Criminal Investigation Against Tyreek Hill Re-Opened
The criminal case against Chiefs star wide receiver Tyreek Hill and his fiance has been reopened, according to KCTV5. Head coach Andy Reid confirmed as much at Friday afternoon’s introductory press conference for the newly-acquired Frank Clark, per Terez A. Paylor of Yahoo! Sports (Twitter link). Prosecutors dropped charges against Hill earlier this week, but the case is back on after audio of a conversation between Hill and partner Crystal Espinal was leaked. 
After the recording of the duo detailing their son’s broken arm, the Chiefs moved to ban Hill from team activities. It seems probable that Hill will be released altogether, but that hasn’t happened just yet.
“We were deeply disturbed by what we heard [on the recorded conversation],” said general manager Brett Veach in a statement. “We were deeply concerned. Now, obviously, we have great concern for Crystal. We are greatly concerned for Tyreek. But our main focus, our main concern, is with the young child.”
Hill, who has a history of domestic violence accusations dating back to his college days, is alleged to have punched and used a belt to strike his three-year-old son. The Johnson County District Attorney’s office previously indicated that there was not enough evidence to press ahead with the case against Hill. Now, they may have enough ammo to bring charges against him.
Chiefs Ban Tyreek Hill Indefinitely
Last night, audio was released in which Tyreek Hill‘s fiancée accused him of abusing their son. It didn’t take the Chiefs very long to react, as ESPN’s Adam Teicher writes that the receiver has been banned indefinitely from all team activities until the organization learns more about the recording.
“We were deeply disturbed by what we heard [on the recorded conversation],” said general manager Brett Veach. “We were deeply concerned. Now, obviously, we have great concern for Crystal. We are greatly concerned for Tyreek. But our main focus, our main concern, is with the young child.”
The star receiver was previously being investigated for an alleged battery of a minor. The initial police report indicated that a juvenile was a victim of an assault perpetrated by Hill. In the recording, Hill and his fiancée, Crystal Espinal, can be heard describing how the player punched and used a belt on their three-year-old son. The recording was released hours after the Johnson County District Attorney’s announced that they had declined to file charges.
According to Teicher, the Chiefs organization learned about the existence of the recording in “real time.” Veach subsequently contacted Hill’s agent, Drew Rosenhaus, to tell him that the receiver wouldn’t be allowed to work out with the team.
“We are going to continue to gather information and we will make the right decision,” Veach said.
According to TMZ.com, the Overland Park Police Department confirmed that police were sent to Hill’s residence following the release of the video. Cops were only at the home for around 20 minutes, and no arrests were made.
Latest On Chiefs WR Tyreek Hill
Some troubling news coming out of Kansas City. Brooke Pryor of the Kansas City Star is tweeting the details of a recording in which Tyreek Hill allegedly admits to abusing his child and misleading detectives. The star receiver was previously being investigated for an alleged battery of a minor, but we heard earlier today that the Johnson County District Attorney’s offense has declined to file charges.
The initial police report indicated that a juvenile was a victim of an assault perpetrated by Hill. According to Pryor, Hill and his fiancée, Crystal Espinal, can be heard describing how the player punched their son in the chest and used a belt on the three-year-old. In the recording, Hill also told his fiancée that she should be terrified of him. Futhermore, Espinal acknowledged that she “rode for him with that detective.”
The recording was apparently an “insurance policy” for Espinal, according to Pryor. The tape was given to a friend, who then passed it along to KCTV in Kansas City. The station then sent the audio to the Johnson County DA.
Authorities say Hill’s three-year old son suffered injuries, including a broken arm, at Hill’s home. At one time, authorities were also looking into Hill’s involvement in another incident where officers were called to Hill’s home to investigate a different instance of “child abuse or neglect.”
Hill also reportedly punched and choked Espinal, who was then eight weeks pregnant with their son, back in 2014. He pleaded guilty to domestic assault and battery by strangulation in 2015 and, but the Chiefs still made the controversial decision to draft him in the fifth round of the 2016 draft.
