Eyebrows raised earlier this NFL offseason when rumors swirled that the Kansas City Chiefs were interested in acquiring superstar skill-position players like Le'Veon Bell and Antonio Brown. The Chiefs, after all, put together one of the most dominant offensive campaigns in NFL history last season, scoring a record 35.3 points per game while also leading the league in total yards. Even without released star running back Kareem Hunt, Kansas City remains stacked with playmakers, like wide receivers Tyreek Hill and Sammy Watkins, tight end Travis Kelce, and running back Damien Williams.
In wake of Friday's news that Hill is the subject of a police investigation involving the battery of a child, though, NFL Network's Jason La Canfora submits the Chiefs might have been sniffing around Bell, Brown, and other superstars as a contingency plan in case of the three-time Pro Bowler's potential release.
Chiefs were very active exploring an AB trade and did work on Le'Veon Bell as I reported coming out of combine. It struck other clubs as odd given KC's roster and had some execs wondering if they were making contingencies in case Hill, with an ugly past, was having problems …
— Jason La Canfora (@JasonLaCanfora) March 15, 2019
Of some sort or perhaps exhibiting behavior to give the team pause. Their interest in high-end skill players involved in the passing game ran counter to the notion that Hill was about to get a mega deal and definitely raised some eyebrows around the league.
— Jason La Canfora (@JasonLaCanfora) March 15, 2019
The Kansas City Star’s Steve Vockrodt and Brooke Pryor reported on Friday that Hill is being investigated by the Overland Park, KS police department for his potential involvement in the battery of his son. A source close to the situation told The Star that Hill's son sustained a broken arm as a result of the incident.
The Chiefs subsequently issued a statement on Friday saying that they are aware of the matter and have been cooperating with the league and local authorities.
Bell signed a four-year, $52.5 million deal with the New York Jets earlier this week. His former teammate with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Brown, was traded to the Oakland Raiders in exchange for third and fifth-round picks in the upcoming NFL draft.
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