NFL says Laremy Tunsil will have evaluation for drug program
The social media fiascos that struck offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil on draft day may have contributed to a surprising fall in the draft, and it sure seemed like an embarrassment that will be remembered for a long time.
And that’s not all.
Because the infamous video showed Tunsil taking a bong hit, it has drawn the attention of the NFL. There was a report that said Tunsil would start his career with a clean slate in the NFL’s substance abuse program, but the league told USA Today on Tuesday that isn’t necessarily the case. Tunsil will have to be evaluated by clinical professionals before any determination on his inclusion in the drug program is made, USA Today’s Tom Pelissero reported.
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Tunsil, who was considered a possibility for the first overall pick early in the offseason, slipped to No. 13. The Miami Dolphins selected him there. Tunsil met with the media after the draft at Dolphins headquarters and refused to talk about what happened to him on draft day.
Here’s what NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said in an email to USA Today:
“Any incoming player with behavior or conduct involving a substance of abuse will be evaluated by the program’s advisors. Those clinical professionals – not the club, league or union – will determine whether based on that evaluation the player should be entered into the program. Neither the club nor the league has a role in that process, and are not notified of their decision.”
If Tunsil is put in Stage 1 of the substance abuse program after that evaluation, it won’t mean a suspension. Players in Stage 1 of the program are given a treatment plan and subject to additional testing. A failed test or failure to comply in Stage 1 could lead to being moved to Stage 2, in which a positive test could result in a suspension.
Even if Tunsil is cleared after being evaluated by clinical professionals, it’s yet another reminder that the entire crazy episode with Tunsil didn’t just go away once he was picked.
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Frank Schwab is the editor of Shutdown Corner on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter! Follow @YahooSchwab
