Jake Long officially goes to Dolphins
After St. Louis took the son of Pro Football Hall of Famer Howie Long, Matt Ryan of Boston College, who could solve the quarterback problems in Atlanta, went to the Falcons.
"I had an open mind about it. I knew when you guys knew," Chris Long told reporters.
Following a long-standing tradition, Oakland went for the gamebreaking threat in Arkansas running back Darren McFadden, prompting the fans in Radio City Music Hall to boo loudly. Many wanted the two-time Heisman Trophy runner-up to fall to the New York Jets at No. 6.
The Jets wound up with Vernon Gholston, a defensive end/linebacker from Ohio State, who must now learn to play in the 3-4 alignment the team prefers.
This draft was going quite predictably before the Patriots and Ravens traded away the next two spots. New Orleans moved up to No. 7 to get defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis of Southern California, who was recruited to the school by the Saints' new defensive line coach, Ed Orgeron.
New Orleans gave up the No. 10 overall spot and its third-round slot and got a fifth-rounder along with the chance to take Ellis.
All-American defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey of national champion LSU was taken fifth overall by the Chiefs. Dorsey patted his heart as he held up a No. 1 Chiefs red jersey that was so small he, frankly, could never fit into it.
After Gholston's selection, all six players invited to the draft had been chosen in the top half-dozen spots.
"It's great to see the green room empty," Chris Long said.
Jake Long signed a five-year contract with the Dolphins this week worth $57.75 million, $30 million of it guaranteed. After commissioner Roger Goodell announced Long's name, St. Louis went on the clock.
The NFL cut the first round from 15 minutes per pick to 10, and the Dolphins used only a few seconds to hand in their card. The Rams and Falcons didn't take much longer, but the Raiders used almost their entire time, as did Kansas City.
Jake Long became the first top overall pick from Michigan since Tom Harmon in 1941. He was accompanied by several family members onstage as he donned a Dolphins hat.
Then came another Long, who proudly held up a Rams jersey and pointed to the fans in the upper deck of the hall. Chris Long is the second straight defensive lineman selected in the opening round by St. Louis, following Nebraska's Adam Carriker last year. Carriker likely will move to DT to open a spot for his new teammate.
Recent comments
McFadden will not be the Huge Star he could have been, he should...
CougarKeith | April 26, 2008 at 10:03 p.m.
