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Dolphins to make Jake Long draft's top pick
Miami gets its man
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The Miami Dolphins will make Jake Long the top pick in this year's NFL Draft. Jay Glazer gives you .Michigan offensive lineman Jake Long and the Miami Dolphins have agreed to terms on a six-year deal. The deal, to be voided after five years, is worth $30 million guaranteed and has a total value of $57 million over five years, FOXSports.com has learned.
"It's such a great honor to be the No. 1 pick," Long said. "I'm real glad we got the contract done so I don't have to worry about any of that."
Long was a two-time All-American at Michigan and was twice named Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year.
The Dolphins were interested in trading the top choice. When no suitors surfaced, they decided to sign Long and avoid a possible holdout. Last year's first pick, JaMarcus Russell, missed all of training camp before signing a $61 million contract with the Oakland Raiders.
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The new Dolphins regime led by Bill Parcells began negotiations last week with Long's agent, Tom Condon.
"Jake was our guy from the beginning," general manager Jeff Ireland said. "Jake Long was on the top of our board for a long time. There wasn't a whole lot of debate. We thought it was a very good fit with the Miami Dolphins."
The Dolphins said they didn't begin contract talks with any player other than Long.
"It was a very straightforward negotiation," Condon said. "They didn't leverage us with other players, and we didn't tell them we wanted to be on some different team or any of those kinds of things."
Reaching an agreement before the draft isn't unprecedented. The Houston Texans signed defensive end Mario Williams as their No. 1 pick on the eve of the 2006 draft.
Condon said there's enough time for the Rams to reach a contract deal with a prospect before they make the second pick in the draft Saturday.
"My understanding is St. Louis is on the clock," Condon said with a smile.
Offensive line is considered the biggest need for the Dolphins, who went 1-15 last year, and new Miami coach Tony Sparano coached the offensive line with the Dallas Cowboys.
The only other offensive lineman to be taken with the No. 1 pick since 1970 was Ohio State tackle Orlando Pace, who made the Pro Bowl seven consecutive times after joining the Rams in 1997.
The Dolphins would be thrilled with a comparable achievement by the 6-foot-7, 315-pound Long, who is expected to play left tackle.
"Jake has all the qualities we're looking for in our linemen," Sparano said. "He's very tough, smart and disciplined. Those are the people we want to surround ourselves with here."
Long started 40 games at Michigan and was Big Ten offensive lineman of the year in 2006 and 2007. He finished second to LSU defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey in balloting last season for the Lombardi and Outland trophies.
The Dolphins decided to use the top pick on offense rather than take Dorsey, Virginia defensive end Chris Long or Ohio State linebacker Vernon Gholston. It turns out Ireland's comment last week about drafting "a pillar of your defense" was a slip of the tongue — or a smoke screen.
"That's for me to know, and you to guess about," Ireland said with a smile.
Miami has eight other picks and four of the first 64.
Long gave up just two sacks and was called for only two penalties in his entire college career. He joined Pace, Michigan State's Tony Mandarich and Ohio State's Korey Stringer as the only Big Ten linemen to be selected the conference's best in consecutive seasons.
Long's toughest challenge came off the field on the night the Detroit Pistons won the 2004 NBA title. The off-campus house he was living in caught fire and the only way out of his second-floor room, which was filled with smoke, was through a window. He kicked out the screen and belly-flopped on his buddy's Bronco.
Long suffered a sore shoulder from his fall onto a truck, and smoke inhalation landed him in the hospital for a week. He made a full recovery.
During his sophomore season, he missed the first seven games with an ankle injury. Long weighed 335 pounds as Michigan slumped to a 7-5 record that was so startling, it motivated the entire team to get into better shape, including its star tackle. Long lost 20 pounds and kept the weight off the next two seasons.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Member Comments
finns still need a quarterback. Why not trade for one. Send Taylor, another player and a draft choice for a q.b.Jake Long was an okay choice but I think again Chris LOng will be in the Probowl long before Jake ever is. The money they are paying Jake is way out of line.....I hope he's worth every dollar of it.
