BREAKING NEWS: Miami Dolphins and OT Jake Long have reached an agreement

[DolFan619]

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

Sources: Dolphins agree to deal Long, will select OT No. 1 overall

ESPN.com news services
Updated: April 22, 2008, 12:53 PM ET

The Miami Dolphins have reached a contract agreement with Michigan offensive tackle Jake Long, sources told ESPN's Chris Mortensen. The announcement will come at a 1:45 p.m. news conference.

The NFL draft is April 26 and 27 on ESPN, starting at 3 p.m. ET. For updated coverage, bookmark our Draft Central page. Index

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.

[stinkfish]

This is the right thing to do. It's not sexy, but it's what we need.

[Dave Gray]

If things work out with this guy, it might not sell a lot of jerseys or put butts in the seats, but we'll be thankful in 10 years when he's still on the team.

[DolFan619]

  Per Adam Schefter of NFL Network the deal is five years, $57.5 million dollars, with $30 million guaranteed.

[Sunstroke]

I swear, I am dancing a freakin' happy dance around my desk right now...

GREAT PICK, MIAMI!!
Woo-hoo!!

[bsfins]

Question...I thought it alittle odd..just only a 5 year deal and not a 6 year deal...

Do you guy's think that's because of the Possible opting out of the CBA in November,possible player lock out in 2011?

Roughly I suck at math...9.5 million a year 6 year deal...11 million deal at 5 years....(I know it will break down differently)

P.S. Yeah! I'm happy we signed him

[Fau Teixeira]

well, this is good news, yay !

[Dave Gray]

I can't help but find this kinda anti-climactic.

I wish this stuff would just be announced at the draft.

[stinkfish]

I can't help but find this kinda anti-climactic.

I wish this stuff would just be announced at the draft.

I agree. I like surprises

[DolFan619]

  It does take away some of the drama before the Draft, but I would rather have this deal done now, than later.

[Philly Fin Fan]

  It does take away some of the drama before the Draft, but I would rather have this deal done now, than later.

I agree. I'd hate to see a long holdout that goes on and on, and makes animosity towards the player grow.

[JVides]

Woo Hoo!  Happy times, Miami now has bookend tackles!  I really like this pick.  It is a little anti-climactic, but knowing there won't be a long holdout by the 'Fins # 1 pick is nice.

[DolFan619]

I agree. I'd hate to see a long holdout that goes on and on, and makes animosity towards the player grow.

  Another great thing about this deal, is that it's less than what last year's number one overall pick got.

[Sunstroke]

I like surprises in some things... When it's my birthday and someone gets me a cool present, or the hot chick down the block gets a new tongue-ring, great! Surprise me then. When it comes to the rebuilding of the Dolphins, I am just happy to see the right decision made, and then executed. It's been a while since we've seen a lot of that around here.

[Dave Gray]

I am glad that we can get him signed.  I think this is a new trend in the NFL -- getting the first pick locked up early, early, early.  I don't want anyone hanging around in contract negotiations, that's for sure.