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Michigan Wolverines lineman and team captain Jake Long hoists the George L. Stuart, Sr. Memorial Trophy after they defeated the Florida Gators 41-35 in the Capital One Bowl at Florida Citrus Bowl Stadium in Orlando, Florida January 1, 2008. (REUTERS/Pierre DuCharme) |
Dolphins make Jake Long first pick in draft
MIAMI (Reuters) - The Miami Dolphins signed Jake Long to a multi-year contract on Tuesday, making the Michigan offensive tackle the top pick in the upcoming NFL draft.
Neither the length of the contract nor the financial terms were announced by the Dolphins, but ESPN reported it to be a five-year, $57.75 million deal with $30 million guaranteed.
The Dolphins had a league-worst 1-15 record in 2007, an ignominious mark that earned them the top selection in the two-day NFL draft which begins on Saturday in New York.
"Ever since I started playing football I dreamed about playing in the NFL and getting drafted," Long told reporters.
"Coming into college I dreamed about being the number one draft pick and being one of the best players in college football," the 22-year-old Long said.
"It's such a great honor to be the number one pick and it's an honor to be a part of this organization.
"I'm real glad that we got the contract done so I don't have to worry about any of that.
"I can get into camp and just start playing football and learning the system here. That's what I'm real excited about.
"I'm just going to come in here and do the same things I've been doing - work hard, try to be a good leader, make myself better and help make the team better."
"GOOD FIT"
When Long hears his name called on Saturday, he will become just the second offensive lineman taken with the first overall selection since the AFL-NFL merger in 1970. Orlando Pace is the only other offensive lineman to be drafted number one when he was taken by the St. Louis Rams in 1997.
Long started 40 games at the University of Michigan, including his last 30 at left tackle.
In his last 26 games, the 6-foot-7, 313-pound Long allowed just three quarterback sacks and was penalized only once on 1,743 offensive plays.
There had been reports that the Dolphins were shopping the first pick around but never came close to a deal.
"Jake was our guy from the beginning," assured Dolphins general manager Jeff Ireland. "Jake Long was on the top of our board for a long time.
"We think he's the best tackle in the draft. We thought it was a good fit for the Miami Dolphins.
"There is no secret that left tackle is a very pivotal part of your building process.
"It's the most important part of the offensive line, in my opinion."
(Writing by Steve Ginsburg in Washington, additional reporting Steve Keating in Toronto; editing by Rex Gowar)
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