http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080423/SPORTS0101/804230353/1131/SPORTS0201
from Detroit News
by Angelique S. Chengelis
Tackle agrees to terms with team, will become U-M's first top overall pick since Harmon in 1941.
In the days before Michigan played its New Year's Day bowl game in Orlando, former Michigan coach Lloyd Carr began fielding calls from his good friend Bill Parcells, at that time the newly appointed executive vice president of football operations for the Miami Dolphins.
Naturally, Parcells was interested in Carr's well-being, but he also began inquiring about personnel, specifically Jake Long, the stellar Michigan left tackle about to play his final game for the Wolverines.
"All of the coaches were going to a dinner party one night in Orlando when I got a call on my cell phone from Bill," Carr said Tuesday. "That first time I talked to him, he asked me about Jake. He said, 'You tell Jake that I really like him.' I talked to Bill on and off since then, and he made it really clear that Jake was right there (on his NFL draft board).
"A couple weeks ago, I had a call from him, and he told me they were going to make every effort to sign Jake. I talked to him a few days ago. I'm just happy for the Dolphins and for Jake Long."
The Dolphins made the 6-foot-7, 315-pound Long one happy -- and very rich -- guy when they announced Tuesday afternoon they had agreed to terms making Long the No. 1 overall selection in the NFL draft, which begins Saturday. The deal reportedly is worth $57.5 million over five years with $30 million guaranteed.
Long is represented by Tom Condon. "It's such a great honor to be the No. 1 pick," Long told reporters during the Dolphins' news conference. "I'm real glad we got the contract done, so I don't have to worry about that."
Long is the first Michigan player to be selected first overall since Heisman Trophy winner Tom Harmon in 1941. He also becomes the second offensive lineman to go No. 1 since 1970, joining former Ohio State tackle Orlando Pace, who was chosen by the Rams in 1997.
Dolphins coach Tony Sparano, a former offensive lineman, said he was more than impressed by Long giving up only three sacks in his last 26 games and being penalized twice. Long is projected to play left tackle.
"I just think when you're watching the film, and you're looking at the tape, the tape doesn't lie," Sparano told reporters. "With offensive linemen, you're not watching a highlight film, you're watching a game tape, and when you watch his game tape, the tape doesn't like, and that's the thing I think I was most impressed with. Sidebar to the whole thing is the kind of guy he is. That's separate from all that, but watching the game film is what sold me."
Long was a two-year captain at Michigan. He decided to stay for his final season of eligibility last season, although he would have been a certain first-round pick a year ago.
Mike Hart, Michigan's career leading rusher and a co-captain with Long last season, said there was no player more deserving of the No. 1 overall pick.
"If you want to talk about a sure thing, it's Jake Long," Hart said. "No quarterback (in this draft) is a guarantee with the top pick. The smartest pick, the best pick, and safest pick is Jake Long. He's someone who's not going to get in trouble. He's someone who everyone is going to like. He's not going to come in and be a (jerk).
"He's the perfect pick. A lot of guys would go buy a lot of cars and crazy jewelry, but he's probably going to show up in Miami driving his white S-10 truck. I saw him last Friday at a draft party, and I said, 'Jake, you're going to have a bunch of money to go buy whatever you want,' but he still wears the same jeans, same shirts, same everything. Jake is going to be Jake. He's a guy who plays football and acts like he doesn't have any money."
Carr said Long takes nothing but positives into the NFL.
"I think they're looking for more than a great football player; they're looking for a guy who can be a representative of not only the organization in the NFL, but the city and be a guy in the locker room who is going to represent and be the kind of leader that you need to be successful," Carr said.
"I think everybody who knows Jake is thrilled for him because, certainly there is a financial aspect of this thing, but I think in the years ahead, Jake will be everything for the Miami Dolphins that he was at Michigan. The thing I love the most about Jake, I know this won't change him. He's genuine, and he knows what he wants to do in life. I'm delighted for him."
Long, who was joined at the news conference by his parents, John and Denise, of Lapeer, Mich., said Tuesday that while he's relieved the negotiations are over, he's overwhelmed being the No. 1 overall pick.
"I don't think it has sunk in yet," Long said. "It is something I think every kid dreams about. It is something I dreamed about, and I worked hard to get here. Ever since I started playing football, I dreamed about playing in the NFL. It's a great honor, and I'm just excited to start playing football again."
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