Looks like the Dolphins took my advice.
The Number 1 Pick in Saturday's draft is now guaranteed to be Michigan's former left tackle, Jake Long. Long and his agent reached a deal on Monday night/Tuesday afternoon worth $57.75 million over five years, with $30 million guaranteed. What it means is next time you see Jake at Scorekeepers, make sure he's buying. Long becomes Michigan's first Number 1 draft pick since Da' Bears took Tom Harmon first overall in 1941.
Apparently Dolphin's GM Bill Parcels has something of a soft spot for Michigan linemen. The Free Press is reporting Parcel's experience with former Wolverine Jumbo Elliot, along with extensive conversations with Lloyd Carr, were factors in taking long No. 1. The rest of the Dolphin's organization was singing Jake's praises too.
Long's former teammates, particularly Mike Hart, were happy for him, though they think his taste in clothing and automobiles might be a tad midwestern for Calle Ocho.
"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."
Continuing coverage of Long's career can be found at SB Nation's outstanding Miami Dolphins blog, The Phinsider. In fact, if you head over there now, Matty's got a pile o' quotes from Long's press conference.
Jake, congrats from Maize n Brew, you deserve it.