Amid controversy, Tunsil falls
CHICAGO – For a couple of months, Laremy Tunsil’s dream of being the top pick in the NFL Draft appeared to be realistic.
When the draft finally rolled around Thursday night in Chicago, Tunsil’s experience was nothing short of a nightmare.
Tunsil was the buzz of the draft before the first pick was even announced Thursday. His Twitter account posted a 30-second video of someone, presumably Tunsil, smoking a bong. The video was deleted minutes later. In less than an hour, Tunsil’s Twitter account was deleted. Tunsil later restored his account and tweeted an apology, but the damage was done.
Tunsil fell to No. 13 overall. The Miami Dolphins drafted Tunsil around 8:45 p.m., ending two hours of a horror show of sorts for Tunsil, who was in line to be the No. 1 overall selection just two weeks ago.
“They’re getting a great man,” Tunsil said on stage at the Roosevelt University Auditorium. “I’m going to give it my all. …I’m going to work my butt off. I’m a great person besides all my mistakes.”
Tunsil would not say who he believed posted the video on his Twitter account, though he did say he didn’t post it and didn’t learn of its presence until he got to the green room just before the draft began.
“I don’t know who it was,” Tunsil said. “I’m not saying any names.”
Before Tunsil made it off the stage and into the press conference area, pictures that appeared to be conversations with Ole Miss assistant director of football operations John Miller, messages that included requests for money to pay a bill and help paying his apartment rent. The conversations were posted to Tunsil’s verified Instagram account.
“Man somebody hacked into my account, and man, you know, I made that mistake you know several years ago and somehow someone got into my photos and hacked my Twitter account, and apparently somebody just hacked my Instagram account, so it’s getting crazy,” Tunsil said. “I can’t control it. Whatever I can control, I control.”
Pressed to go into details about the hacking of his social media accounts, Tunsil said, “Like I said, I made a mistake, a huge mistake. You know, things happen, I can’t control things. Some people hacked into my phone, hacked into my Twitter account, my Instagram. I’m just happy to be a part of the Miami Dolphins organization. I’m just happy to be here. I don’t have no idea who it is, man. I’m new to this.”
Tunsil’s stepfather, Lindsay Miller, filed a civil suit against Tunsil earlier this week in Oxford, claiming defamation of character.
Tunsil and Miller had an altercation over the summer, one that led to each man filing charges against the other. Both parties dropped the charges after a preliminary hearing in Oxford in July.
Miller told ESPN’s Josina Anderson he did not play any role in Thursday’s events.
“I was a Red Cross volunteer of the year,” Miller told ESPN. “I would never do anything like this.”
Asked if there was an exchange of money between Tunsil and his coaches, Tunsil said, “No, I wouldn’t say that. I wouldn’t say all that.”
Asked if those messages were doctored, Tunsil said, “I made a mistake of that happening.”
Tunsil was then asked if there was an exchange of money between him and his coach.
“I’d have to say yeah,” Tunsil said.
Tunsil later reportedly told media he didn’t understand the line of questioning. An unknown media relations representative cut the questioning short and Tunsil was ushered off the stage.
Tunsil wowed NFL scouts with his rare combination of balletic footwork and power. He bench-pressed 225 pounds 34 times at Ole Miss’ Pro Day last month in Oxford. However, multiple sources said the video _ and the fear of what else might come next _ scared franchises away from Tunsil on Thursday night.
Tennessee traded out of the pick earlier this month, sending the top pick to the Los Angeles Rams. Philadelphia, worried it wouldn’t get one of the consensus top two quarterbacks in the draft, traded up to No. 2.
As expected Thursday, the Rams selected California quarterback Jared Goff with the top pick. Philadelphia followed by taking North Dakota State quarterback Carson Wentz.
Tunsil’s slide began when San Diego pulled a bit of a surprise by selecting Ohio State defensive end Joey Bosa. Dallas, owners of one of the NFL’s top offensive lines, drafted Bosa’s college roommate, running back Ezekial Elliot, at No. 4. Jacksonville took Florida State defensive back Jalen Ramsey at No. 5, leaving the Ravens to choose between, presumably, Tunsil and Notre Dame offensive tackle Ronnie Stanley. Tennessee traded back into the top 10 and selected Michigan State offensive tackle Jack Conklin.
Among the teams who passed on Tunsil were Chicago and the New York Giants, two teams with glaring needs on the offensive line.
