Good afternoon from Earth City…

We just finished listening to Billy Devaney and Scott Linehan explain their decision to draft UVA defensive end Chris Long with the second overall selection in the NFL Draft.

Honestly I can say I’ve never seen two football people more excited about choosing someone in a draft… it bordered on the comical, it was so over the top. “I’m a little geeked up right now,” Coach Linehan said.

The enthusiasm is great, and though I preferred LSU defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey (not that it matters), the Rams couldn’t go wrong with Long. He’ll give them everything he has, he’s a safer pick medically, and he fills a more pressing need.

 It’s impossible not to like Chris Long.

In gushing over C. Long, the interesting thing is, the Rams hardly talked about the football stuff, except for Long’s “high motor,” the cliche most often used to describe him.

Clearly, the Rams’ pick was more about drafting the person than the player. 

“This kid brings energy and life to the building,” Linehan said. “I can’t wait for you all to get to know him.”

And Devaney and Linehan talked a lot about Long’s father, NFL Hall of Famer Howie Long.

Howie Long was clearly a factor in the decision. “(Chris) was just what the doctor ordered, not just for the football team, but for our organization,” Linehan said. “What he’ll be able to bring to the team as far as other stuff…he inherited that from his father.”

Fasctinating.

And the odd thing is, the Rams didn’t deny that LSU defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey was No. 1 on their board.

But in the end, the Rams could not couldn’t resist Howie’s kid and all the intangibles he brings to the franchise.

-B