Jake Long doesn't want to be a Dolphin?

by Matty I on Apr 15, 2008 1:02 PM EDT in News Comment 30 comments

FOX Sports' Jerry Czarnecki writes that he's been hearing Jake Long doesn't want to come to Miami:

The word on the street is that Michigan offensive tackle Jake Long doesn't want to play for the Dolphins, who continue to negotiate with him as the first overall draft choice. There's a special honor in being the first pick so Long's agents continue to talk.

Of course, there is a deadline to these contract talks and then the Dolphins will move onto the next person on their board. Apparently, it isn't Virginia's Chris Long.

Well there's a kick in the balls!

However, don't jump to conclusions here. It's very possible that another team who wants Jake very badly (maybe the Rams or Falcons) have put this rumor out there so as to try and get the Dolphins to question Jake's motivation. After all, if you knew a player didn't want to come to your team, but would just because of the money and prestige of being #1 overall, would you draft him? I didn't think so.

So let's not try to get too bent out of shape over this. Who even knows where Czarnecki got this info from? I'm sure it wasn't from Jake or from Jake's agent. So like I said, I wouldn't at all be surprised if this was a ploy by another team to get the Dolphins to pass Long up.

Interesting to note, though, that Czarnecki also believes Chris Long is not next on the list. Though he doesn't say who is, it's been rumored for some time that Vernon Gholston is the #2 guy on Miami's draft board. However, with only 2 weeks to go, the misinformation is flying everywhere and I wouldn't be shocked to know that neither Jake Long or Gholston are at the top of Miami's draft board.

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Wow

Great scoop, Matty.

I agree with you and just can't put my head around how this can be true.

Actually, there is one way that it could be true and it is simply that J. Long resents the deadline and/or the Dolphins are really low balling him. I could see him upsetting then.

The Gholston thing, however still confuses me. Why Gholston over Long?

I like Gholston enough, and he reminds me (at least in build) to one of my favorite non-Dolphins: Greg Lloyd.

He doesn't have the mean streak though. I don't see the nastiness in his play that should be there. Plus, something tells me that a drug test for vitamin "S" might be failed by this guy.

One last thing. It sounds strange but a body builder's physique is not a football player's. Those big muscles actually can lead to injury, as they cause constant tension on joints.

Anyway...

by The Phinisher on Apr 15, 2008 1:29 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

blapheme!!!!

~~my favorite non-Dolphins: Greg Lloyd.~~

How can you justly call yourself a phins fan and even think this is true... this is the man who had to resort to a blatent late hit that effectively end Marino's career as a great player.
(IMHO-Marino never recovered from the ankle injury Lloyd caused with that PRE-MEDITATED late hit) I never wish injury harm on any person/player but after that play I sure was tempted.

by W NY Fins Fan on Apr 15, 2008 6:32 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hey wait...

I thought it was Jimmy Johnson that ended Marino's career as a great player :) :) :)

by Natalya on Apr 15, 2008 7:04 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Actually,

I think it was the cow pasture they were playing at in Cleveland (I was THERE), when Dan totally blew his achiles tendon out without ever even being hit, or falling down. He was never the same after that.

I'll never forget that day. And Scott Mitchell came in on the very next play & threw a 99 yard interception for a touchdown! (We did end up winning that game though).

First & only time I ever got to see Marino play, and it just HAD to be that day!

by davehowardcustom on Apr 15, 2008 7:14 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Actually,

St. Dan of Marino, awesome be his name, got up and grabbed Lloyd by the face mask to let him know not to do that again. It was pretty impressive really.

Cleveland was the local for the unfortunate injury.

www.thephinisher.com

by The Phinisher on Apr 16, 2008 12:07 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

yes

but where is the apology for saying your a fins fan and saying you like that #@!*&

by W NY Fins Fan on Apr 16, 2008 7:59 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Not true

I just read last week in a Jake Long interview in which he said, "It would be an honor to be a Miami Dolphin". I gotta find this so I can back it up, but I saw this.

by JLFins08 on Apr 15, 2008 1:33 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

WQAM

I heard him say something similar on WQAM. It was two or so weeks ago but should be in their archives.

by The Phinisher on Apr 15, 2008 1:36 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

yes

I remember reading that as well.

by Matty I on Apr 15, 2008 1:40 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, you're all right.

I saw a video interview just last weekend where he did in fact state that "It would be an honor to be picked by the Dolphins at #1."

Sounds like a ploy from "Tom CONDOM," to try and start some shit!

