77 days and counting, now. Eleven weeks! To honor the occasion, today we recognize one of the main contributors to Miami’s last AFC East title (2008), left tackle Jake Long! Long was the first overall pick in the 2008 NFL Draft and a big catalyst for Miami’s physical play en route to an 11-5 record the following season.
The decision to draft Long, which was made by football “czar” Bill Parcells, may not go down in the history books as the right one — that would have been Boston College quarterback Matt Ryan — but Long gave Dolphins fans 5 years of mostly stellar play. His performance surprised some, too. Some analysts of the draft felt as though Long was too clunky or heavy footed to play on the left side of the line. Turns out that was incorrect — Long made four Pro Bowls and earned one All-Pro designation during his five years in Miami.
Long’s career didn’t have the ending he’d likely have chosen. After his run with the Dolphins, Long spent two years in St. Louis with the Rams and then one year each with the Falcons and Rams before retiring at age 31 after an Achilles tendon rupture. Long’s recovery from the injury was so intense that he was unable to walk for almost a full year.
Cheers to Jake for five great years and cheers to being another day closer to the return of Dolphins football!
