NFL.com: "Miami Dolphins' Jake Long looking for $11M annually"

Then he should look for a new team.

Jake is likely to leave, I think. If one of Joeckel, Johnson or Fisher make it to #12 I expect we'll draft a LT.

"alen1 wrote:

Then he should look for a new team.

Well.. as he is saying he wants $11m...

Not much buzz about Jake Long

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/03/03/not-much-buzz-about-jake-long/

Seems like Jake's ego is writing checks his body can't cash.

Good luck to him. Its not going to happen with his injury history the past two years. Add on top of that his decline in play, I just don't see it happening for him.

Given Jeff Ireland's tendency to avoid recently injured players, I don't know if Jake stays. But to cut bait on your former, career defining, former all-pro #1 pick? I'm not sure Ireland has the huevos

"Shamboubou wrote:

Good luck to him. Its not going to happen with his injury history the past two years. Add on top of that his decline in play, I just don't see it happening for him.

Well, the thing is, Arizona MIGHT have considered it, but they can easily pick up one of the OTs in the draft.

Unless they decide to draft Geno Smith and so want a FA Left Tackle. Still, $11m? I don't see it.

I thought he said he wanted more than that previously? Has his asking price come down?

He would be an instant upgrade to whatever San Diego and Chicago think they have. Even if he plays identical to last year.

Martin is much better suited on the left side. We CAN survive this if we need to.

"pocoloco wrote:

Given Jeff Ireland's tendency to avoid recently injured players, I don't know if Jake stays. But to cut bait on your former, career defining, former all-pro #1 pick? I'm not sure Ireland has the huevos

Both options are bad.

Thing is, I don;t blame Jeff. Long has the talent. His body was broken down and abused by Sparano and the 'play hurt' 'the code' Parcells crap... though all players play hurt to some degree, Sparano had them play STUPID and hurt. Long's real decline began after that preseason game Sparano kept him in late despite him ALREADY being in recovery from an injury. After Long got hurt again in that game, he was never fiully healthy it seemed, as his body was dealing with injuries stacked and overlapping therafter.

Sparano and the staff ruined a #1 overall prospect's career here, imo.

"Bpk wrote:

Both options are bad.

Thing is, I don;t blame Jeff. Long has the talent. His body was broken down and abused by Sparano and the 'play hurt' 'the code' Parcells crap... though all players play hurt to some degree, Sparano had them play STUPID and hurt. Long's real decline began after that preseason game Sparano kept him in late despite him ALREADY being in recovery from an injury. After Long got hurt again in that game, he was never fiully healthy it seemed, as his body was dealing with injuries stacked and overlapping therafter.

Sparano and the staff ruined a #1 overall prospect's career here, imo.

That and he was drafted to fit a bruising straight ahead running game (which never really materialized). I'm told he isn't prime WCO material, but I'll leave that for smarter minds than my own to justify.

"pocoloco wrote:

He would be an instant upgrade to whatever San Diego and Chicago think they have. Even if he plays identical to last year.

Martin is much better suited on the left side. We CAN survive this if we need to.

I am concerned about Tannehill's blindside. With Martin on the left side, Tanehill took a bad hit on a whiff by Martin. Tannehill got up woozy (read: concussion he didn't admit).

A YEAR of that will turn him into the next David ****ing Carr. After fifteen years of searching for a decent quarterback, we cannot allow Tannehill to get beaten up that way.

I kind of agree with Elway's recent list, which is eerily close to Ireland's once upon a time. The four key positions in football are:

1. Quarterback (dub)
2. Edge rusher
3. Left tackle
4. Cover corner

Now with
Tannehill, check
Wake, check
Long, question mark
Davis/Smith, nope

First let me say the following. I supported picking Jake Long #1 overall. I've been a big fan of his.

But, that doesn't mean that I don't think Jake Long is one of the most overrated players on the team, and in the league for that fact.

