Miami Dolphins T Laremy Tunsil has allergic reaction, then offers little reaction

Miami Dolphins first-round draft pick Laremy Tunsil missed an introductory press conference early Friday with a medical condition and later had little to say when did meet with reporters.

The Ole Miss offensive tackle slipped to No. 13 in the NFL Draft on Thursday night amid a series of social media posts on allegedly hacked accounts belonging to him. But he wasn't interested in discussing that topic in a late-afternoon press conference in Miami.

"I'm just excited to be part of this organization," Tunsil said in response to one query about his character.

All of his answers were brief and he reiterated several times that he was only at the press conference to talk about the Miami Dolphins.

"It's just a blessing to be part of this organization," Tunsil said.

Tunsil made it to South Florida from the draft in Chicago and suffered an unknown medical reaction, Dolphins executive vice president of football operations Mike Tannenbaum and head coach Adam Gase said.

"Unfortunately, Laremy had an allergic reaction this afternoon, so right now he's with our medical staff and hopefully it's just a quick, short-term thing," Tannenbaum said at the press conference Tunsil missed.

At the time, Tannenbaum said that Tunsil had been "in the building for a number of hours."

Later, Tunsil was asked what had transpired.

"I don't know what happened," Tunsil said. "I just had an allergic reaction."

Tunsil spoke at a news conference after he was taken by the Dolphins on Thursday night after the alleged hack of his Instagram and Twitter accounts.

Tunsil tumbled to the Dolphins after a video appeared on his Twitter account just minutes before the start of the draft showing him smoking marijuana through a bong while wearing a gas mask.

"It was a mistake. It happened years ago," Tunsil told the NFL Network of the video. "Someone hacked my Twitter account. It's a crazy world, things happen for a reason. I'm glad to be in Miami."

In addition to the video, Tunsil was asked about screenshots of a text conversation he allegedly had with Ole Miss director of football operations John Miller in which Tunsil asked for money.

"I made a mistake. That happened," Tunsil said.

When asked if that meant he had taken money from a coach, Tunsil said, "I'd have to say yeah."

Tunsil was less than forthcoming when he was asked about the situation during the press conference.

"I'm here to talk about the Miami Dolphins," Tunsil said.

Exactly how old the gas mask video is could determine whether Tunsil is subject to the NFL's substance abuse policy, according to ESPN.com. He wouldn't face any discipline if he entered Stage 1 of the drug program, but a second violation in the ensuing 90 days would trigger a fine worth three games' pay and make him subject to suspension for a third violation.

The NCAA launched an investigation into improper benefits after Tunsil and his stepfather, Lindsey Miller, filed domestic charges against each other last year.

Miller's attorney, Matthew Wilson, told ESPN on Friday that his client was not responsible for leaking the video of Tunsil on Twitter before it was deleted.

Character questions swirled around Tunsil even before the social media leaks.

"Our area scout felt good about his character," Tannenbaum said. "Obviously there are some mistakes he made in his past, but we were comfortable with that. All the research we had done, we were very comfortable with his character. The decision was made by the entire organization, including Steve Ross our owner, and we are very comfortable with Laremy the player and the person."

Tannenbaum was pressed on the organization's pledge to bring in high character players after drafting Laremy Tunsil.

"We remain committed to that," Tannenbaum said. "All the decision-makers were in the room last night, and we feel good about Laremy as a player and a person. Obviously there have been some bumps in the road, but we're comfortable with that. Moving forward, we're excited he's here and think he has a bright future on the field as well as off."

The Dolphins expect Tunsil to be ready for rookie minicamp next week.

"We're comfortable with his eligibility," Tannenbaum said.