The receiver immediately made a huge impact with his absurd speed and led the league as a rookie with 15.2 yards per punt return. As an NFL sophomore, he nearly tallied 1,200 receiving yards with seven touchdowns. Then, last year, he set new career highs with 87 catches for 1,479 yards and 12 touchdowns.
Recently, the Chiefs began discussing an extension with Hill that could make him the highest-paid wide receiver in NFL history. Presumably, those talks will be put on hold while Hill’s situation plays out.
No Charges Filed Against Chiefs’ Tyreek Hill
The Johnson County District Attorney’s offense has declined to file charges in the investigation involving Chiefs wide receiver Tyreek Hill, DA Stephen Howe announced on Wednesday. However, Howe is far from convinced that there was no wrongdoing. 
“We believe the a crime has occurred,” Howe said, before adding, “The evidence does not conclusively establish who commit the crime.”
On Thursday, Hill issued a statement through his attorneys, though he did not speak specifically to the case:
“I love and support my family above anything. My son’s health and happiness is my number one priority. I want to thank the Kansas City Chiefs, my attorneys, my agent and my union for supporting me through this. My focus remains on working hard to be the best person for my family and our community I can be and the best player to help our team win.”
Authorities say Hill’s three-year old son suffered injuries, including a broken arm, at Hill’s home. At one time, authorities were also looking into Hill’s involvement in another incident where officers were called to Hill’s home to investigate a different instance of “child abuse or neglect.”
All of the accusations are troubling, especially in light of Hill’s pre-NFL history with domestic violence. And, given the way the NFL has operated in recent years, Hill is certainly not out of the woods when it comes to league discipline.
So far, Howe says his office has not spoken to the league or the Chiefs about Hill’s case.
Seahawks Trade Frank Clark To Chiefs
On Tuesday, the Seahawks agreed to trade Frank Clark to the Chiefs. When finalized, the deal will send Clark and a third-round choice (No. 84 overall) to the Seahawks for their first-round pick (No. 29), third-round pick (No. 92), and the lower of the Chiefs’ 2020 second-rounders. 
The Seahawks originally cuffed Clark with a franchise tag for 2019, but the defensive end said he was unwilling to play under the terms of the one-year tender. Ultimately, Clark got his way with a massive long-term extension. The Chiefs have agreed to sign Clark to a five-year, $105.5MM deal, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter). The pact includes $63.5MM guaranteed and gives him a potentially larger total intake than Cowboys standout Demarcus Lawrence. Joel Corry of CBS Sports tweets that the $105.5MM figure is a maximum value, and that the actual contract is a five-year, $104MM pact. The additional $1.5MM stems from $300K incentives that Clark could earn in each year of the deal for posting 11.5 sacks or more.
However, Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times tweets that Clark may have been unwilling to ink that same deal with the Seahawks if Seattle had extended it to him. Instead, he was, despite his statements to the contrary, willing to hold out until September and then sign his franchise tender before the regular season started.
In a perfect world, the Seahawks would have liked to keep Clark for the long haul. However, after making Russell Wilson the highest-paid player in NFL history, space was rather limited. But now, as Brady Henderson of ESPN.com tweets, the team can shift its focus to extending Bobby Wagner this offseason, and if the Seahawks can’t get a deal done, they will have enough cap space in 2020 to put the franchise tag on Wagner if it so chooses.
Meanwhile, the Chiefs have made another major change to their defense. After ranking 31st in yards allowed in 2018, they’ve swapped defensive coordinator Bob Sutton for Steve Spagnuolo, moved to a 4-3 scheme, traded Dee Ford, and released Justin Houston and Eric Berry. Now, it’s out with the old and in with the new for KC. The Chiefs have landed one of the game’s best young edge rushers in clark, bringing him to a front seven that also includes new pickups Alex Okafor, Emmanuel Ogbah, and Damien Wilson.
Clark, 26 in June, entered the league as a second-round pick in 2015, but truly broke out as an NFL sophomore with ten sacks in 2016. After a nine-sack effort in 2017, he exploded for 13 sacks last year, his first full season as a starter.
