Tue Apr 22 15:06:33 2008

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Line of Scrimmage: Dolphins Go (Jake) Long

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Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - So it wasn't a smokescreen after all.

After weeks of speculation about the Miami Dolphins and their motives in respect to Michigan tackle Jake Long, the Fins inked Long to a five-year deal including $30 million guaranteed on Tuesday, assuring that he'll be the first pick in the 2008 NFL Draft.

Some pundits thought Miami was using Long as a pawn in order to get either Virginia pass rusher Chris Long or Ohio State hybrid end Vernon Gholston to sign for less money, but if that was the intent, it didn't work.

Ultimately, the Fins determined that Michigan's Long was the most signable player available to them at No. 1, even if they didn't necessarily feel that he was the best player in the Draft.

Long accepted roughly $2 million less in guaranteed dollars than did Raiders top pick JaMarcus Russell last season, a development that has owners and GMs across the NFL grinning from ear to ear, while their nemeses in the agent shark tank and within the player's union must be cringing.

Escalating salaries for rookies have long represented the cost of doing business, but in this case, Miami changed the game in their negotiations with Long. Essentially, the game became "Deal or no Deal."

Had Long taken a hard-line stance in negotiations, he would have risked tumbling down the top-five, where the money would have undoubtedly been less than what the Dolphins were offering.

Instead, the tackle wisely signed on the dotted line, thus filling a presumed hole for Miami on the left side and moving the 2008 Draft spotlight from south Florida to St. Louis.

Selfishly, The Sports Network is very pleased at Tuesday's development, since we had the right Long atop our most recent mock draft.

Hopefully, as Longs go, we're for 2-for-2, with the son of Howie headed for the Gateway to the West to wear Rams colors.

Our third attempt at a 2008 mock first-round, thankfully unrevised, is below:

1 - Dolphins - Jake Long, T, Michigan (6-7, 313) - Dolphins' move on Tuesday made leads to one of the most anti-climactic first rounds in history.

2 - Rams - Chris Long, DE/OLB, Virginia (6-3, 272) - Rams' choice will be among Long, Ohio State pass rusher Vernon Gholston, and LSU defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey, and they'll end up with Long because he's the safer pick.

3 - Falcons - Matt Ryan, QB, Boston College (6-5, 228) - Don't believe the hype about Atlanta taking a lineman, a leader like Ryan is a perfect fit for this franchise.

4 - Raiders - Darren McFadden, RB, Arkansas (6-1, 211) - Honestly, who are the Raiders going to pick if not McFadden?

5 - Chiefs - Glenn Dorsey, DT, LSU (6-2, 297) - Chiefs would love to trade out of this spot, especially since they took two d-tackles on the first day last year. (Ed note: Stay tuned for the potential reported trade of Kansas City end Jared Allen, a move that could change the Chiefs' approach and much of the complexion of the first-round).

6 - Jets - Vernon Gholston, DE/OLB, Ohio State (6-3, 266) - He's not Lawrence Taylor, but opponents will have to account for him coming off the edge.

7 - Patriots - Leodis McKelvin, CB, Troy (5-10, 190) - Even if New England makes a run at Philly's Lito Sheppard, it will need to add another quality corner.

8 - Ravens - Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, CB, Tennessee State (6-2, 184) - Steve McNair's retirement doesn't change the program at all for Baltimore - unless Matt Ryan is available at No. 8.

9 - Bengals - Sedrick Ellis, DT, USC (6-1, 309) - Chad Johnson soap opera can't overshadow Cincinnati's need for defensive help.

10 - Saints - Mike Jenkins, CB, South Florida (5-10, 197) - Jenkins might be a bit of a reach at No. 10, but New Orleans can't get by with its current group of corners.

11 - Bills - Devin Thomas, WR, Michigan State (6-2, 215) - Thomas should send Malcolm Kelly a Christmas card this year - he's about to a lot richer due to Kelly's free fall.

