Decent Draft for Dolphins

The early rounds of the Draft went just as scripted for the Miami Dolphins. In Jake Long they get a big guy who can run block and anchor the offensive line. Unfortunately all that talk about looking for the best contract was just talk as Long signed a pricey deal for only five years instead of the usual six.

Merling was a steal in the second round and if his repaired hernia hold up he should be a solid contributor.

Miami was able to take Chad Henne right where they wanted to, with their second pick in the second round rather than their first pick in the round. Some people say Henne was a steal that low in the draft while Mel Kiper over at ESPN criticized the move, not having much praise for Henne.

The Dolphins picked up a few big and tough running backs who fit Parcells’ style of player - large guys who can run between the tackles.

The rest of the picks weren’t all that noteworthy but what struck me was the lack of a wide receiver and defensive back, two positions where help is needed. We’ll have to see if Ireland and Parcells can find some undrafted free agents they like to fill those spots or can work out a trade.

The Jason Taylor situation is deteriorating rapidly. Miami was unable to convince anyone to give them a first round pick for the veteran defensive end and rumors have been floating around about mounting tensions between Taylor and Parcells. Miami should get on the phone and take whatever they can get for the aging veteran. While I’ve been a fan of Taylor’s for a long time, he lost a lot of respect in my eyes by dodging out of training to be on dancing with the stars and dropping hints about wanting out. It’s sad to see a once great team player turn into a less-obnoxious Chad Johnson.

Jake Long Signs With Dolphins

ESPN is announcing today that Jake Long has signed a contract with the Miami Dolphins and will be chosen with the first overall pick in the 2008 draft.

Jake definitely fills a need for Miami although they may have preferred signing a player lower in the draft for less money. The final sum was less than last year’s number one pick, Jamarcus Russel received.

So much for Jeff Ireland’s “defensive pillar”.

The Rams will probably take Chris Long with the second pick and I doubt anyone will be interested in trading up to the number 2 spot.

Rumors Abound

There have been rumors that Jake Long doesn’t want to play for Miami, that he doesn’t want to live in Miami, and that he wants more money than Miami is offering and believes he can get it from the St. Louis Rams if Miami doesn’t pay up.

There are more rumors that Jason Taylor wants to be traded out of Miami and will likely retire if a deal can’t be worked out.

Jeff Ireland is looking for a pillar of his teams defense in the draft, which makes it sound like Jake Long’s prospects with Miami are limited. Look for Chris Long or Vernon Gholston to be chosen number one, providing more impetus to let Jason Taylor go.

Miami continues to look favorably on Chad Henne, and hasn’t given Joe Flacco the barest glimpse. The Dolphins also haven’t had Brian Brohm in for a workout despite earlier reports that they would. I’m thinking that Parcells may try to grab Henne with the Dolphins’ second pick in the second round rather than the first. If Matt Ryan falls far enough and Brohm doesn’t go until the second round, there may be a good chance of getting Henne with Miami’s third pick. If QBs start going early, they may need to act at the top of the second round to grab Chad. Still, a lot of teams like Brohm and Flacco more than Henne, and Miami might be able to put off grabbing him for a while.

There have also been rumors that Miami is looking at signing Chris Simms if he gets released by the Bucs but I don’t see this happening. I think Parcells wants to bring in a young guy out of the draft.

The draft is less than a week away and I expect things to be quiet right up until the Dolphins go on the clock. I predict Ireland and Parcells will try to do some last minute wheeling and dealing, but will be ready to take Chris Long if other teams aren’t willing to deal. After the first pick, I expect to see three or four other teams trying to make deals to move up or down in a hurry. I think the first round will have streaks of one or two positions and if a team needs a certain position filled early, they’ll have to try to make a move up or else risk getting shut out.

The suspense is killing me.

Jake Long Turns Down Dolphins?

Reports had come out that Miami was trying to negotiate a contract with Michigan OT Jake Long, a top 5 talent, although not regarded as the best overall player in the draft. Miami’s theory is that they would like to sign the best player to the best contract. If Jake Long doesn’t agree to a favorable deal, the Dolphins will talk Vernon Gholston and others. Gholston is slipping in the eyes of some and would be smart to take whatever he can get to go number one. I’m not sure why the latest buzz has the Dolphins not so interested in Chris Long, unless they feel they are solid at that position with Jason Taylor (when he finishes his Dancing With the Stars run).

John Czarnecki of Fox Sports and the guys at Pro Footaball Talk are reporting that Jake Long doesn’t want to play for the Dolphins. The only reason his agents are still talking to the Dolphins is that he feels it would be a “special honor” to go first.

I don’t see these negotiations lasting much longer at this point. Bill Parcells is a no nonsense sort of guy and letting people know you don’t want to play for the Dolphins qualifies as nonsense. Parcells will put together a playoff team soon.

Jake Long is showing is character, or more specifically, his complete and utter lack of character. He is demonstrating tendencies to be greedy, self-centered and not interested in the team. Long will turn out to be the Chad Johnson of offensive tackles, but with less talent.

Jake will play hardball, the Dolphins will say so long, and some other team with less of a future like the Rams will sign him, go through a painful process of negotiating a contract with a possible holdout and his career will take that much longer to take off.

Players who are too wrapped up in themselves, where they want to be and the money they want to make have a tendency to flop.

