The reaction in K.C. since the Chiefs took West Alabama WR Tyreek Hill in the NFL Draft "has ranged from outrage to concern and more," and Hill on Saturday admitted he knows "why he is receiving criticism," according to Terez Paylor of the K.C. STAR. Hill last August pleaded guilty to "domestic abuse by strangulation of his pregnant girlfriend and received a three-year suspended sentence." He said this weekend, "Fans have every right to be mad at me, because I did something wrong, I let my emotions get the best of me. and I shouldn’t have did it. They have every right to be mad." He added, "But guess what? I’m (about) to come back and be a better man, be a better citizen, and everything will take care of itself, and let God do the rest." Chiefs coach Andy Reid said of the fan reaction, "I completely understand -- I’m sensitive to the situation. I get it ... I've talked to women on the other side of this. I'm very sensitive to that." Paylor noted Hill "does not have much room for error." In addition to the terms of his deferred sentence, another domestic violence incident "could lead the NFL to consider Hill a repeat offender, which means potential banishment from the league" (K.C. STAR, 5/8). USA TODAY's Jarrett Bell writes it is a "bit shocking that the Chiefs drafted Hill when considering Kansas City was the scene of the murder-suicide in 2012 that left Kasandra Perkins and linebacker Jovan Belcher dead." Hill's case "will surely draw scrutiny for some time, as it should." However, Chiefs GM John Dorsey, like Reid, "insists that the team vetted Hill thoroughly and is convinced he is remorseful and on the right track as he undergoes counseling" (USA TODAY, 5/9).
TRYING TO MOVE ON: In K.C., Sam Mellinger noted Hill is "trying to move on, and this will be the most difficult challenge of his life." Saturday’s meeting with reporters was the "first time Hill spoke in Kansas City, and in a Chiefs uniform." He "had clearly been coached, which is a good thing for him and the team." This "came through in his willingness to take ownership of what he did, a week after saying 'I just try to choose my friends wisely.'" But Hill at times "stumbled over his words, or did not understand questions." Mellinger noted Hill likely is "not used to this attention, or scrutiny, not on the level that comes with the NFL." He now is a "symbol of a $13 billion industry’s treatment of domestic violence, whose performance and record going forward will reflect on a millionaire coach, a millionaire general manager, and so many others." Mellinger: "This is a volatile mix, and if they’re honest with themselves, the Chiefs know that no amount of research can predict how it will end" (K.C. STAR, 5/8).
