After weeks of rumors, Jake Long has made a decision and signed with the St. Louis Rams, leaving the Miami Dolphins after being a first overall pick in 2008.
According to ESPN.com, Long met with the team over the weekend and Kevin Demoff, the team's chief operating officer, confirmed the deal on Sunday night. The contract is for four-years and could be for at least $36 million, a league source told ESPN's Adam Schefter. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported the deal was worth $36 million, according to ESPN.com.
Long has had a productive career in Miami, but he was placed on injured reserve at the end of the season after dealing with a triceps injury. The 27-year-old left tackle was drafted number one overall out of Michigan by the Dolphins and was a Pro Bowl player for most of his career, including in the past four years apart from last season.
Before getting put on injured reserve he only missed two games and was dominant on the offensive line. There were reports he could return to Miami, but the Rams made him an attractive offer. ESPN reports that the Steelers also made a push for Long, but he was already in contract talks with the Rams.
Rams general manager Les Snead said injuries were not a concern for the team and pointed to his track record in his career. Long also received a good report from Dr. James Andrews, who was the doctor that performed his surgery.
"What I'll say is, health is not a problem," Snead said.
The Rams now can enter the draft without having to focus specifically on the offensive line early in the draft. The team will need to improve against teams like the Seahawks, who brought in Cliff Avril as a free agent.
"You never want to go into a draft just desperate because then you will end up drafting a position and those are just two letters in the alphabet," Rams general manager Les Snead said from the NFL owners meeting earlier Sunday. "At the end of the day, it's the player that is playing the position that determines whether he is good, very good, excellent, rare, just above average."
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The Rams went 7-9 in their first season under head coach Jeff Fisher and ranked just 19th in rushing last season and the addition of Long could help with the loss of running back Steven Jackson, who signed with the Falcons. The Rams made a move themselves after both the 49ers and Seahawks did, as the Seahawks acquired Percy Harvin and the 49ers traded for Anquan Boldin.
Long was one of the most consistent offensive linemen in the league after being drafted number one overall in 2008, but he has struggled over the past two years with injuries and missed four games last year after suffering a left triceps injury. Long also missed the final game of the 2011 season after suffering a biceps injury, although he has been healthy for the majority of his career.