BREAKING NEWS : Dolphins To Take Jake

[packers11]

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

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

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ESPN.com news services

The 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.

[packers11]

pft.com

Adam Schefter of NFL Network reports that tackle Jake Long will receive $30 million guaranteed as part of his five-year, $57.5 million deal with the Miami Dolphins.

Long will get $2 million less in guaranteed money and $3.5 million less in total money than Raiders quarterback JaMarcus Russell received a year ago, but Long is tied up for one less season.

[LL2]

Well, the first rd just moved 7 minutes faster.

[Brando19]

The press conference with jake is on ESPN right now. I guess it's a done deal...he will get more guaranteed money than Jamarcus Russell. This guy better be good.

[Patler]

pft.com

Adam Schefter of NFL Network reports that tackle Jake Long will receive $30 million guaranteed as part of his five-year, $57.5 million deal with the Miami Dolphins.

Long will get $2 million less in guaranteed money and $3.5 million less in total money than Raiders quarterback JaMarcus Russell received a year ago, but Long is tied up for one less season.

That is the one thing wrong with the NFL salary situation. In no way shape or form should an unproven rookie have $30 million guaranteed.

The owners and GMs who have complained recently are exactly right. It is becoming less and less of an advantage to be in the highest spots of the first round. Even if he is a good player, he might not be worth his contract.

He could be the highest paid O-lineman in the league, and has never played a down.

[Tarlam!]

Disagree, Patler. The guy has taken snaps, just nozt in the NFL. He has preened his body, learned his craft, been disciplined, eaten right and gone to bed early since he was, what, 5 years old?

This kid has worked his btt off and now, he is being rewarded his dues.

When push comes to shove, I would rather this rokkie take home 30 million than Mr. Huizinga an additional, say, 20. Oh, you can argue that they could spend that dough on vets etc. Well, TT has a cap and we could afford this guy and still pay a few vets.

Sorry Patler, I am a big believer in reward and recognition.

[ND72]

The press conference with jake is on ESPN right now. I guess it's a done deal...he will get more guaranteed money than Jamarcus Russell. This guy better be good.

Considering I still think Russell will be a huge failure, he doesn't have much to live up to.

[Patler]

Disagree, Patler. The guy has taken snaps, just nozt in the NFL. He has preened his body, learned his craft, been disciplined, eaten right and gone to bed early since he was, what, 5 years old?

This kid has worked his btt off and now, he is being rewarded his dues.

When push comes to shove, I would rather this rokkie take home 30 million than Mr. Huizinga an additional, say, 20. Oh, you can argue that they could spend that dough on vets etc. Well, TT has a cap and we could afford this guy and still pay a few vets.

Sorry Patler, I am a big believer in reward and recognition.

I'm a big believer in reward and recognition, too; to be paid at the level it is earned. I'm not suggesting he should get nothing, but he should not be one of the highest paid players on his team for what he did in COLLEGE, against college competition.

Did Ryan Leaf deserve what he got, let alone what he would get if he were in the draft today? What about Tony Mandarich? Does any player deserve to be among the highest payed players in the NFL based solely on what he did in college? I don't think so. Should Long get $30 million guaranteed for having been a good college player?

I would like to see a system that rewards the veterans more and the rookies less. A rookie cap would result in higher veterans' salaries, especially if coupled with higher veteran minimums. But it doesn't even have to be drastic, just a reduction in the guaranteed money for rookies.

I've toyed around with some concepts, which one day I will post on here for others to comment on. I certainly won't think of all of the ramifications myself. Others on here will see things I have overlooked. I think improvements could be accomplished very simply, such as by counting all signing bonus money in the first two years of the contract. This would reduce signing bonuses and increase roster bonuses, but should, I think, make it more likely that players will get those later bonuses only if they perform at the NFL level. It will result in somewhat less stability in rosters, but not a lot, as it would be mostly just first round draftees affected by it.

[The Leaper]

This kid has worked his btt off and now, he is being rewarded his dues.

No rookie is worth a $30M contract. A high pick who turns out to be a mistake can cripple a team for years afterward. I also hate the fact that rookies hold out and miss camp for what amounts to a relatively insignificant amount when compared to the total package. Teams shouldn't be held hostage by some kid who hasn't even proven he can play at the next level yet.

[sheepshead]

This rookie salary stuff is insane. And for an offensive lineman? I hope there's a rookie cap very soon. This does much more damage to teams and ultimately the league than people realize.

[Tarlam!]

Thanks, Patler. I was just pulling your chain!

Heck, you have no one else to debate with these days! Thought I'd give you a a nice juicy bone to chew!!

[Patler]

Thanks, Patler. I was just pulling your chain!

Heck, you have no one else to debate with these days! Thought I'd give you a a nice juicy bone to chew!!

I kind of figured as much, but it gave me an excuse to pontificate!

[LL2]

Totally agree! The NFL needs a rookie salary cap. Not the stupid one they have now that says how much a team can spend on rookie, but a max a rookie can make in a rookie contract.

[Tarlam!]

Thanks, Patler. I was just pulling your chain!

Heck, you have no one else to debate with these days! Thought I'd give you a a nice juicy bone to chew!!

I kind of figured as much, but it gave me an excuse to pontificate!

Damned, you know me too well! I thought I had you riled!

[Green Bud Packer]

Totally agree! The NFL needs a rookie salary cap. Not the stupid one they have now that says how much a team can spend on rookie, but a max a rookie can make in a rookie contract.

Dead on. Give these guys a couple million to let them get comfy but remain hungry. Too many #1s have taken the money and become satisfied.

Jamal Reynolds comes to mind as one.