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The shortened NFL draft immediately went long Saturday when Miami officially selected Michigan tackle Jake Long, then St. Louis grabbed Virginia defensive end Chris Long. After St. Louis took the son of Pro Football Hall of Famer Howie Long, Matt Ryan of Boston College, who could solve the quarterback problems in Atlanta, went to the Falcons.
Following a long-standing tradition, Oakland went for the gamebreaking threat in Arkansas running back Darren McFadden, prompting the fans in Radio City Music Hall to boo loudly. Many wanted the All-American to fall to the New York Jets at No. 6.
The Jets wound up with Vernon Gholston, a defensive end/linebacker from Ohio State, who must now learn to play in the 3-4 alignment the team prefers.
All-American defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey of national champion LSU was taken one spot before that by the Chiefs in what was becoming a somewhat predictable opening to the draft. Dorsey patted his heart as he held up a No. 1 Chiefs red jersey that was so small he, frankly, could never fit into it.
Jake Long signed a five-year contract with the Dolphins this week worth $57.75 million, $30 million of it guaranteed. After commissioner Roger Goodell announced Long's name at Radio City Music Hall, the St. Louis Rams went on the clock.
The NFL cut the first round from 15 minutes per pick to 10, and the Dolphins used only a few seconds to hand in their card. The Rams and Falcons didn't take much longer, but the Raiders used almost their entire time, as did Kansas City.
Jake Long became the first top overall pick from Michigan since Tom Harmon in 1941. He was accompanied by several family members onstage as he donned a Dolphins hat.
Then came another Long, who proudly held up a Rams jersey and pointed to the fans in the upper deck of the hall. Chris Long is the second straight defensive lineman selected in the opening round by St. Louis, following Nebraska's Adam Carriker last year. Carriker likely will move to DT to open a spot for his new teammate.
Ryan has an open course to starting in Atlanta, with Michael Vick in jail on dogfighting charges, and only journeymen Chris Redman and Joey Harrington to compete with.
McFadden joins a crowded backfield in Oakland, where Justin Fargas recently signed a new contract and Dominic Rhodes and LaMont Jordan are on the roster.
Dorsey will be a building block for the Chiefs, who are revamping their roster this offseason. Gholston could do the same for the Jets, who have lacked a true pass-rushing threat since trading away John Abraham.
Written By BARRY WILNER
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