12 - Broncos - Ryan Clady, T, Boise State (6-6, 309) - Denver should have its pick of the second-best offensive lineman in the draft.

13 - Panthers - Jeff Otah, T, Pittsburgh (6-6, 322) - Injury concerns hampered Otah at the combine, but he projects as a standout left tackle at the next level.

14 - Bears - Chris Williams, T, Vanderbilt (6-6, 315) - Chicago fans will covet a running back or receiver, but Williams will give the o-line some stability moving forward.

15 - Lions - Rashard Mendenhall, RB, Illinois (5-10, 225) - Detroit's best move could be drafting a 30-carry-a-game back like Mendenhall, in the interests of keeping that horrid defense off the field.

16 - Cardinals - Keith Rivers, OLB, USC (6-2, 241) - Versatile Rivers could team with Karlos Dansby and Clark Haggans to give Arizona scary speed coming off the edge.

17 - Vikings - Derrick Harvey, DE, Florida (6-5, 271) - Yes, he's a little light, but Minnesota will count on him to solve its long-standing pass rush woes. (The proposed trade for Kansas City defensive end Jared Allen would alter the Vikings' needs and would likely take Minnesota out of the first round altogether.)

18 - Texans - Aqib Talib, CB, Kansas (6-1, 202) - Talib has revealed himself to be a major character risk, but Houston has to take a chance due to his talent.

19 - Eagles - Branden Albert, G, Virginia (6-6, 309) - Albert is a first-round mover thanks to his potential to move to tackle in the future.

20 - Buccaneers - Malcolm Kelly, WR, Oklahoma (6-4, 224) - A slow 40 time and ill-timed whining streak have hurt his stock, though Tampa Bay will be more concerned with his impressive measurements and good hands.

21 - Redskins - Limas Sweed, WR, Texas (6-4, 215) - Sweed isn't the draft's most polished wideout, but Washington has to make a move at the position.

22 - Cowboys - Jonathan Stewart, RB, Oregon (5-10, 235) - The presence of Marion Barber on the roster makes Stewart's recent foot surgery less of an issue than it would be for other teams.

23 - Steelers - Gosder Cherilus, T, Boston College (6-7, 314) - Pittsburgh might want to trade up in the interests of finding a more game-ready lineman in the middle of the first round.

24 - Titans - Felix Jones, RB, Arkansas (5-10, 207) - No way is Tennessee relying on LenDale White to carry the entire rushing load in 2008.

25 - Seahawks - Kentwan Balmer, DT, North Carolina (6-5, 308) - Patrick Kerney and Julian Peterson would be that much tougher to block with another space- eater up front.

26 - Jaguars - Quentin Groves, OLB, Auburn (6-3, 259) - The revelation that Groves recently underwent heart surgery has given a few teams pause, but Jacksonville has to like his ability to attack off the edge.

27 - Chargers - Jerod Mayo, LB, Tennessee (6-1, 242) - Recent four-game drug suspension of troubled Stephen Cooper alters the direction of the club's linebacking corps.

28 - Cowboys - DeSean Jackson, WR, Cal (5-10, 169) - Jackson's attitude is a question mark, but Dallas isn't a team that has traditionally fretted over such matters.

29 - 49ers - Phillip Merling, DE, Clemson (6-4, 276) - As a better run-stopper than pass rusher, he'll fit in nicely in the Niners' 3-4.

30 - Packers - Brandon Flowers, CB, Virginia Tech (5-10, 190) - Flowers and Arizona corner Antoine Cason are both potential Green Bay targets.

31 - Giants - Kenny Phillips, S, Miami-Florida (6-2, 212) - With Gibril Wilson a Raider and Sammy Knight a temporary fill-in, Giants must look to the future of the safety position.

Bubbling Under:

Calais Campbell, DE, Miami-Florida (6-8. 290) James Hardy, WR, Indiana (6-6, 217) Brian Brohm, QB, Louisville (6-3, 227) Dan Connor, LB, Penn State (6-3, 231) Dustin Keller, TE, Purdue (6-2, 245)