If the rumors are true, good luck Jake, you’ll need it.

Could Rams Swap Picks With Miami?

The Miami Dolphins have been negotiating a contract with offensive tackle Jake Long, whom the St. Louis Rams have had their eye on. Rumor has it that the Rams are re-thinking their second overall pick, having previously assumed Miami would take Chris Long. It’s not completely outside the realm of possibility that the Dolphins and Rams could swap picks, giving St. Louis the opportunity to take Jake Long and leaving Miami to pick up Chris Long or Vernon Gholston. It wouldn’t take too much added incentive to get the Dolphins to swap, most likely a second day pick.

Note: The idea of such a swap is pure speculation on my part

Dolphins Negotiating with Jake Long

The Miami Herald is reporting that the Dolphins are negotiating with the agent for Jake Long, working out the details of a contract if the offensive tackle is taken with the number one overall pick.

Chris Mortenson confirmed the story on Sportscenter.

The idea for the Dolphins is to get the best deal they can with the first pick, and to have the business taken care of before draft day. If the deal with Jake Long doesn’t look to be too favorable for the Dolphins, they can turn their attention to Chris Long or Vernon Gholston or a dark horse. Whoever agrees to the best deal will be the one chosen first.

If the Dolphins are successful negotiating with Jake, it suggests that Parcells meant what he said about not trading Jason Taylor.  If Chris Long was the top pick, then Taylor’s status would be more uncertain.

There has been no mention of Dolphin interest in Matt Ryan and Mortenson believes Ryan is not on their draft board.

Sportscenter host Chris McKendry had a small slip up responding to Mort’s analysis of the Dolphins negotiations by saying that “It looks like they will be sticking with Beck”. I don’t think this is a correct assumption at all. The Dolphins will draft a QB on the first day, and there will be a competition for the starting job.

Draft Day Inches Closer

There hasn’t been much in the way of interesting news regarding the Dolphins.

Jason Taylor is still with the team despite rumors that Jacksonville is interested in trading for him. Apparently the Jaguars are looking to give up a 3rd round pick but Miami is looking for at least a second round pick. JT still has a few all-star seasons left in him and I don’t think there is any particular reason Parcells and company need to get rid of him any time soon. I don’t see this deal ultimately working out.

No real news on the draft front. One source reported that the Dolphins draft board is already set, which makes you wonder why they are still inviting players for private workouts.

No one seems to be overly eager to trade up into the first pick, but it’s not impossible that a last second deal could be done.

I think the Dolphins have Chris Long, Jake Long and Matt Ryan penciled in as their top three guys in order. Miami will contact their agents before the draft and try to negotiate a contract. Whichever player manage to agree on the contract Miami likes best will be the player chosen. My suspicion is that Dolphins would like to sign Chris Long the most out of the three, but if things don’t work out, they’d gladly take Jake.

Quite a few mock drafts have Brian Brohm falling to the second round. There isn’t a clear cut second best quarterback in the draft at this point, but many think Brohm is the best of the rest. If Miami doesn’t take Ryan, they almost assuredly will take a QB in the second round. If Brohm is available by the time their second pick rolls around, Miami might pick him up. The team seems most focused on Chad Henne, who apparently has a lot of intangibles that have been impressing scouts lately.

Dolphins Scouting Brohm, Chris Long

The Miami Herald is reporting that several Dolphins coaches including Tony Sporano and Paul Pasqualoni as well as GM Jeff Ireland have met with Virginia defensive end Chris Long.

The Herald also reports that Jake Long will be visited soon. The Dolphins have already checked out BC QB Matt Ryan and Michigan QB Chad Henne. There have been inquiries about scheduling a visit with Louisville QB Brian Brohm.

Other than the Senior Bowl and the NFL combine, the Phins haven’t scouted Joe Flacco. Also Darren McFadden seems to remain off the Dolphins’ radar.

All this doesn’t really tell you too much. If Miami keeps the first overall pick, Chris Long, Jake Long and Matt Ryan are the three most likely to be taken by Miami. The scouting of other quarterbacks suggests that Miami will take a QB later on, possibly in the second round. Brohm might still be available then depending on how far Matt Ryan falls, and Henne and Flacco will likely be there.

Dolphins QB Draft Possibilities

ESPN.com analysts Todd McShay and Mel Kiper both have former Boston College Quarterback Matt Ryan at the top of their list with the number one pick. McShay gives the caveat that this will be the pick if Parcells isn’t happy with John Beck.

If the Dolphins don’t go with Ryan, most others are looking at DE Chris Long who will fit nicely into a 3-4 scheme or Jake Long, who will create holes for new OC Henning’s power running game.

Back to the QB situation; John Beck didn’t wow anyone in his first year. At times he was downright horrible, with too many fumbles, botched snaps and even tripping over his own linemen. For the most part, however, you really can’t judge a quarterback on his rookie year. I’m perfectly willing to give him another shot.

The Phins definitely need to draft another QB and sign one in free agency. It’s looking like they will not keep Cleo Lemon and Trent Green has already been released. If the Browns are unable to sign Derek Anderson, he would be #1 on my list for veteran starters. Otherwise, Miami will probably pick up a 2nd tier QB like Byron Leftwich, Daunte Culpepper (shudder), or Todd Collins. If Anderson isn’t available, I like Todd Collins, although Washington might re-sign him soon.