Widely viewed as the top tackle next to Joe Thomas, and I once agreed with this. But after the past 2 seasons I've reevaluated and have come to the conclusion that Jake Long has been overrated since he came into the league. His stock was inflated when he was selected #1 overral and then magnified when he was in Dan Henning's offense that statistically used a considerable more amount of blockers in pass protection than the next closest team. Even going back and re-watching games from 2009, it's evident Jake did not have to block the opposing D's RDE/OLB one on one nearly has much as he had to in Brian Dabbol and Mike Sherman/Philbin's offense.

So, while I do think the last two seasons worth of declining play have some to do with the injuries, I'm more inclined to believe it has to do with the change in offensive blocking schemes.

With that said, I still think he's a good player. Somewhere amongst the top 10-15 in the league. But not in the same class as a Thomas or Clady.

If he drops his asking price to around 7 million over 5 years, I'd love to get a deal done. But I don't see that happening. (Although I wouldn't be surprised if the rest of the league saw what I saw with money on the line.)

This a no brainer for the Dolphins. Martin is the LT, and you dont pay your RT 11 mil. Goodbye Jake.

"pocoloco wrote:

Given Jeff Ireland's tendency to avoid recently injured players, I don't know if Jake stays. But to cut bait on your former, career defining, former all-pro #1 pick? I'm not sure Ireland has the huevos

Smiley? Grove?

Or do you mean our own oft injured players

"alen1 wrote:

Then he should look for a new team.

"Then he will block in the shade"

is all I thought of when I read this post.

Don't be surprised if he resigns, when he realizes no one is going to pay him that much. He might as well settle for less with Miami where he is settled in.

"Bpk wrote:

Jake is likely to leave, I think. If one of Joeckel, Johnson or Fisher make it to #12 I expect we'll draft a LT.

None of those guys are making it to 12.

How does he look at his game the past two seasons and come up with that number without factoring in that we paid him as the highest paid left tackle in history when we drafted him, and got two sub par years relatively speaking.

Ireland has seemingly put a number value on all of our free agents based on recent performance, and is willing to let them go out and see if there are greener pastures, see where their own projections matches up, and take it or leave it from there..

He will test the FA market, and once he figures out nobody will pay that much for him he will return here for less. I would re-sign him at the right price easily.

"seabass0795 wrote:

He will test the FA market, and once he figures out nobody will pay that much for him he will return here for less. I would re-sign him at the right price easily.

Yep, it is not that I don't want him to be a Dolphin, and it is not my $$$, just think a player cannot play poorly then not take a paycut. IMO, he needs a 1 yr deal, performance laden, and if he pans out pay him that 11 millie.

But even then, LT is just not as important as it once was, Blitzers come from everywhere now.

The old days of base Defense and DE v LT are sort of gone now, some of it still is there as an uptempo offense prevents subs and packages, but still.

Heck, it could be argued that blocking is more important for a Rb in today's NFL, they are the last line of blockers

BUT like Cb's tackling well, the NFL just doesn't recognize that little factoid..yet.

"djphinfan wrote:

How does he look at his game the past two seasons and come up with that number without factoring in that we paid him as the highest paid left tackle in history when we drafted him, and got two sub par years relatively speaking.

Ireland has seemingly put a number value on all of our free agents based on recent performance, and is willing to let them go out and see if there are greener pastures, see where their own projections matches up, and take it or leave it from there..

I think not only did Ireland put a number on Jakes value but Phibin would not be bothered if we moved on from Jake. Someone on this board touched upon during the season there was more going on then Jakes injuries.

Lets go this scenario.

When Tony and Googz were here they held Jake high on a silver platter. No matter if he had a good game or bad game, Jake was their man and both he and they loved that fact.

Tony is gone and a new staff comes in. The new coach , OC and Oline coach after seeing summer camp no longer hold Jake on the highest level of their totum pole. Perhaps even before summer camp. Philbin is not known to like Players that are high priced and hard to teach.

