DAVIE, Fla. — Laremy Tunsil, the Dolphins’ controversial first-round pick from Mississippi, didn’t attend his initially scheduled 3:30 p.m. EDT introductory press conference at the team’s practice facility Friday afternoon. The offensive tackle was with team medical staff being treated for an allergic reaction.
But about 90 minutes later, Tunsil — dressed sharply in slacks, a matching vest and a white dress shirt — was there, flanked by coach Adam Gase and Dolphins executive Mike Tannenbaum, and he was formally introduced.
“Appreciate everyone’s patience,” Tannenbaum said. “Back here to introduce Laremy Tunsil as the next member of the Dolphins, and as we said a few minutes ago we’re really excited that Laremy’s here.
“Thought it was a great opportunity for the organization and we expect Laremy to come in and contribute. Where he plays, again as we said coach Gase will decide that, but we’re excited that Laremy’s here.”
Tunsil — who gained draft-night notoriety when a video of him smoking from a bong showed up on his Twitter account — didn’t offer much of an explanation for missing Friday’s initial press conference.
“I don’t know what happened,” he said. “I had an allergic relation. The doctor took care of me so I’m good.”
Tunsil wasn’t sure if the allergic reaction was triggered by something he ate, but he said such episodes have happened before.
Tunsil was a man of few words, sticking largely to the “I’m just happy to be here,” and “I just want to talk about football” themes.
“I’m excited to be here,” he said. “It’s a blessed opportunity to be in the NFL and just to be a part of the Miami Dolphins organization.”
Tunsil was peppered with questions regarding the alleged payment he accepted from a Mississippi football official to cover bills for his mother, something that surfaced Thursday night when someone posted screen shots from his Instagram account. He was also asked how the past 24 hours have been and whether it was his stepfather who hacked his social media accounts.
“I don’t know nothing about that, man,” Tunsil said to the latter question. “I’m here to talk about the Miami Dolphins.”
Tunsil, a mountain of a man at 6 feet 5, 310 pounds, smiled a few times and seemed to be in a good mood overall, which is a bit of a surprise considering what he’s been through.
“It’s been good to me, man,” Tunsil said. “I’m drafted, I’m in the NFL so I’m happy.”
Tunsil, regarded by some as the top player in the draft, was the No. 2 player on the Dolphins’ draft board heading in, according to general manager Chris Grier.
And Grier said “there was a big gap” between Tunsil and the next highest-rated player on the board. The bong video — which was from two years ago, and which the team was aware of previously, Grier said — played a part in Tunsil’s fall to No. 13.
“It was an opportunity for us to add a good player to our roster that we’re happy to have,” Grier said. “Some people were saying this guy was the best player in the draft. For us, it was an opportunity. We were comfortable. We’ve talked to everyone from his high school coaches, college coaches, we met with them, we had all their information on this player from February on.”
The Dolphins now have three top-tier offensive tackles — Pro Bowl left tackle Branden Albert, right tackle Ja’Wuan James (a first-round pick in 2014) and Tunsil.
Gase acknowledged that’s a “rare” situation, and added, “but we’ll make it work.”
Tunsil had his red flags.
He served a seven-game suspension last season at Ole Miss for improper benefits.
He was charged with domestic assault against his stepfather after the stepfather allegedly hit Tunsil’s mother, but the charges against Tunsil were eventually dropped.
Tunsil might have got Ole Miss into hot water on draft night when screen shots appeared on his Instagram showing him asking a school football official for money to pay some bills for his mother. Tunsil seemed to confirm in a press conference Thursday night in Chicago that money exchanged hands between himself and the Ole Miss official.
But the Dolphins think Tunsil, a two-time All-America and a top-notch prospect, is worth the risk.
Gase said he first began thinking Tunsil could fall to Dolphins around pick No. 8.
“I think it was Tennessee traded up to eight and then they didn’t take him,” the first-year head coach said. “That’s kind of when a couple of us sat up, got a little interested.”
Gase then turned to Grier and joked, “Was I yelling at you to turn the card in?”
Tannenbaum said there was no hesitation in selecting Tunsil.
“Being in the draft room all those scenarios were laid out, so when he’s there and it’s turn we were ready to go,” he said.
On Thursday night, Tunsil said he didn’t know why anyone would hack his social media accounts.
“I don’t know what’s going on,” he said. “I don’t know why they hacked my account. Hey, I’m just as clueless as you all.”
And during Friday’s press conference, Tunsil said he didn’t know, or care, whether the Dolphins planned on keeping him at left tackle for his rookie season or experimenting with him at guard.
“Like I said,” Tunsil said, “whatever position he puts me will be fine.”
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