Long to Miami- selection or smokescreen?
It wasn’t long ago that I wrote my own mock draft and had Michigan lineman Jake Long on top of the board. I was mocked a little for it but he’s the safest choice for the Dolphins. I think he is signable and wants to play football and prove his value and worth. To me it would have to be between both Long’s, either Chris or Jake and the Dolphins may have decided already.
However, it isn’t at all uncommon for teams to create a bit of a smokescreen or false interest in a player to draw interest. Mark my words in fact when I say that Bill Parcells is trying to draw interest in Jake Long so that he can trade this pick. On most draft boards Long is set to go anywhere from 1-7 depending on need. He is all over the place. Parcells wants to get some team thinking he may keep the pick and force that teams hand. Let’s face it, the Dolphins need 5 Jake Longs if they are going to start competing. One player isn’t going to help so they are going to trade this choice. I see no other way.
What teams would be interested? Most of them actually. St. Louis, Atlanta, Oakland, Kansas City and the Jets could all take him and be more than happy with that and Parcells knows it. Parcells also knows that he doesn’t like drafting lineman with high picks anyway. Is Long that special where he would keep him? I’m not sure but speculation has him as a potential pro bowler but every player taken in the first round is a potential pro bowler.
All I’m saying is that Jake Long won’t wear a Dolphin uniform because the player the Dolphins really want is probably sitting at number 3-5 right now and I think they will get their man.
