Dolphins offer Jake Long pre-draft deal with a deadline

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

It looks like Miami is going to do a Houston Texans type pre-draft deal like when Houston shocked the world by signing Mario Williams in a pre-draft before Reggie Bush and it appears the Dolphins have made an offer with a deadline for Jake to accept or decline.

If he accepts then the Rams will be the first team to choose on draft day,If the deadline is not met then it is reported that Vernon Gholston will be offered the same type pre-draft contract instead of Jake.

There apparently is NO discussions with Miami with any other player other than Jake despite rumors.

So if all of this is true then Chris Long may drop a spot or two,unexpectedly.

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/blogs/...008/04/14/si_report_jake_long_has_deadli.html

 

[JoePats]

If Parcells lowered the contract for #1 then theoretically everyone will have a lesser contract than last year?

 

[Kontradiction]

If he signs, the Dolphins instantly upgrade their QB protection... whomever that QB may be.

 

[BionicPatriot]

Please god, have you any mercy left in your soul?

Gholston in a Patriots uniform, it's only right at this point.


Sign the deal Long, you know you want to.

 

[patchick]

If he accepts then the Rams will be the first team to choose on draft day

Technical question...if he accepts, with a week+ to go before the draft, can't the Rams immediately start negotiating with their pick?

 

[primetime]

Technical question...if he accepts, with a week+ to go before the draft, can't the Rams immediately start negotiating with their pick?

Yes, that's correct.

 

[Spiral]

This move could backfire on Parcells, if Jake Long is the consensus #1 pick, as this seems increasingly likely.

Long's agent takes Bill's low-ball offer, and shops it to the Rams. If the Rams agree to a better deal than Parcells is offering, then Long's agent tells Parcells to take a long walk off a short pier. The Rams can take Long, or pre-arrange a trade.

Parcells is then stuck. He can offer the same contract to his second choice, but that player's agent would likely do the same thing as Long's agent. In any event, Parcells will be taking his second or third choice at #1, with that player fully expecting a better contract than Long at #2.

 

[patchick]

This move could backfire on Parcells, if Jake Long is the consensus #1 pick, as this seems increasingly likely.

Long's agent takes Bill's low-ball offer, and shops it to the Rams. If the Rams agree to a better deal than Parcells is offering, then Long's agent tells Parcells to take a long walk off a short pier.

And if they get caught doing this...?

ONLY the Dolphins are allowed to negotiate with players at this stage, so nothing the Rams "agree" to would be enforceable (and if they were caught colluding to undermine the draft, both sides would be in a heap of pain). Plus lowballing is relative...a low #1 deal still beats a high #2 deal, and every agent wants his player to be drafted #1. Seems to me that an agent would be taking a massive risk by trusting an under-the-table deal in this situation.

 

[rookBoston]

Yeah, that would be tampering, I think. Miami has exclusive rights to negotiate.

 

[JoePats]

Yeah, that would be tampering, I think. Miami has exclusive rights to negotiate.

Well, the Rams might think it would be worth it to give up just a 5th round pick

 

[SamBamsFan]

Technical question...if he accepts, with a week+ to go before the draft, can't the Rams immediately start negotiating with their pick?

Actually, I believe that is not correct. Technically the pick hasn't been made until the start of the draft so any "agreement" is not valid until that point.
Yuck. Time to break down the rule book...