Longview: Tackle lands in Gateway City

Free agent left tackle Jake Long has found a new home with the St. Louis Rams. Long signed with the Rams coming over from the Miami Dolphins, who he spent his first five seasons with. Long's deal with is a four-year contract, and it's worth up to $36 million. The Miami Dolphins drafted Long in the 2008 NFL draft, out of Michigan, he was the number one pick overall in the draft (the second pick in that draft, is current Rams defensive end: Chris Long, both Jake and Chris aren't related). As for Jake Long, he ended up starting in every game in his first three seasons, and in made the Pro Bowl four times (2008, 2009, 2010, and 2011).

In Long, the Rams upgrade their offensive line big time, yes they may have overpaid for him, but in the long-run it will pay off. And teams also need to overpay at times to improve themselves. St. Louis Rams QB Sam Bradford  looks like he'll have his best offensive-line around him for the first time in his NFL career. Bradford was also begging the Rams to get Long. Long has been hurt the past two seasons, but the Rams physical showed no red flags, when they had him in town on Wednesday. Long's injuries were related to triceps and biceps, and he ended up missing six games. He's also had shoulder and knee issues during his NFL career. But, the Rams ended up getting the best tackle in free agency. And if healthy, which he seems to be healthy as of right now, he'll help the Rams offensive line a lot.

Even though the Rams might not appear as winners in free agency as of right now to some, for losing WR Danny Amendola in free agency to the New England Patriots, the Rams are winners. Yes, they'll miss Amendola, but he gets hurt a lot, I'd love to see him stay healthy for a season though. But, the Rams have upgraded at TE by signing Jared Cook last week, and now by landing Jake Long. Both Cook and Long were listed as top free agents. Cook can also line up as a WR if need be at times. And yes, Cook's career numbers might not look that great, but he really didn't have that great of a QB throwing to him, when he was on the Titans. Bradford should be able to get the ball to Cook a lot, more than any of the Titans QB's did. And the Rams, haven't had a solid left tackle since the days of Orlando Pace, who could end up being in the Hall Of Fame someday.

The Rams current left tackle Rodger Saffold (until Jake Long signed with the Rams) can now be moved to either guard or right tackle. Saffold is in a contract year, and he's showed flashes that he can be a good football player, but he's been hurt the past couple of seasons. Saffold has only been healthy one time in his career so far, which is in his rookie year in 2010.

On a side note when will the Miami Dolphins learn that they can't beat the Rams during the offseason? Now the Dolphins are 0-3 against the Rams when it comes the offseason moves. The Rams beat them out for head coach Jeff Fisher last offseason, and this offseason the Dolphins lost out on both TE Jared Cook, and now left tackle Jake Long (who the Dolphins were hoping to keep). I'm kind of starting to wonder if it's something with the Dolphins owner or their general manger or both of them.