Its attempted to teach Jake a new system, one of which he does not like. He is asked to change some things in his play and he does not change them. This does not make the people in charge very happy. He eventually does try to change things say, oh, after the Colts game. Problem is, too little too late and then Jake tears his tricep.

Jake on the other hand also is not enamoured with the new HC or other offensive coaches and unless he is paid top dollar, wants out. Start fresh someplace where he can be put on that so called pedestal again. Like I said, someone here touched upon the fact it was more then Jakes injuries that affected his play this year. I now believe that to be true. Jeff Ireland in no way shape or form had anything to do with Jakes disappointment this season either so people cannot lay blame on him.

I had hoped Jake would stay but at this point in time I realize that Jake Long will no longer be a Miami Dolphin. I love the kid but nobody IMO is going to pay this much money on this much of a risk. I am sure teams will want him but 10 or 11 million dollars a year for someone nobody knows can perform at a high level is a huge price to pay. A GM that would pay that kind of money is rolling the dice on his job and his team.

Long story short, it was more then injuries that made Jake slip to his present state. He wants a change of scenery and the coaching staff is okay with that.

"padre31 wrote:

Yep, it is not that I don't want him to be a Dolphin, and it is not my $$$, just think a player cannot play poorly then not take a paycut. IMO, he needs a 1 yr deal, performance laden, and if he pans out pay him that 11 millie.

But even then, LT is just not as important as it once was, Blitzers come from everywhere now.

The old days of base Defense and DE v LT are sort of gone now, some of it still is there as an uptempo offense prevents subs and packages, but still.

Heck, it could be argued that blocking is more important for a Rb in today's NFL, they are the last line of blockers

BUT like Cb's tackling well, the NFL just doesn't recognize that little factoid..yet.

Exactly, he must have lost his mind to ask for 11 mil after how he has played.

I do think however that LT is still important especially with a young qb. He does not have the experience to sense the pressure on his blind side. Martin lacks strength so I am unsure of how he will be, but hopefully he works out as LT next year.

The O-Line in general did not do very good at run blocking so I agree with that being an important factor for them. We have a young RB and he will need as good of a run blocking O-Line as possible.

"mommabilly wrote:

I think not only did Ireland put a number on Jakes value but Phibin would not be bothered if we moved on from Jake. Someone on this board touched upon during the season there was more going on then Jakes injuries.

Lets go this scenario.

When Tony and Googz were here they held Jake high on a silver platter. No matter if he had a good game or bad game, Jake was their man and both he and they loved that fact.

Tony is gone and a new staff comes in. The new coach , OC and Oline coach after seeing summer camp no longer hold Jake on the highest level of their totum pole. Perhaps even before summer camp. Philbin is not known to like Players that are high priced and hard to teach.

Its attempted to teach Jake a new system, one of which he does not like. He is asked to change some things in his play and he does not change them. This does not make the people in charge very happy. He eventually does try to change things say, oh, after the Colts game. Problem is, too little too late and then Jake tears his tricep.

Jake on the other hand also is not enamoured with the new HC or other offensive coaches and unless he is paid top dollar, wants out. Start fresh someplace where he can be put on that so called pedestal again. Like I said, someone here touched upon the fact it was more then Jakes injuries that affected his play this year. I now believe that to be true. Jeff Ireland in no way shape or form had anything to do with Jakes disappointment this season either so people cannot lay blame on him.

I had hoped Jake would stay but at this point in time I realize that Jake Long will no longer be a Miami Dolphin. I love the kid but nobody IMO is going to pay this much money on this much of a risk. I am sure teams will want him but 10 or 11 million dollars a year for someone nobody knows can perform at a high level is a huge price to pay. A GM that would pay that kind of money is rolling the dice on his job and his team.

Long story short, it was more then injuries that made Jake slip to his present state. He wants a change of scenery and the coaching staff is okay with that.

Just curious, is there any evidence of this happening? What did we ask him to change?