Laremy Tunsil's stepfather denies posting bizarre gas mask video
A video showing Laremy Tunsil smoking marijuana through a gas mask was the story of the draft but Tunsil's stepfather says he had nothing to do with it.
By
Ryan Wilson
•
2 min read
When a video showing Laremy Tunsil smoking marijuana through a gas mask appeared on his Twitter feed minutes before the start of the 2016 NFL Draft, we had every reason to believe that -- perhaps for the first time ever -- Tunsil's account had been hacked.
Speculation immediately turned to Tunsil's stepfather, Lindsey Miller, who has sued Tunsil several times in recent years, most recently earlier this week. But Miller told TMZ.com he had nothing to do with Tunsil's social media accounts.
"I don't know nothing about no video," he said. "I'm not even watching the draft."
Miller, who said he was upset by the accusations, added, "I was a Red Cross volunteer of the year. I would never do anything like this."
Meanwhile, Deadspin reported Friday morning an anonymous tipster had been trying to sell the Tunsil video for several weeks leading up to the draft.
As for Tunsil and Miller, in the latest suit, Miller alleges that Tunsil attacked him last June and that Tunsil defamed Miller's character. The lawsuit also alleges that these two things were an “intentional infliction of emotional distress.”
Tunsil was arrested last June for punching Miller. At the time, Tunsil said he struck Miller while defending his mother. Tunsil alleged that Miller had shoved her. Miller claimed that the altercation stemmed from an argument he had with Tunsil's mother about Tunsil "riding around with football agents."
Miller's remarks led to a meeting with the NCAA a week later to discuss any possible rules violations.
Fast-forward to Thursday night, and Tunsil arrived at the draft with plenty of baggage. And then the video went live and he went from a top-5 pick to out of the top-10, to lasting until 13th, when the Dolphins finally selected him.
"Man, it was a mistake," Tunsil said moments after he was drafted. "It happened years ago. Someone hacked my Twitter account. I don't know who it was. I'm going to show everyone what type of person I am. Things happen for a reason and I'm glad to be here."
The draft slide cost Tunsil more than $8 million, though the Dolphins seemed quite happy to land the left tackle.
"We're excited to have Laremy on our roster," general manager Chris Grier said. "We're very comfortable with all the information we have on the situation. We've done a lot of work. We spent time with him at the combine. He's got personality tests, all the stuff we do. He loves football at the end of the day."
And while ESPN NFL analyst and former Super Bowl-winning Jon Gruden had a simple message for all young players -- "Put away your Twitter accounts" -- NFL commissioner Roger Goodell called Tunsil's draft-day slide exciting.
“I think it's all part of what makes the draft so exciting,” Goodell said Friday during an appearance on Mike & Mike. “Clubs make decisions. Sometimes they take risks. Sometimes they do the right things. Sometimes they don't, and we'll see. Hopefully he is going to turn out to be a great young player.”
