Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
His burden to bare
Wide receiver says he’s been fined thousands for skipping socks
MIAMI GARDENS — Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill is ready to give up his battle with the NFL over fines from multiple uniform violations regarding his socks — or lack thereof — on game days.
“I feel like my job as an employee of the NFL is to comply, so that’s what I’m going to do,” Hill said following the team’s Thursday practice before facing the Carolina Panthers on Sunday.
“I’m going to comply. I’m going to give in. Usually, I bite the bullet and try to fight back, but once they start digging into your pocket, there’s really not much you can do.”
Earlier this week, Hill tweeted his fines have amounted to more than $100,000.
“NFL fining me more than 100k is classic NFL,” he posted on X.
NFL Network later reported that the fines have been a “significant amount” but less than six figures.
Hill said he has not been fined for celebrations, which in the last two home games have involved him jumping into the stands. On Sunday against the New York Giants, he leaped over a fan barrier to give his mother his touchdown ball. He was flagged for taunting after the play.
The speedster said he’s been able to get some fines reduced, but the league has a compounding fine structure for repeated infractions. According to the NFL’s football operations site, a first offense for a sock violation is $5,464, with a second offense for $16,391.
“I’m just going to do what I can to keep my hard-earned money in my pocket,” Hill said.
He added the league has indicated, in its reasoning, that uniform violations are a competitive advantage.
“That’s what they said, me not having on socks,” Hill said. “They said it gives me an advantage, so I don’t know. So, y’all going to drug test me for not wearing socks? So, at this point, I’m not going to say something. I’m just going to comply.”
Why is Hill not wearing the proper socks at games?
“I get IVs before games, and sometimes, the timing just doesn’t allow me to put on socks in time — and I don’t want to miss plays,” he explained. “Or, sometimes, I have on socks and it doesn’t cover a certain length. And (the) NFL has certain rules that’s been here way before I’ve been playing this game. They’re going to be here well after.”
Hill welcomed a new member to the receiving corps over the past week, with Chase Claypool coming to Miami after last Friday’s trade with the Chicago Bears.
“He’s a big dude,” Hill said of the 6-foot-4, 238-pound wideout.
“What’s crazy is, man, he looks like a vending machine out there when he’s running. Very fast, very fluid in his routes. He’s definitely going to be a huge addition to this team, whether it’s blocking, whether it’s receiving the ball, whether it’s whatever this team needs him to do. Very happy to have him here. I feel like, with the room that we got, everybody wants to get better each and every day.”
Hill feels the new addition can get incorporated quickly and doesn’t see the character concerns he has heard about in Claypool’s past.
“I feel like Chase Claypool gets a bad rap for probably not being a team guy,” Hill said, “but from what I’ve seen, he’s been a heck of a teammate so far.
“He’s even offered to wash my car, so how about that?” Hill added, likely joking.