I think the Dolphins are going to take Vernon Gholston.
Here's what General Manager Jeff Ireland had to say yesterday.
"I'm going after the player that best fits us," Ireland said. "That's the best way I can say it. I don't want bad guys on our team. Of course, I want guys that have great upside. It's the first pick in the draft."
Here comes the interesting part: "This guy is going to be .. you hope that he's a pillar of your defense for a long time. Of course, we think he's going to have upside. The economics, to me …"
At that point, Ireland was interrupted by a reporter pointing out that he had said a pillar of the defense, as opposed to a pillar of the team or a pillar, period.
"Pillar of your defense or offense, your team," Ireland replied. "A Freudian slip."
The guy that fits them on defense is Vernon Gholston. Chris Long doesn't fit the Miami Dolphins. Long is a 4-3 defensive end who weighs about 270 pounds.
Long has had the big build up from the media and will demand huge dollars.
Gholston on the other hand hasn't received the level of media coverage and probably would agree to take less money. He's a classic 3-4 outside linebacker in the mold of two guys Bill Parcells built his defenses on in New York and Dallas respectively, Lawrence Taylor and DeMarcus Ware.
Mark it down, you heard it here first. Vernon Gholston will be the first pick in the draft.
