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. http://blogs.nbcsports.com/home/archives/2008/04/long-long-day-at-the-top.html http://www.palmbeachpost.com/dolphi...0421dolphins.html?cxtype=rss&cxsvc=7&cxcat=46 Palmbeachpost is now reporting this as well. "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."
Rotoworld is also reporting the same thing and using the same source http://www.rotoworld.com/content/Home_NFL.aspx?rwr=1
A league source? Not a source from the agent's camp or the Dolphins? I'm still kinda sketchy on this report until something a bit firmer comes out. Heck, we all still have to wait until 3pm Saturday to make sure even then.
What's the name of that movie again? Oh, I know. "What's the worst that can happen?" Yeah, here it is.
'League source' could be Condon. Or Jeff Ireland. I've seen 'league source' end up being a head coach of the team involved. Just depends on how the author wants to do it and how much protection he wants to give his source.
Good news. Is he going to be signed or are they simply going to have an agreement in place? Oh wait and that same league source is saying that Chris Long is going to the Rams? What kind of league source has info on both teams? Sounds like an agent
Though I would rather have Chris Long. I would like to see Jake signed. It would be great if it was for less than what last years number one got. Still hope we can trade out of the pick if this isnt true.
I don't think he can be signed until they officially have his rights through the draft - but an agreement would have to stand. If the deal was negotiated and the agent/player backed out it'd be hell to pay for that player and his agent.
I tend to think it will be an agreement, I don't see the sense of signing anyone now. Too much can happen between now and Sat, this would be very anti-climatic for me after all this build up
I dunno. Parcells is notorious for being paranoid about his draft strategy. It doesn't make sense that someone in the Dolphins organisation would leak this information. Why should they de facto rob themselves of their last - albeit slim - chance of trading the pick by making it known that Jake's indeed their guy? Doesn't sound like Parcells at all to me. Which leaves Condon and I'm sure he knows pretty well how Parcells reacts to these kinds of leaks. Heck, Parcells might just take Jake of the board completely if Condon really leaked the story. Either way, I don't see an insider leaking the story. It just doesn't make sense. Maybe I'm in denial because I think drafting Jake would be a huge mistake, but I don't see the point here ...
i was in discussion with a close friend with the Skins that said it has never been in question. I said all along that he was the target and still believe so. He is the only player that makes sense
This is the week we find out exactally what Parcells and Co. are all about and I think we will all be pleased with his results. Kudos to WH for making it happen over Atlanta.
If this is true...and I suspect it is...and if the earlier reports are true that we won't pay the first pick a signing bonus, but will guarantee all but the last year of the contract, then we could still draft and trade without facing a cap hit. Not saying that we won't keep him. We very well might. And I wouldnt' be too upset about it. I'm just saying that I know the Chiefs are enamored with him and there was a rumor that he would rather stay in the Midwest. Who knows? All I do know is we have a great chance to upgrade this roster with some outstanding talent this weekend. If the trade for JT does take place (as expected), we should no less than 6 rookies who will see major time this year. Add those players to Ginn, Satele, and JB (even if he's just the backup), we'll be well on our way to getting back to the playoffs (next season).
Since there's no real confirmation on this I wouldn't call it 'breaking news', but it's newsworthy nonetheless... I think its interesting that they are using Gholsten to get a better deal with Condon. However, if Condon lets Gholsten sign for less than Jake has agreed to, I'd be shocked...
