Category: NFL (Page 1044 of 1282)

According to sources at ESPN.com, the Miami Dolphins have reached a contract agreement with Michigan offensive tackle Jake Long and will select him with the first overall pick.

The announcement will come at a 1:45 p.m. ET news conference.

Despite speculation that Dolphins vice president of football operations Bill Parcells really had planned to select Ohio State defensive end Vernon Gholston or Virginia defensive end Chris Long, sources told ESPN’s Michael Smith that since the Dolphins opened negotiations with Jake Long they were talking to him exclusively.

So now the focus becomes what the Rams will do at No. 2. The talk thus far is that they’ll go with a defensive end (either Chris Long or Vernon Gholston), but reports surfaced last night that they might take DT Glenn Dorsey and move 2006 first round pick Adam Carriker back to his more natural end position.

Let the rumors fly!

Ben Roethlisberger on the Lions? Bob Sanders in San Fran? Bullz-Eye.com took the worst five teams over the past five years and re-drafted the first three rounds for them in years 2005, 2004 and 2003. What would these five habitual losers look like these days with a draft makeover?

Arizona Cardinals 2003 Draft Re-Do

No. 17 – Larry Johnson, RB, Penn State (Originally selected by Kansas City at No. 27)
Original Pick: Bryant Johnson, WR, Penn State”

No. 18 – Nnamdi Asomugha, CB, California (Originally selected by Oakland at No. 31)
Original Pick: Calvin Pace, DE, Wake Forest

No. 54 – Anquan Boldin, WR, Florida State (Originally selected by Arizona at No. 54)
Original Pick: Boldin

Instead of signing the over-the-hill Emmitt Smith in the 2003 offseason, the Cards could have drafted LJ (right) and kick- started his career two seasons earlier than it did in Kansas City. Plus, with their second pick in the first round, ‘Zona could have vastly upgraded a weak secondary with the incredibly well rounded Asomugha. The original selection of Boldin still makes sense given his amazing rookie season (101 receptions, 1,377 yards, 8 TDs) and the degree of success he’s had thus far as a pro.

That would have been one hell of a first day for the Cards back in 2003, assuming of course LJ and Asomugha panned out in ‘Zona like they did in Kansas City and Oakland, respectively.

The NFL Draft is just days away. Who are the Dolphins going to take first overall? Who will draft Darren McFadden? How long will Matt Ryan have to wait to hear his name called? I attempt to answer those questions by projecting the first round with my final NFL Mock Draft.

6. New York Jets
Team Needs: CB, WR, S
Bullz-Eye’s Pick: Vernon Gholston, DE/OLB, Ohio State
Gholston played defensive end at OSU, but he has the size and athleticism to make the transition to outside linebacker at the next level. The Jets could use him in the same capacity as the Cowboys use DeMarcus Ware and the Chargers use Shawne Merriman – as a sideline-to-sideline, pass-rushing monster.
Devil’s Advocate: If Darren McFadden slips past the Raiders at No. 5, it’s doubtful he’ll get past the Jets with this pick. The Jets could also look at a cornerback like Leodis McKelvin or Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie.

At least 30 of the 31 picks should be right, so you might want to check it out.

Photo Courtesy of Flickr

Adam Schefter of the NFL Network believes that if Jake Long is off the board when the Rams pick at No. 2, St. Louis will select DT Glenn Dorsey.

The Rams would then move 2007 first-round pick Adam Carriker to end, his natural position. Dorsey would start next to NT Cliff Ryan. Schefter thinks that if Jake and Dorsey go 1-2, Atlanta would lean toward Matt Ryan at No. 3.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: Glenn Dorsey is the best defensive player in this draft. That’s not a knock on Chris Long, Vernon Gholston or any other prospect – Dorsey is just that good. He was double and triple teamed in many games this year and he still dominated. He’s going to be a hell of a pass rusher in the NFL, but he doesn’t get enough credit for how he plays the run.

I never got why the Rams moved Carriker to tackle last year anyway. I understand his size allowed him to make the move, but his natural position is at end. St. Louis would go a long way in beefing up their pass rush with Dorsey, Long or Gholston but for what it’s worth, Dorsey would be my pick.

Photo Courtesy of Flickr

According to NBCSports.com, the Miami Dolphins and Michigan offensive tackle Jake Long are close to a contract deal.

Word that Miami initiated talks with Long’s agent, Tom Condon, surfaced almost two weeks ago. Condon actually was in South Florida to meet with Dolphins officials. Miami’s also made overtures toward Vernon Gholston but little other progress has been mentioned.

Meanwhile, with Jake Long off the board, the St. Louis Rams are a lock to go with defense at No. 2 and, according to the same league source, the camp of Virginia defensive end Chris Long is very confident that’s where he’ll be headed.

This makes a lot of sense for the Dolphins. They can upgrade their offensive line instantly (assuming Long pans out of course) and they can give youngster John Beck some protection. Either one of the defensive linemen would be fine picks, but why not get a cornerstone left tackle if you can? The Browns did last year and it went a long way in helping them become contenders.