Miami Dolphins Tackle Jake Long: "Healthiest I've Been in a Long Time"

I made mention of this during the podcast last week, but the Miami Dolphins' All-Pro left tackle Jake Long is finally healthy after over a year of nagging injuries. Last year, Long had to deal with a knee injury that was still bothering him, from the 2010 season, as well as having offseason surgery leading into the 2011 season on his shoulder. Then, Long injured his lower back, leading him to miss game time for the first time in his four year career. He was finally shut down for the season after Week 16, when he tore his right biceps muscle.

Long sat down with MiamiDolphins.com reporter Jesse Agler last week. The opening question for Long was about his health right now. The 4-time Pro Bowl selection responded, "I feel great. This is the healthiest I've felt in a long time. All healed up, working out 100 percent, ready to go."

The two also talked about his experience back with the 2008 NFL Draft, when Long signed with the Dolphins before the draft even happened, as well as getting used to the new coaching staff, the first time Long has played professionally for a coach other than Tony Sparano.

The Dolphins fired Sparano before the end of last year, signing the Green Bay Packers' offensive coordinator Joe Philbin to be their tenth head coach.

The Dolphins will open the 2012 season, with Long anchoring an offensive line that under-performed in 2011, on September 9th at the Houston Texans. The Dolphins are 0-6 all time against the Texans.