Lawyer expects Roger Goodell to go ‘off the roof’ over Tyreek Hill audio

Tyreek Hill could still be subject to child abuse charges if police reopen the case, likely faces NFL suspension.

A lawyer with extensive knowledge of NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell’s thinking said he expects Kansas City wide receiver Tyreek Hill to be suspended in light of the recordings that became public Thursday.

“The tape is a game changer, just like it was in the Ray Rice case,” the lawyer said. “The key part of the Rice tape was when Rice stepped over her. She fell back and hit her head and then when Ray stepped over her like nothing had happened, it sent Roger off the roof.

“Now, the critical part is the audio because it allowed 280 million people to jump to a conclusion and Roger will go with that opinion. He’s not going to fight the swell of opinion. He’s not going to stand up and say, ‘Wait a second, let’s see what this is really about.'”

Hill has so far avoided having charges filed against him by the Johnson County (Kansas) District Attorney’s office after they determined they didn’t have the evidence to prove a crime was committed. However, new audio of Hill threatening the boy’s mother and his fiancee Cristal Espinal could potentially lead to the case being reopened and charges being filed.

On the audio, Hill made it clear his child and girlfriend should fear him. He also didn’t dispute Espinal when she said Hill had hit their 3-year-old son and used a belt on him for punishment.

Officers in Overland Park, Kansas investigated an alleged battery against Hill’s son who had a broken arm. Despite the absence of charges being filed, Hill is still subject to discipline from the NFL.

"“My son’s health and happiness is my number one priority,” Hill said in a statement. “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.”"

Adrian Peterson, Ezekiel Elliott and Ben Roethlisberger are among the high-profile players who were suspended. A guilty verdict isn’t a prerequisite to an NFL suspension so even if Hill avoids legal troubles, the Chiefs — provided they don’t cut him — could be without their top receiver for an extended time.

Hill, a three-time Pro Bowler is coming off a career year that saw him catch 87 passes for 1,479 yards and 12 touchdowns. Patrick Mahomes leaned on the deep threat to produce an MVP season.

His absence for any length of time could have a significant impact on the race for home-field advantage in the AFC. The football impact of such a decision is the secondary story after the safety and welfare of the child.

That shouldn’t be lost in this case.

It shouldn’t also be lost that Hill was previously convicted of domestic assault when he was at Oklahoma State. Hill punched and choked his girlfriend and was sentenced to three years of probation. Oklahoma State dismissed him and he ended his college career at West Alabama before the Chiefs took Hill in the fifth round in the 2016 NFL Draft.

Hill is already playing on his second chance and the Chiefs could decide to wipe their hands clean of him. They acted swiftly when they released Kareem Hunt after a video was released of him kicking a woman. If more evidence comes to light that Hill is responsible for the broken arm of his child, he will definitely be suspended.

The length of the suspension could be somewhere between four-six games but considering Hill’s past, a suspension much longer, possibly as long as the season could be in play.

Shortly after the audio was released, The NFL has not issued a statement and didn’t plan to issue one on Thursday evening.