Dolphins in Talks with Jake Long

[jarrod2323]

With the first overall selection in the 2008 NFL draft, the Miami Dolphins select … Michigan offensive tackle Jake Long?

According to several reports out of South Florida, the Dolphins, who own the first pick in the draft, have begun contract negotiations with Long.

The South Florida Sun-Sentinel is also reporting that the team is talking with Vernon Gholston about a contract. However, a source told ESPN that Miami was not negotiating with the Ohio State defensive end.

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.

Gholston, a 6-foot-3, 266-pound senior, set a single-season Ohio State record for sacks with 14 in 2007.



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The Dolphins would be delighted to prevent a holdout by reaching an agreement on a contract with their top pick before the draft begins April 26. Last year's top pick, JaMarcus Russell, missed all of training camp before signing a $61 million contract with the Oakland Raiders.

Offensive line is considered the biggest need for the Dolphins, who went 1-15 last year. But Bill Parcells has been reluctant to use high picks on offensive linemen in the past.

Long and Gholston might be two of several players with whom the Dolphins negotiate before the draft.

Virginia defensive end Chris Long and LSU defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey are other players who have been linked to the Dolphins as their potential selection at No. 1.

Chris Long had a sensational senior season for Virginia, registering 79 tackles (19 for losses), 14 sacks, two forced fumbles and an interception.

Dorsey started all 14 games as a senior last season (at left and right defensive tackle) for national champion LSU, finishing the season with 69 tackles (12.5 for losses), seven sacks, a forced fumble and four pass breakups.

this could be a strategic ploy to see if he or any of the other possible choices will take less money

 

[VC3]

They are also reportedly in talks with Gholston's agent and plan to talk to Chris Long's agent.

 

[kdogg]

Yeah, Like jarrod already said they're just trying to see who would be the cheapest player to get out of the three players they're considering to draft..

 

[AirForceFlash_3]

They're already talking to Jake and Gholston and soon Chris will be on that list. We're just negotiating with everyone to get the least money we can from the one we want.

 

[VC3]

They're already talking to Jake and Gholston and soon Chris will be on that list. We're just negotiating with everyone to get the least money we can from the one we want.

I just said that Robicle :blondboob:

And not only to get the cheapest, but so they can get a contract signed before the draft and avoid holdouts like many players had last year including Russell's...

 

[jarrod2323]

yeah, I think that's the main thing -- they don't want what happened like the Raiders last year.. Get that impact player in now when he can learn and get better now.

 

[AirForceFlash_3]

Hopefully it'll cost us less than Raiders too. I hate how rookies are guaranteed $40M+ when they haven't played a single down in football, just outrageous. Some veterans that play better don't even get paid that much. Should be more like the NBA <_<, but eh, the player's association has the upper hand here...