Well, well, well. This is interesting. I'd definately welcome Jake here. We need help on the O-Line, bringing in Jake, instantly makes out line better, which will lead to your QB being better because he should have more time to throw the ball and make his reads, and it instantly makes Ronnie, Ricky, and L-book better with the improvement to the run blocking that Jake will bring. Also, If Jake is indeed the pick and is signed, then I think its a safe bet that JT stays on the roster. Of course until we have any sort of confirmation, its all speculation at this point still
Just a snippet from Peter King's MMQB: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/writers/peter_king/04/20/mmqb/index.html?eref=T1 Some say King is Parcells' mouthpiece. We'll see. But, AJ Smith had this to say: http://www.signonsandiego.com/sports/canepa/20080415-9999-1s15canepa.html So we know everything but we know nothing.
i wouldnt mind jake long in the least but i dont know if this is true or not iam sure we will know by at the latest friday who our pick will be, but this is parcells so we might now know until the fins are handing there card in and we see whoever it is on there cell phone
Good. I hope it gets done soon and we get it over with. And of course I hope that Jake Long stays healthy so he can contribute this season. I really like the idea of having our top draft pick signed before we even draft him---I hate waiting around for contracts to be signed.
I don't mind that pick. It's not the worst that could happen and if Jake Long pulls a Marcus McNeill-esque performance, it'd be worth it.
Yes it is, now adamprez doesn't have to wear a Hello Kitty avatar. I don't know if Long will ever be a franchise LT, but I think he can be a very good RT, which is something that we can get at #32. Now the question is, if we take Jake at #1.....what defensive player do we grab at #32? We need passrushers and people who can stop the run, we can't hope to outscore every team we face next year. I think the dropoff in talent on the defensive side of the ball is too great to select a RT with the #1.
Seems to me like they're letting a premiere position like LT set the market, then maybe saying to Gholsten, " Look pal, this is what a friggin LT has agreed to sign for. Your position is not as important as LT so if you take a little less, we'll consider signing you first over-all" Then they turn around to Chris long and say, '"This is what Gholsten has agreed to, you wanna sign for that and be the number 1 draft pick, or take your chances?" plausible??
Certainly he can be an All-Pro RT, but I think he has the capability to be a very good LT thus worth a #1 pick, but again, that's up to individual interpretation. Frankly, if this contract seems to be cheaper than it would get if we were to engage in prolonged hostile negotiations with Chris Long's agent, it'd still have merits. My preferences in the draft were 1. Chris Long, 2. Matt Ryan, 3. Jake Long. We do need pass-rushers but it is certainly very possible to get gems in later rounds. We've done it numerous times and so too has Parcells.
I agree 100% bro. I of course would love for our pick to be Chris, however, I can live with Jake at a reduced price, and I would still prefer him over Gholston at this point.
He isn't as good a prospect as Joe Thomas was last year, even Mayock admitted as much. I don't see Jake Long being a dominant LT and it's too much money to pay a RT. It's tough to find those players in the later rounds, it's not impossible but it's tough. I don't think there are many players in this draft with the upside of a Vernon Gholston or the overall game, toughness and motor of Chris Long. Why pass on them when you have the opportunity to select them? I'm hoping that inFINS is right and we are playing one against the other.
Well, I stopped comparing him to Joe Thomas a long time ago. Thomas's style of play I think is different from Long's. Long's would probably be more congruent with Flozell Adams and recently Marcus McNeill, a 2x Pro Bowl alternate. If we can get Long relatively cheap not only in comparison to Chris Long but in general, and he can produce like Adams and McNeill, he'd be worth it. Lawrence Jackson, from U$C, is a possibility in the 2nd round.
Whoever they take I hope they don't have an agreement before the draft it takes all the excitement out of it. If this report is true and I have my doubts I will be disappointed as Chris Long is the surest thing in the draft and will a great player in the NFL.
I wasn't comparing their style of play, just their potential. But I do appreciate the analysis. I don't even know where to begin at #32 as far as defense goes. I know we definitely need a LB, but who? Crable has been a player that I've liked because his knack for making plays behind the line and his ST's play, but is #32 too early for him? Biermann and Raeble are two guys that I would love to see on the Phins, but we'd have to keep our fingers crossed that another team doesn't draft them before the 6-7 round. I know that NE has shown interest in both guys, which doesn't exactly make me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. On the DL, Bryant and Langford are two players that we've showed some interest in, both of them are on my mock. I don't know, this pick (Jake Long) would take some getting used to. I would support him, but it seems like a wasted pick IMO.