Laremy Tunsil’s Request for Help for His Mom Proves He’s a Stand-Up Guy, Not a Character Flaw

Laremy Tunsil had the most difficult first night of the NFL draft (with Johnny Manziel in second) after his Twitter and Instagram accounts were hacked.

Twitter showed him smoking what appeared to be marijuana out of a gas-mask bong. Instagram showed conversations that appeared to happen via text with him and John Miller, a member of the Ole Miss athletic department. In them, Tunsil asks for money to help pay his mother’s bills and his own rent.

Video posted on Laremy Tunsil's Twitter during the NFL draft could cost him  millions | Daily Mail Online

laremy

laremy2

laremy2Tunsil, having gone through an unfathomable swing in which he lost around $10 million dollars by sliding out of the top 10 (if not top 5) before being selected at No. 13 by the Miami Dolphins, admitted to taking  money while in school during a brief, painful press conference.

Laremy Tunsil Is Over the Gas Mask Incident. Why Isn't Everybody Else?

This is an NCAA violation. Players can’t be paid. They’re now able to receive a stipend to cover the full cost of attendance, but that amounts to around $5,000 at Ole Miss.

Of course Tunsil more than earned the extra he sought: he allowed two sacks in three years at an SEC school where the head coach makes $4.3 million a year and the assistants earn another $3 million. The Rebels’ football program generated $54 million in revenue in 2014-15.

The most jarring part of the night was not the revelation that college kids smoke weed and film themselves, or that those from poor broken families often need money and see fit to ask for a small piece of the largesse that surrounds them. It was, instead, how calmly Tunsil dealt with this. How open he was. Yes, his camp tried to say the video was years old, but that was about as far as the cover-up attempt went.

(Justin Ford-USA TODAY Sports)

(Justin Ford-USA TODAY Sports)

Faced with not one but two scandals on what should have been the best night of his life, Tunsil shrugged. Yes, he smoked weed in college. Yes, he thought he should be entitled to more of the money he helped generate. Now let’s go get that Super Bowl.

Tunsil tried to sound reticent and said he was sorry. He said he had made mistakes. But his demeanor made it clear: He did not regret what he had done. Nor should he. I wonder how many other players picked last night would do the same if suddenly confronted with their supposed sins? How many of them would rightly say the code they’re asked to abide by is unfair?

Amateurism has been a sham from the beginning, but it’s taken a long time for the players to become enlightened. They have to play by the rules if they want to reach draft night, and they have to appear to stay in line if they want to avoid being given the “character concern” label.

With every Cardale Jones outburst or pithy tweet from Eli Apple’s mom or Tunsil tossing aside the indignation over some payments that are hardly unusual and completely fair, though, we get closer to the day that the system falls apart and is replaced by one that more fairly compensates its laborers.

Related Posts

Randi Mahomes Reflects on Motherhood: Being a ‘Young’ Mom to Patrick Helped Me Grow in the Best Way

Before Patrick Mahomes was an NFL star, his mom, Randi Mahomes, was a young mom with a lot on her plate. Now, she’s reflecting on her journey raising the Kansas City Chiefs quarterback…

Read more

Travis Kelce’s Custom University of Cincinnati Jerseys for Taylor Swift and Brother Jason Allegedly Spoiled by Store Employee on Facebook

Taylor Swift never attended college, so her boyfriend Travis Kelce is happily bringing her into the University of Cincinnati family. The Kansas City Chiefs tight end and UC alum reportedly had custom Bearcats basketball jerseys…

Read more

Dak Prescott Faces Backlash as Fans Slam His Lavish Engagement Ring Choice

21/10/2024 – 17:31 CDT Dak Prescott, the star quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys, might have thought he was sharing a joyful moment with his fans, but things quickly took a sour turn. When Prescott revealed his engagement to longtime girlfriend Sarah …

Read more

Inside Dak Prescott’s Fiancée Sarah Jane’s 10-Carat Diamond Ring Worth More Than Brock Purdy’s $985K Salary

Dak Prescott spent the Dallas Cowboys bye week celebrating with his now-fiancée Sarah Jane Ramos. The quarterback announced his engagement in an Instagram post over the weekend. Prescott proposed while the couple was playng a round of golf, with photos …

Read more

𝗕𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗞𝗜𝗡𝗚: Jerry Jones Shares Key Update on Mike McCarthy’s Job Status

Mike McCarthy entered the 2024-25 NFL season leading the Dallas Cowboys to three consecutive 12-win seasons, but with the head coach in a contract year, there was some question on whether he could be on a short leash. Jerry Jones rarely fires a coach …

Read more

Florida, Beware: Amendment 4 Isn’t What It Seems – It’s Far Too Extreme

By Nancy Flanders The San Francisco 49ers went head-to-head with the Kansas City Chiefs last night in Las Vegas for Super Bowl LVIII, and on the field playing for the 49ers will be linebacker Dre Greenlaw. Dre recently gave a shoutout to his parents, …

Read more

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *