The Miami Dolphins began their Laremy Tunsil introductory news conference Friday with one conspicuous absence -- Laremy Tunsil.
Tunsil, the 13th overall pick currently mired in controversy after his social media accounts were mysteriously hacked on draft night, was not seated with coach Adam Gase, vice president Mike Tannenbaum or general manager Chris Grier in front of a packed house at team headquarters. Instead, Tannenbaum explained that Tunsil had suffered "an allergic reaction" and was with team medical staff.
Approximately 30 minutes after the session ended, the Dolphins hosted a second availability, this time with Tunsil, who looked no worse for the wear. Tunsil spoke with reporters for five minutes and deflected any questions about the events that led to his arrival in Miami.
"They gave me a chance and I'll show them why I'm the best player in the draft," Tunsil said.
The news conference was the latest odd twist of events involving Tunsil, whose life got turned upside down when a unauthorized video of Tunsil -- then a student-athlete at Ole Miss -- was posted to Twitter showing him smoking what appeared to be marijuana out of a gas mask. Later Thursday, Tunsil's Instagram account was hacked to reveal private text conversations about potentially illicit financial assistance from an Ole Miss assistant athletic director.
"We looked at the entire body of work," Tannenbaum said of the selection. "The person, going all the way back to high school. We were familiar with all of the information. We were comfortable making the decision that at 13 he was available, we were very excited and we were very comfortable with him and his character, his work ethic. Obviously, we were familiar with the video but for us it was still the decision we felt was right for us."
Gase said the Dolphins will "play the best five" along the offensive line, but conceded the team will find a way to get Tunsil on the field at either guard or tackle. Grier said "there was a big gap" between Tunsil and the next highest-rated player on Miami's draft board.
"This was a guy that we felt like was one of the better players in this draft class, if not the best guy," Gase said. "For him to fall to us at 13, it was a no-brainer."
If Friday's news conference performance is any indication, Tunsil is a player who can be effectively coached up.
