MIAMI (AFP) — University of Michigan offensive tackle Jake Long has agreed to terms on a five-year contract with the Miami Dolphins that will make him the top pick in Saturday's National Football League Draft.
The deal will bring the Dolphins, an NFL-worst 1-15 last season, a powerful blind-side blocker to protect the quarterback at a cost of 57.5 million dollars with 30 million dollars of the deal guaranteed.
"I just love going out and playing. That's why I'm here early," Long said.
The guaranteed money is similar to what was received by last year's top pick, Oakland Raiders quarterback Jamarcus Russell.
The Dolphins fired coach Cam Cameron and general manager Randy Mueller after last season and hired retired veteran coach Bill Parcells as executive vice-president of football operations to rebuild the squad.
Parcells hired Jeff Ireland as general manager and Tony Sparano as coach. Sparano said the team liked Long for his skills as well as his focus, hoping to avoid nagging offensive line penalties that frustrated the attack in 2007.
"When you are a 1-15 team, all those little things matter," Sparano said. "We're preaching discipline. Those things matter."
Long is confident he can adapt to the faster speed and larger size of NFL defenders compared to those he faced on the elite college level.
"I'm mean when I get on the field," Long said. "I'm a very nice guy off the field but when I buckle up that helmet I change. I'm in football mode. I go in there blocking and make sure they don't touch the quarterback or running back."
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