (Tyreek Hill) so I need to pick up my (game).’ So I don’t mind. I don’t mind. I’ve been picked on, talked about, so it really doesn’t bother me.”
(We heard that QB Tua Tagovailoa may not play in the preseason game. What do you think of his performance through training camp and these joint practices here?) – “He’s obviously Tua – Tua’s going to be Tua. He’s going to come out here. He’s going to give you the same thing every day – consistency. He’s going to work hard and he’s bringing a little bit more swag to the game and he’s talking more. But if he doesn’t play in the preseason, like I say, man, that’s above my pay grade. Probably not. (laughter) I messed that up, didn’t I? But yeah, if he doesn’t play, he doesn’t play. That’s Coach’s decision.”
(You talk about QB Tua Tagovailoa showing a little swag. How would you describe Tua’s swag?) – “Man, just like when he throws a touchdown – I don’t know if y’all can see it – when he’s walking to the sideline he’s like ‘yeah, yeah, yeah!’ I’m like, ‘bro, okay, Tua, I see you, I see you, I see you.’ And I didn’t see much of that in OTAs because I barely knew him, but now I’m seeing him sling the ball around even like I said, when I mess up a play or when I don’t get open, he’ll come up to me like, ’10, I need you to get open right there.’ I’m like, ‘dang, Tua, like chill.’ (laughter)”
(You had some battles with Antoine Winfield Jr. in the Super Bowl. Did you guys do any back-and-forth out there the last couple of days?) – “No, it’s all love, baby. That’s how we play the sport. I feel like the very first time I played him in my career, we all know what happened. But then we played him in the Super Bowl, he did his thing, he got his taunts in. But when we came out here, man, I know what I’m out here for and he knows what we’re out here for. Like we’re out here to get better. No hard feelings, no nothing, man. So we just let social media talk. We just come out here and work.”
(How much of an adjustment is this offense from what you were doing in Kansas City?) – “I play ball, man. It don’t matter if I play for the Bad News Bears. I’m going to get out there and play ball regardless. I don’t care who’s calling plays, but just know I’m going to give my all no matter what.”
(This morning Head Coach Mike McDaniel said that he was really pleased with how he thinks the team played for one another yesterday. I was curious what that looks like to you, playing for each other?) – “Offensively, I feel like for a wideout playing for each other is being smart, not getting stupid penalties and let’s say for instance Raheem (Mostert) gets the ball, all receivers are blocking downfield, getting on the right assignment. So not just being stupid, but getting stupid penalties.”
(You’ve been a part of some really good teams, Super Bowl-winning teams. Where does this team stack up at the same point of the season against those teams that you’ve previously played for as far as potential?) – “Trick question. All I’m going to say right now is we’re going to continue working. We’re going to continue getting better and if we continue doing that, we’ll definitely be headed in the right direction. We’re a young team with a great looking head coach. (laughter) So man, everything is going in the right direction for us right now, so we’re on the up-and-up.”
(You open up some business ventures?) – “Oh yeah, man. Let me tell y’all about my store. I opened up a Soul Runner store today in Aventura mall. It’s right in front of Bloomingdales. It’s something that I’ve been a part of. Fashion is my second dream and what I’ll probably be doing when I’m done playing. It’s just a one-month pop-up. You guys are welcome to come. It’ll be great if all you guys come and let me stand in front of a podium and talk to you guys again about my store. But yeah, we’re open right now for basically a whole month until the end of August.”
(What are you selling?) – “I’m selling football gloves and I’m also, because I own Grip Boost, and also selling athletic merch.”
(Describe your style. What’s it like?) – “It’s just a bunch of hoochie daddy shorts. You know what that is? (laughter) Yeah, I got some on right now. Like these right here would be considered hoochie daddy shorts. What I call them is, they’re called ‘Hot Boy Cheetah Summer Shorts,’ you know what I’m saying? So go and get you some. (laughter) I wear them all the time.”
(What’s it called?) – “Hoochie daddy shorts. Oh no, the store – Soul Runner. It’s opening in Aventura mall today. And we’re also doing this crazy special guest thing. I can’t say the guest name. Just know he’s a megastar. If you guys want to come, I’ll put y’all on the VIP guest (list).”
(When is that?) – “August 15. That’s our day off, right? August 15. Monday. So we’ve got a special guest that’s coming into the store.”
(What time?) – “11 a.m.”
(Is it you?) – “Obviously me, but I’m also having another special guest. (laughter) He’s a megastar, you know?”
