Jake Long Press Conference Highlights

by Matty I on Apr 23, 2008 12:06 AM EDT in News

I wanted just to highlight a couple of quotes from yesterday's Jake Long press conference. Of course, you can watch the entire press conference at miamidolphins.com.

First, here are Jake Long's first words to the media as a Miami Dolphin:

"I'm very excited and honored to be able to be part of the Miami Dolphins and this organization. I want to thank my agents and the Miami Dolphins for getting this deal done so now I can just concentrate on football and don't have to worry about any of that other stuff. I just have to worry about getting in here, playing, making myself better, learning and getting prepared for the NFL."

And here is some more of Jake Long, in his own words.

Jake talks about the honor of being the #1 pick:

"It means everything. It's such a great honor to be the No. 1 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."

Jake talks about the responsibility of being the #1 pick:

"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. I feel I can do that and I'm going to do everything I can to help this organization."

And about the stress, Jake said:

"No. I like having the pressure. I've dealt with that at Michigan and I don't mind it."

Jake talks about himself as a player:

"I just love going out and playing. I am very passionate and hard-working. I am mean on the field. I am going to carry that on. I am going to have to get used to the speed of the game and the speed rushers. That will come in time and that is why I am glad I'm here early and get to be in camp to get used to the speed."

Jake talks about his demeanor on and off the field:

"I am a very nice guy off the field, but when I buckle up that helmet I change. It's football mode and I go out there and try to bury the guy I am blocking and make sure they don't touch the quarterback or the running back."

After the jump, there are some good quotes from Jeff Ireland and Tony Sparano.

Jeff Ireland's response to the amount of debate before settling on Jake:

"Jake was our guy from the beginning. I don't make it a habit of telling you what's on our board, but Jake Long was on the top of our board for a long time. In regard to debate, there wasn't a whole lot of debate. We all kind of felt comfortable with the player. We think he's the best tackle in the draft. We thought it was a good fit for the Miami Dolphins."

Tony Sparano on the characteristics Jake possesses:

"We feel like he has all the qualities that we're looking for in our linemen. He's very tough, he's smart and he's disciplined. Those are the people that we want to surround ourselves with here with the Dolphins. I think those are the qualities that you need to have to develop, what will be at some point, a very good offensive line down the road."

Tony Sparano on all the talk about how Jake might be better suited as a right tackle:

"I don't think that's something right now, from a speculation standpoint, that we're worried about one way or the other. We see Jake as a left tackle. Left tackle is our need and that's where he's going to be playing for us."

Tony Sparano talks about what sold him on Jake:

"I just think when you are watching the film and you are watching the tape, the tape doesn't lie. With offensive linemen, you are not watching a highlight film. You are watching game tape and when you watch his game tape, the tape doesn't lie. That's the thing I think I was most impressed with. The sidebar to the whole thing is the kind of guy he is. That is separate from all that, but watching the game film is what sold me."

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another nice article on JLo

for anyone who missed in USA Today.... a little bit of JLo's personal history... how he was in an ICU unit 4 years ago....

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/nfl/2008-04-17-usat-offensive-line_N.htm

sounds like just the guy to build a team around...
a pillar.

by W NY Fins Fan on Apr 23, 2008 1:05 AM EDT 0 recs

Parcells

Do you think he would trade this pick/deal package? I wouldn't put it past him... look at what he did to Atlanta before coming here.

by gophish on Apr 23, 2008 1:08 AM EDT 0 recs

on a prior thread

I said yeah they would listen to offers.... but if you listen to the three of them (JLo,Ireland,&Sparano) it becomes pretty clear that JLo is their kind of guy... Heck you get the feeling that JLo is a distant relative to Sparano, they have the same 'talk'... Listen to JLo talk about straping on the helmet and becoming 'mean', you know thats what sparano wants to hear.

by W NY Fins Fan on Apr 23, 2008 1:35 AM EDT up 0 recs

one other point

Why would you really want to... you have the best player in the draft signed and delievered and it's at a position of great need for the phins.

What could you really gain by trading him? and would the uncertainty of an extra 2 or 3 be worth trying to sign(without predraft leverage) another high pick and hope that you can draft a good tackle later?

by W NY Fins Fan on Apr 23, 2008 1:44 AM EDT up 0 recs

I'm with you

There isn't going to be a trade. Jake Long is a Miami Dolphin. Period.

In fact, he's already listed on the roster over at miamidolphins.com. The only question now will be what number he will wear. His college number, #77, is already taken by our current starting left guard, Drew Mormino.

by Matty I on Apr 23, 2008 2:06 AM EDT up 0 recs

After listening

you also get the impression that they aren't sold on carey being an effective LT... Ireland said a few times LT is the most important line position, you need a good one, etc.... Sprano mentioning the discipline needed to 'get to where we want the team to be'

Reading between the lines, it pretty much tells you that they weren't impressed with Carey's job at LT last season, or at the very least he didn't embody their vision of a tough, nasty, disciplined LT. Makes you wonder if they'll be drafting a RT next season.

by W NY Fins Fan on Apr 23, 2008 1:41 AM EDT 0 recs

one last point

Ireland mentioned that the deal was reached last night and finished up this morning (or something close to that) which really makes you wonder about the reporters who were saying that the 'reports that a deal was close were wrong'... What happened that they felt so strongly that they had to contradict what turns out to have been an accurate report that a deal was close by NBC sports & the palmbeach post?

by W NY Fins Fan on Apr 23, 2008 1:57 AM EDT 0 recs

Jake's tats....

Did anyone notice he has the big Michigan ‘M’ on his left tricep? I couldn’t help notice it bears a striking resemblance to the ‘M’ on the helmet of the Dolphins’ logo. For some reason this makes me feel good. Also the fact that he’s a bad ass doesn’t hurt anything.

by nriehl on Apr 23, 2008 12:18 PM EDT 0 recs