Football season is in the air. The Denver Broncos start training camp tomorrow in Dove Valley. The first full practice is at 10:00 a.m. The Broncos are looking for offensive line help. Jake Long is scheduled to visit with them today.
Jake Long was the number one overall pick in the 2008 NFL Draft by the Miami Dolphins. In his rookie year he started all 16 games at left tackle. He played for the Dolphins until 2012. The St. Louis Rams gave him a four year $36 million contract. He lived up to the contract in 2013, starting 15 out of the 16 regular season games. Last year, he only appeared in 7 games. In week 8 during a 34-7 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, he tore his ACL and was gone for the season. This was the second torn ACL in two years. The Rams released him because they didn’t want to risk him tearing another ACL and he had a $10 million cap hit. Long visited two NFL teams so far. He worked out with the Atlanta Falcons on Tuesday and the New York Giants for a second time on Wednesday.
Denver could use Long at the tackle position. Their starting left tackle, Ryan Clady, tore his ACL in a workout during OTA’s (organized team activities). He was placed on injured reserved and will be out for the rest of the season.
Denver definitely needs another offensive lineman. Heading into training camp, the Broncos have rookie Ty Sambrailo as the starting left tackle and Chris Clark on the right side. Denver signed veteran Ryan Harris after Clady’s injury. This just provides a backup who has played the tackle position.
Long would help the Denver Broncos if stays healthy. Denver has to find someway to protect quarterback Peyton Manning for 16 regular season games. They have no idea what they have in Ty Sambrailo since he is just a rookie. Adding a veteran like Jake Long would provide not only leadership but also playing experience at the tackle position.
If the Denver medical staff decides there is nothing wrong with Long, Denver should sign him. He has never been a backup in the league and would compete with both Ty Sambrailo and Chris Clark. He might even beat them out for the starting job. It’s a risk worth taking.
How would Jake Long help the Denver Broncos?
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