abele4/26/2008 11:26:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
I don't know about you fin fans but I am worried. Ithought for sure that Parcells would move this pick and pull off something similar to what he did with America's team. An O-lineman #1!! How long(no pun intended) will Jake's developmwnt take?? I will make a bold prediction. Chris Long(DE) will see a Pro Bowl before Jake the Snake.
jeffy_boy4/25/2008 14:25:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
who would want the 1st overall anymore? 30 mil guaranteed? thats obnoxious. the dolphins are on the fast track to LA
Torr584/25/2008 12:18:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
ARGGGGGHHHH, I was so upset when Miami wasted $$$ on washed up fuktard Culpepper, now I can honestly give up on the mand find a new team. I hate you Parcells!!!...I saw this news on '++RichMatchMaking.com++ It is a FREE and HOT celebrity dating site who is open to all quality singles. I have seen several athletes dating there. Check it out!
playboy.524/24/2008 16:47:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
Long was the smart play here. Look for the fins to move back into the late picks of the first round for defensive end by trading Jason Taylor -- Zach and JT in Dallas could work as well as san diego where he could team up with merriman and be close to hwood!
pancanfinfan4/24/2008 16:29:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
Tigsfan, only speaking for myself, that is a lot of money to spend on an O-lineman. Doesn't matter if he is the greatest man on earth as reported. Russell's a QB and while ALL of the rookies are overrated, he will have more impact on the game than Long. Not because of his race, that is what people like you normally target.
4/24/2008 7:58:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
Samcolts-<br />Ron Yary:<br />#1 overall pick in 1968<br />O Tackle 1968-1982<br />Eight Time All Pro <br />Seven straight Pro Bowls<br />1970s All Decade team<br />College Football Hall of Fame<br />NFL Hall of Fame 2001<br /><br />He had a OK career
SDPR4/23/2008 12:52:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
The big Tuna is doing exactly the right thing with this pick. He is beginning the proces of rebuilding. Any Doll Finn fans should prepare to see a bunch of bye bye's to some longtime fishes, and a bunch of new faces around. The Tuna is rebuilding the whole house, and he is starting with the foundation. It dosen't matter what QB you have, nobody can complete passes while laying on their back. And no RB can make any yards when all they see is the other teams jerseys when they have the ball handed to them.
killemall4/23/2008 8:00:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
I imagine for the last four years you were a Pats. fan until, um ohh.. I don't know. Maybe about the second week in february of this year when you realised you have always been a Giants fan.
killemall4/23/2008 7:56:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
And I'm sure the rest of the Dolly fans are quite happy to see another bandwagon fan go away.
killemall4/23/2008 7:53:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
Hey Locutor: Which extremly inteligent single pick would you make that would turn the Doll Fins around?
killemall4/23/2008 7:52:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
Dear Joe Thomas. Thanks for looking so good for the Browns last year. You just got me paid.<br />Love,<br />Jake Long
Brownsmattt4/23/2008 6:27:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
I am glad that the Dolphins got there man, not a bad pick at all.<br /><br />But now that St Louis is on the clock, the NFL NEEDS to allow them to start negotiating with there pick. No need to wait, for saturday, lets get this draft going.
UFgreat_FSUgarbage4/23/2008 6:17:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
Great pick by Dolphins C. Lomg or Gholston wouldn't have been bad either. McFadden or Ryan would have been major blunders.
Beachboy4/23/2008 6:02:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
Wow, I can't believe they can pick this early!
wimmer33fan4/23/2008 5:43:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
i thought that they werent even supposed to make a announcement with there first pick until the day of the draft?!?!...... jake long is really good i seen him play a few michigan wolverine games when it was tved on tv ESPECIALLY the ohio state vs um. i think that the fish need help with alot of there positions, but this is a start.
steelerfan814/23/2008 4:37:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
I read this news on the forum page of the tall dating site for tall models and sports stars---Tallchat--co m.
tallsssssemo1594/23/2008 2:34:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
I am speechless, an OL with the first pick! I wanna die.
idiotshangthemselves4/23/2008 0:46:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
ARGGGGGHHHH, I was so upset when Miami wasted $$$ on washed up fuktard Culpepper, now I can honestly give up on the mand find a new team. I hate you Parcells!!!
idiotshangthemselves4/23/2008 0:45:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
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