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http://blogs.nbcsports.com/home/archives/2008/04/long-long-day-at-the-top.html

Long, Long Day At The Top?

Posted by Tom Curran: Monday, April 21, 2008 10:39 AM

The Dolphins flirtations with Michigan tackle Jake Long over the past few weeks have been well-publicized  but this morning, with six days to go before the draft, a league source is indicating that a contract agreement is nearly in place.

Word that Miami initiated talks with Long's agent, Tom Condon, surfaced almost two weeks ago. Condon actually was in South Florida to meet with Dolphins officials. Miami's also made overtures toward Vernon Gholston but little other progress has been mentioned.

Meanwhile, with Jake Long off the board, the St. Louis Rams are a lock to go with defense at No. 2 and, according to the same league source, the camp of Virginia defensive end Chris Long is very confident that's where he'll be headed.

They're taking Jake ... no Chris ... no Jake.  The draft can't get here fast enough for me.   

I had started to give up hope after that Freudian slip, but this news fills me with extreme football joy... C'mon, Jake...sign that deal!!


It won't be Long now...

I mean it will, but soon...

As much as the Dolphins are trying to hide who they are actually taking what would be the hurry of us signing him before the draft? It's ridiculous- they are not signing him before the draft- and I don't think they're going to take him at all

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/dolphins/content/sports/epaper/2008/04/21/0421dolphins.html

Source: Dolphins closing in on deal with Jake Long

By Tim Graham
Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

Monday, April 21, 2008

The Dolphins are close enough in pre-draft negotiations with Michigan offensive tackle Jake Long that a finalized contract could be announced any day, an NFL source told The Palm Beach Post today.

The source said "there's a very good chance" Long already will be under contract as the No. 1 pick before the NFL Draft begins at 3 p.m. Saturday at Radio City Music Hall in New York.

The source dismissed prior reports that the Dolphins had issued a deadline for Long to sign so that they could move on to negotiate with other possible candidates if necessary. The source also said the Dolphins have not negotiated with any other players.

The Dolphins declined to comment. A call to Long's agent, Tom Condon, was not immediately returned.

Condon belongs to the powerful Creative Arts Agency firm, which also represents Ohio State defensive end Vernon Gholston and Boston College quarterback Matt Ryan, giving CAA three of the six players the NFL invited to be in attendance at the draft.

The other top prospects invited are Virginia defensive end Chris Long, Louisiana State defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey and Arkansas running back Darren McFadden.

Jake Long, asked at the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis about the possibility of playing for the Dolphins, said "it would be an honor."

Long, 6-foot-7 and 313 pounds, might be the safest pick in the draft, and the Dolphins could use a tackle.

"They would get a hard-working, passionate player," Jake Long said. "Someone that comes to work and gives 100 percent every single day and has a true passion and love for the game."

He is the top player in a deep pool that may contain several franchise tackles. The two-time Wolverine captain was the fourth player in Big Ten history to be named the conference's offensive lineman of the year consecutive seasons.

Long's 37 bench press reps at the combine were matched only by Gholston. Long allowed only one sack last year (to Gholston) and two over his college career.

The Dolphins have huge holes on their offensive line and have a vacant tackle spot. Jake Long's presence would allow left tackle Vernon Carey to move back to the right side. Carey, the 19th overall pick in 2004, played on the right side his first three seasons with the Dolphins.

Teams that are on the clock have the ability to negotiate with players before they draft them.

If the Dolphins were to sign someone before the draft begins, then the St. Louis Rams, who hold the second selection, would have the opportunity to negotiate with whomever they want.

the only reason why the dolphins are trying desperately to sign someone pre-draft is to roll back the contract for #1 overall to pre-jamarcus russell numbers. that's it...

i think jake long is a stud, but at the end of the day, the phins are trying to get an impact player and save some bucks. this team has tons of holes to fill so the more money they can save the better. jake isn't going to sign a low ball contract, and i can see the #1 pick ending up being vernon gholston from ohio state.

This is very good news.  Hopefully they can work out a deal before the draft begins. 

Remember, QB's are at a premium, so Jamarcus Russell's contract should not be figured into this.  A more realistic measuring stick is Joe Thomas's contract. 

Out of curiosity, I wonder what would happen if Jake Long signs a contract with the Dolphins, then they pick someone else #1 overall?

While not one of this board's attorney fraternity, I'd think the short answer would be "breach of contract," but the correct answer would probably be "it depends entirely on the exact wording of the contract."

I love the idea of having no chance of a hold out with the number one overall pick,and he'll be there for all the mini camps,and training camp....Now with my luck our first pick in the second round (the 32 overall) will hold out for first round money....

It's not unheard of for the #1 pick to be signed before the draft. Houston did it with Mario Williams two years ago. And considering what happened last year between the Raiders and JaMarcus Russel, there's every reason to believe Miami will try to get the pick signed before the draft.

^^ Wasn't David Carr also signed before the draft also....

Can't we still choose someone else? I mean ... they can't actually sign until after the draft, correct?

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/draft08/news/story?id=3358424 (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/draft08/news/story?id=3358424)

Sources: Dolphins agree to deal with Long, will select OT No. 1 overall
ESPN.com news services

Updated: April 22, 2008, 1:10 PM ET

McShay Scouting Report: Jake LongThe Miami Dolphins have reached a contract agreement with Michigan offensive tackle Jake Long and will select him with the No. 1 overall pick in Saturday's draft, sources told ESPN's Chris Mortensen.

The announcement will come at a 1:45 p.m. ET news conference.


Despite speculation that Dolphins vice president of football operations Bill Parcells really had planned to select Ohio State defensive end Vernon Gholston or Virginia defensive end Chris Long, sources told ESPN's Michael Smith that since the Dolphins opened negotiations with Jake Long they were talking to him exclusively.

Long, a 6-foot-7, 313-pound senior who moved to left tackle in 2006 and started his final 26 games, was an All-America selection and Big Ten lineman of the year in each of his last two seasons.

Offensive line is considered the biggest need for the Dolphins, who went 1-15 last year.

^^^ Please see if something is already posted before posting something....