Clearly, the Chiefs are all-in on fixing their defense, but it has come at the expense of draft capital and future flexibility. The Chiefs no longer have a first-round pick for Thursday, nor do they have a ton of wiggle room in future years after locking up Clark through his prime seasons.
Seahawks Want First-, Second-Round Picks For Frank Clark?
The Chiefs completed a tag-and-trade transaction involving an edge defender last month. The 49ers gave them a 2020 second-round pick for Dee Ford. That type of return will not satisfy the Seahawks regarding Frank Clark.
Linked to having Clark on the trade block, the Seahawks do not plan to let their top pass rusher go for cheap. They are believed to want first- and second-round picks to part with the standout defensive end, Albert Breer of SI.com notes. Both the Chiefs and Colts are interested.
While it is not certain if they are willing to meet this asking price, the Chiefs have discussed trading for Clark to replace Ford, Breer adds. Clark has been more consistent than Ford, entering 2019 on the heels of three straight nine-plus-sack seasons. He is two years younger than Ford and at 265 pounds fits Steve Spagnuolo‘s 4-3 scheme better. Clark has also only missed two games in his career. But the matter of his $17.1MM franchise tag and his past complicate matters.
Having already released Kareem Hunt and seeing Tyreek Hill in precarious territory because of an ongoing investigation, the Chiefs trading for Clark would be an interesting decision. Clark was kicked off Michigan’s team because of a domestic violence arrest, which ended up producing a guilty plea for the lesser charge of disorderly conduct. The Chiefs do have the draft capital, with three picks in the first two rounds, and feature a big need at defensive end in what is expected to be Patrick Mahomes‘ final year on a rookie contract.
As for the Seahawks’ financial situation, John Schneider said (via the Seattle Times’ Bob Condotta, on Twitter) it would be “feasible but very challenging” to keep Clark, Bobby Wagner and Jarran Reed long-term. Wagner and the Seahawks have begun extension talks. A two-year starter at defensive tackle, Reed became extension-eligible this offseason. The franchise just authorized a four-year, $140MM Russell Wilson re-up, further complicating its ability to fortify the defense.
However, if Seattle trades Clark, defensive end becomes a major need. The team already has a deficiency there, given the lack of a reliable edge complement for Clark. But Schneider also indicated he would like the Seahawks — who have traded down in the first round in nearly every draft this decade — to acquire more picks. They hold an NFL-low four now and are without a second-round choice.
Chiefs, Colts Interested In Frank Clark
The Frank Clark sweepstakes is heating up. The Chiefs and Colts have shown interest in the Seahawks’ edge rusher and a deal could come together early this week, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (video link). Rapoport also heard rumblings of the Jets being interested in Clark, but Manish Mehta of the Daily News hears that’s not the case.
A pre-draft deal would make sense for all parties involved and the Seahawks would probably prefer to have their ducks in a row well in advance of Thursday. It’s also still possible that the Seahawks will move forward with Clark, though the franchise-tagged player has indicated that he will not report to training camp without a new deal. The two sides made progress on that front in early March, but it’s not clear if things have advanced since then.
Recently, Cowboys star DeMarcus Lawrence agreed to a new $21MM/year deal, which could embolden Clark’s camp to ask for even more. The Seahawks, ideally, would like to bring Clark back after he registered 13 sacks in 2018, but the opportunity to free up cap space and net a first-round pick for his services could be too good to pass up.
After moving on from Dee Ford and Justin Houston, Clark would make plenty of sense for the Chiefs. However, his off-the-field history could give KC some hesitation given the ongoing Tyreek Hill situation. There’s also the matter of forking over a top-of-the-market deal, which should give the Colts similar pause.
