BY JEFF DARLINGTON
jdarlington@MiamiHerald.com
Two weeks after the Dolphins began negotiations with offensive tackle Jake Long's agent to make him the No. 1 overall pick, the team has yet to stray from its plan of working out a deal with its primary target as the draft nears.
Negotiations continue to center solely around Long -- and no other prospects -- which strengthens the prospect of Miami ultimately selecting the tackle Saturday whether a deal has been finalized or not.
Still, the two sides are working hard to hammer out a contract, something that would ultimately allow them to avoid a messy holdout that could linger deep into training camp.
That's a feeling expressed privately by both sides, given neither party wants to see a reoccurrence of last year's issues between the Raiders and first overall pick JaMarcus Russell.
The sentiment within the Dolphins building remains strongly in favor of Long. While defensive end Chris Long is still held in high regard by Miami, the team believes Long is the safer option.
Both sides have been discussing the exact terms of the deal since April 7, when agent Tom Condon first flew to South Florida to talk in person with the teams. The sides have not come to an agreement, but it isn't far off.
The Dolphins have apparently spent several months researching the statistical breakdown of how top tackles selected in the first round of the draft have fared over the years. That research -- along with the glaring need to draft a player who can make an immediate impact at the position -- has led to the team's current desires.
No hard deadline has been set for Condon to finish a deal with Jake Long -- but Dolphins vice president of football operations Bill Parcells' hardball negotiating tactics are likely enough to put some considerable pressure on getting a deal done in the coming days.
http://www.miamiherald.com/616/story/504210.html
jdarlington@MiamiHerald.com
Two weeks after the Dolphins began negotiations with offensive tackle Jake Long's agent to make him the No. 1 overall pick, the team has yet to stray from its plan of working out a deal with its primary target as the draft nears.
Negotiations continue to center solely around Long -- and no other prospects -- which strengthens the prospect of Miami ultimately selecting the tackle Saturday whether a deal has been finalized or not.
Still, the two sides are working hard to hammer out a contract, something that would ultimately allow them to avoid a messy holdout that could linger deep into training camp.
That's a feeling expressed privately by both sides, given neither party wants to see a reoccurrence of last year's issues between the Raiders and first overall pick JaMarcus Russell.
The sentiment within the Dolphins building remains strongly in favor of Long. While defensive end Chris Long is still held in high regard by Miami, the team believes Long is the safer option.
Both sides have been discussing the exact terms of the deal since April 7, when agent Tom Condon first flew to South Florida to talk in person with the teams. The sides have not come to an agreement, but it isn't far off.
The Dolphins have apparently spent several months researching the statistical breakdown of how top tackles selected in the first round of the draft have fared over the years. That research -- along with the glaring need to draft a player who can make an immediate impact at the position -- has led to the team's current desires.
No hard deadline has been set for Condon to finish a deal with Jake Long -- but Dolphins vice president of football operations Bill Parcells' hardball negotiating tactics are likely enough to put some considerable pressure on getting a deal done in the coming days.
http://www.miamiherald.com/616/story/504210.html