PETER KING Monday Morning QB Item three: Miami is negotiating with one player right now -- Michigan tackle Jake Long. There is a deadline, yes; I don't know what it is. But if Long doesn't agree to a deal -- think of something less than the six-year, $62-million deal ($31 million guaranteed) signed by JaMarcus Russell last year -- Parcells will move to his next guy. My educated guess -- which an NFL front-office acquaintance of Parcells seems sure of -- is that the next candidate will be Gholston, the Ohio State defensive end. If this were Parcells, acting alone, I think he'd try to break the first-round-rookie salary scale, because he doesn't care if some 22-year-old rich kid holds out and holds press conferences about how a team is ripping him off. But this is different. The Dolphins are so down and out right now, with a new owner, GM and coach -- and a community that can't stomach much more bad news regarding the team. So Parcells, I believe, will take a small victory if he can engineer it, the victory of paying this year's first pick less than the first pick earned last year. good read LINK to rest of story http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/writers/peter_king/04/14/draft/index.html
I don't know if Gholston is next, a few places I see are reporting his stock taking a hit lately, here's one link: http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php?t=399407 Personally I hope not, but I'll have to trust the FO, I'm pretty sure they know more about this than I do. But whoever it ends up as the pick, get'em signed and in camp on time, let's get the new Fins team rolling!
I'm still of the opinion that the negotiations are not taking place in good faith; that is, Parcells intends to arrive on a low-end deal with Jake Long, then take that deal to Chris Long and say "If you go X percent below this, we'll draft you." It's one thing to be fiscally responsible, but Billy P needs to be careful not to wind up alienating the guy he wants to draft.
It's funny you mention this scenario. In Omar's blog today, in the comments section, here's a Q&A about Chris Long. omar why chris long stock in your opinion is dropping since the dolphins are not even in talks with him ??????????,, Posted by: elias | April 14, 2008 at 09:56 AM Maybe it's strategy, but I can't say for sure. I'd just be guessing, but I've heard everything from they don't really like him, and never have.....to he's the top choice, they are just waiting to have a framework deal in place for their second choice. Posted by: omar | April 14, 2008 at 10:01 AM
How does Peter King know whether Jake Long has actually been offered a deal, what the $$$ amount is, or whether or not Jake is happy about it? Peter doesn't know Jack....he is speculating like everyone else. I could say Jake has gotten a deal he is happy with and has already signed on the dotted line, and my guess would be as good as his.
