Laremy Tunsil Misses Introductory Press Conference Due to Allergic Reaction

After missing out on his introductory press conference, offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil spoke to the media Friday.

The Miami Dolphins announced the 13th overall draft pick suffered an allergic reaction and would be unable to attend the initial introduction, per ESPN's Adam Schefter. According to NFL Network's Jeff Darlington, Miami's medical staff was tending to Tunsil at the time of the press conference, and a cause of the reaction had yet to be determined:

Tunsil said he might have eaten something that led to the problem, per Adam H. Beasley of the Miami Herald. Bleacher Report's Mike Tanier made light of the situation:

After finally taking the microphone, Tunsil danced around some of the reporters' more hard-hitting questions, per Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald:

Former NFL head coach and current NFL Network analyst Brian Billick saw Tunsil's deflection as a positive (via CollegeFootball 24/7):

Tunsil wasn't letting the crazy circumstances surrounding his draft night affect his mood either, per Salguero and Around The NFL:

The Ole Miss star was front and center in one of the strangest draft-night stories in recent memory. A video posted to Tunsil's Twitter account showed him smoking out of a bong moments before the draft began. WFAA's Mike Leslie shared a screenshot from the video:

As a result of the video, Tunsil, who was considered one of the top players available, slipped to the Dolphins near the middle of the first round.

Then, after Miami took him off the board, two images on Tunsil's Instagram account (via Busted Coverage) showed a text message exchange allegedly involving him and Ole Miss assistant athletic director John Miller. In the conversation, Tunsil asked Miller for money to help pay for his mother's home bills:

In a brief press conference Thursday night, Tunsil admitted to accepting cash from the Rebels coaching staff, per Hugh Kellenberger of the Clarion-Ledger. The MMQB's Emily Kaplan shared video from the press conference:

Darlington reported the NFL won't punish Tunsil for the bong-smoking video, which is good news for both the player and his new team.

Miami head coach Adam Gase indicated he wouldn't hesitate to play the Dolphins' newest addition right away if he's ready. "We're going to play the five best on the offensive line," he said, per the team's Twitter account.

"Whether it's guard or tackle, we'll figure out a way to get him on the field," said Gase, per Andrew Abramson of the Palm Beach Post.

"I'll play wherever they want me," Tunsil said when asked if he had experience at the guard position, per Abramson.

Tunsil said he has already been in contact with his starting quarterback, per NFL Network:

Mike Tannenbaum, the Dolphins' executive vice president of football operations, isn't scared off by Tunsil's off-field issues, and they didn't come into consideration when the team made the pick, per Abramson and NFL Network:

Seeing his draft stock tumble and answering difficult questions about improper benefits in college certainly wasn't the way the Tunsil wanted to begin his NFL career.

The 21-year-old can put most of that behind him if he steps onto the field and makes an immediate impact with the Dolphins.