Tyreek Hill's Son Removed From Home
- Authorities have recently removed Chiefs wide receiver Tyreek Hill‘s three-year-old son from Hill and his fiancee’s custody, according to Laura Bauer, Brooke Pryor, and Steve Vockrodt of the Kansas City Star. Hill is under investigation for a pair of incidents involving child abuse, but still showed up for workouts earlier this week. The NFL is expected to allow the investigation to unfold before considering discipline for Hill.
NFL Draft Rumors: Taylor, Ford, Sweat
Florida offensive tackle Jawaan Taylor met with the Bengals on Tuesday, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Taylor, who stands 6’5″ and 328 pounds, certainly has the size requirements favored by new Cincinnati offensive line coach Jim Turner, but it’s unclear if the ex-Gator will be available when the Bengals make their first-round selection at No. 11. Along with Jonah Williams (Alabama), Andre Dillard (Washington State), and Cody Ford (Oklahoma), Taylor is considered one of the best tackle prospects available in the 2019 draft. If selected by the Bengals, Taylor could immediately take over at right tackle, displacing the recently re-signed Bobby Hart, and would be a long-term option to replace Cordy Glenn on the blindside.
Here’s more on the 2019 NFL draft:
- Speaking of Ford, the Oklahoma offensive lineman has been extremely busy during the pre-draft season. Per Aaron Wilson the Houston Chronicle, Ford has met with and/or worked out for the Patriots, Eagles, Buccaneers, Vikings, Texans, Cardinals, and Falcons. That’s in addition to his previously-reported stops with the Bengals and Panthers. Ford was a first-team All-Big 12 selection in 2018 and helped Oklahoma win the Joe Moore Award, given to the country’s best offensive line. A left guard in both 2016 and 2017, Ford shifted to right tackle for the 2018 campaign.
- The Texans are meeting with Mississippi State edge rusher Montez Sweat on Wednesday, reports Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link). Sweat is considered of the best defensive ends in the draft (especially after blowing up the combine), so Houston would likely need to trade up from No. 23 overall in order to land him. After starting his collegiate career at Michigan State, Sweat spent two years with the Bulldogs, racking up 22.5 sacks and 30 tackles for loss during that time.
- Washington cornerback Byron Murphy has met with the Panthers, Chiefs, and Cardinals in addition to his visit with the Steelers, tweets Wilson. In 2018, Murphy earned a spot on the first-team All-Pac-12 list after putting up 37 tackles, four interceptions, and 13 interceptions. Regarded as a first-round pick by most observers, Murphy is the No. 6 overall player on Pro Football Focus’ draft board after allowing only a 47.7% completion percentage against and forcing 17 incompletions.
- The Rams hosted Mississippi State safety Johnathan Abram on Tuesday, per Tom Pelissero of NFL.com (Twitter link). Abram, who has also met with the Cowboys and Cardinals, is part of a closely-clustered safety class that could start coming off the board at the end of the first round. Daniel Jeremiah of NFL.com, notably, ranks Abram as the No. 1 safety prospect of 2019. Arbam posted two interceptions, three sacks, and nine tackles for loss last year.
Minor NFL Transactions: 4/17/19
Today’s minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: OL Brant Weiss (Alliance of American Football)
Chicago Bears
- Re-signed: CB LB Isaiah Irving, DE Roy Robertson-Harris (exclusive rights free agents)
Kansas City Chiefs
- Re-signed: DB Jordan Lucas (restricted free agent)
- Re-signed: K Harrison Butker, DT Justin Hamilton (ERFAs)
Los Angeles Chargers
- Re-signed: CB Trevor Williams (RFA)
Los Angeles Rams
- Re-signed: S Blake Countess (RFA)
- Re-signed: DE Morgan Fox, DB Dominique Hatfield, WR KhaDarel Hodge, WR JoJo Natson, DB Kevin Peterson (ERFAs)
New York Giants
- Re-signed: WR Corey Coleman (RFA)
Oakland Raiders
- Re-signed: WR Marcell Ateman, K Daniel Carlson, T Justin Murray (ERFAs)
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Re-signed: TE Xavier Grimble (RFA)
San Francisco 49ers
- Re-signed: DB Greg Mabin (ERFA)