Report: Tunsil’s reps investigating ex-adviser in hacking
Published 12:02 pm Thursday, May 5, 2016
Laremy Tunsil’s representatives are looking into someone they believe may be responsible for the hacking of the former Ole Miss offensive tackle’s social media accounts that eventually led to him slipping out of the top 10 picks of this year’s NFL Draft, according to ESPN.
The network reported Tunsil’s attorneys and agent are investigating his relationship with a former business manager and financial adviser to see if that person had any role in posting a video to Tunsil’s Twitter account shortly before the draft started Thursday of Tunsil smoking a bong through a gas mask. Screenshots of an alleged text conversation between Tunsil and Ole Miss assistant athletic director John Miller in which Tunsil asked for money for rent and family bills later appeared on the Instagram account of Tunsil, who was taken by the Miami Dolphins with the 13th overall pick after widely being projected to go in the top 5.
Tunsil hired an unidentified man to work as his business manager and financial consultant in mid-October, according to the report, which cited anonymous sources. The man set up agents’ meetings with Tunsil and his mother, Desiree, but Tunsil fired him after learning from other agents that the man wasn’t licensed or registered but was rather a runner, according to the report.
A runner is someone who offers money to players to try to persuade them to sign with an agent or adviser with whom the runner is working. Sources told ESPN the man gave Tunsil a new cell phone prior to being fired and that those close to Tunsil believe the man may have accessed the social media accounts through Tunsil’s old phone.
Mississippi lawyer Steve Farese, who represents Tunsil, told ESPN it will be up to Tunsil whether to pursue criminal charges or a lawsuit against whomever is ultimately found to be responsible for the hacks. A message recently left for Farese by the EAGLE has not been returned.
Tunsi’s slide outside the top 10 will cost him millions in his first NFL contract, which are four years in length for all rookies. Projected to possibly be the top overall pick before the Los Angeles Rams traded for it to take California quarterback Jared Goff, Tunsil will make $12,457,650 over those four years, according to overthecap.com, which is roughly $15 million less than Goff ($27,937,672) and almost $3 million less than New York Giants cornerback Eli Apple ($15,152,320), who was taken 10th overall.
Tunsil was suspended the first seven games of last season after an NCAA investigation found he received extra impermissible benefits, including the free use of three loaner cars and an interest-free loan on a down payment for a car.