Last Thursday night, the NFL draft narrative was dominated by the release on social media of two stories about Ole Miss standout Laremy Tunsil. Minutes before the draft officially commenced, a tweet of Tunsil smoking weed surfaced on the internet. Later that evening, an Instagram post included text messages in which Tunsil asks for money first to pay his rent and second to help his mother with her utility bills.

Throughout the evening sports analysts suggested this lapse of character had cost Tunsil millions of dollars as he slipped from a predicted sixth overall pick in the draft to thirteenth. Lapse of character? Maybe a lapse of judgment for not complying with the archaic and unfair restraints on college athletes who generate billions of dollars for the NCAA, their universities and their conferences. In fact, I would suggest Tunsil showed more character than his coaches, the NFL, pro team owners who bypassed him in the draft and the sports reporters who were quick to question his character.

Compare Tunsil to other players in similar situations. First, he did not deny the situation or hide behind vague statements. When asked during a press conference, did he take money from a coach, he replied, “I’d have to say yeah.” Additionally, on the second occasion he asked for money, it was not so he could finance another keg party or pay for one more tattoo. He wanted to make sure his mother had electricity and water.

Finally, when are we going to ask NCAA officials, college coaches, NFL owners/general managers and sports reporters if they ever smoked pot? And if so, do they feel like they lack character? I think we know the answer.  Laremy Tunsil is 21 years old. He makes errors of judgement as we all do. Probably the worst was letting someone create a video of the gas mask bong incident. He cared about his mother’s well-being at his own risk. This latter situation suggests he cares about others more than himself. That’s someone I WANT on my team.

Kudos to the Miami Dolphins for ignoring the hype and giving this young man a chance. My money is on Tunsil to prove them right.

For what it’s worth.
Dr. ESP