I'm a lifelong OSU Buckeyes fan, and Vernon is a beast, but I'm really crossing my fingers & pulling for Jake Long here. (Forgive me Woody, Earl, Jim.....)

Dave

by davehowardcustom on Apr 15, 2008 7:18 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Eh

I agree, I think its a ploy by another team or just by his agent period. Condon probably was knocked back by the fact Parcells had the audacity to put a deadline on the negotiations for the #1 pick and let it get out. Thats not putting him in a very good light. So by doing this he could just spin it that J. Long just really didn't want to go to Miami anyways.

But really, who's gonna buy that crap. He doesn't want to come to South Beach? With Parcells at the helm? Being the #1 pick in the draft? Psh. Yea, screw that. Send me to another disfunctional franchises like St. Louis or Atlanta. I would much rather be there than on the beach with a proven guy at the helm. Not

You Savvy?

by Neo on Apr 15, 2008 1:34 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I agree

Parcells tell the agent to keep quiet during contract talks and then tells his boy (King) about the deadline. His agent just took his swipe back at Bill. I guess time will tell on what it all means, but warning to agent Bill will move on and your boy will not be the 1st pick.

by jvw on Apr 15, 2008 2:30 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yea seriously

Why the hell would you want to live in St. Louis or Atlanta over MIAMI? I mean come on, this kid did not say this. I wish the guy from Fox Sports that first released this little tidbit would have at least called up Condon for a comment.

by JLFins08 on Apr 15, 2008 1:41 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

On this blog...

people often talk about all these schemes BP has, etc.

Well guess what? BP has lots of company in that areana. Other people, other teams, agents, etc do plenty of scheming on their own. Everybody is jockeying to get some sort of advantage at this point. Putting out rumors is no exception.

Take everything with a grain (or more!) until after the picks actually get made.

by Natalya on Apr 15, 2008 1:58 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Yea

but if your gonna put em out there, at least try to make them believable. There is no way in h*ll he would rather go to St. Louis or Atlanta (playing for less money even) rather than play in South Beach.

You Savvy?

by Neo on Apr 15, 2008 2:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Well...

it is probably rubbish, but then so is the notion that BP are going to start negotiating with Derrick Harvey or whatever in order to drive down the price of the #1 pick.

People are talking about this, so it just creates discussion - at least among fans...

I'm sure the people who actually make the decisions, know exactly what's happening.

by Natalya on Apr 15, 2008 2:12 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Good find Matty!!!!

by jvw on Apr 15, 2008 2:32 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Bill

started the rumor.. scare tactic..."Hey kid we were going to make you the number 1 but now eh maybe we will go in a different direction."...
Jake will sign for alot less now
good job Bill and co

What happend to the Killer BEEs

by FinfanT on Apr 15, 2008 2:32 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Intresting Angle

by jvw on Apr 15, 2008 2:38 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

could be FinfanT...

...a reverse tactic by the Miami camp, it does make sense. Either way, I don't think a rumor like this can be bad for us. Jake Long could be saying: "Hey, I never said that! What's going on?!"

by misterx on Apr 15, 2008 2:58 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

How great would it be

If Bill was the one who spread this rumor, and now he goes back to Jake and says "well if you dont wanna be here we dont want you" and Jake breaks "I never said that, i REALLY want to come there get the deal done now!"

by crzynick25 on Apr 15, 2008 5:28 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

by the way...

...I still think they find a way to trade down.

by misterx on Apr 15, 2008 2:59 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

i hope so...

every dolphin fan, executive, coach,and owner want to tradedown.
i just threw that piece out cause like matty said its a kick in the nutz

What happend to the Killer BEEs

by FinfanT on Apr 15, 2008 3:19 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Jake Long

Why would a guy not want to be the highest paid and get the opportunity to start right away?

Too young to remember 72...not old enough to forget about ever other year since!

by JGray on Apr 15, 2008 3:54 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

it is a ploy to try to get BP to believe that if

the Fins want Jake, they will have to pay him.

;)

by LeftCoastFinFan on Apr 15, 2008 4:42 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Don't think

BP and Miami want J Long....(I **WANT** Miami to sign him) but I think BP has correctly ID Jake as the player most teams will trade for... If they can get him to a contract that is reasonable think of the teams that would trade up for him knowing a contract structure is in place...
(St Lous, KC, Blt, & Cincy) would all be interested in him....

So this might be BP's way of saying the deal isn't going to be made and its not our fault....
by leaking some story that JLo doesn't want to play here.... and he can move on to the next guy on his contract hit list.

by W NY Fins Fan on Apr 15, 2008 6:27 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs