Gholston not surrendering hope he’ll be Dolphins’ man

By Tim Graham | Monday, April 21, 2008, 06:43 PM


Vernon Gholston has been hearing the reports, too.

Yet despite the rumblings Michigan tackle Jake Long is close to finalizing a deal with the Dolphins to be the No. 1 draft pick, Ohio State pass rusher Vernon Gholston still is hoping to hear his name announced first on Saturday.

“There’s been a lot of speculation of deals being done, but at the end of the day the Dolphins will take the guy they want,” Gholston told The Palm Beach Post today. “I think I’ve shown them all I can do.

“I think (the Dolphins) think highly of me, going back to my interviews with them. I think I fit their system well. I have a lot of attributes as far as the speed and know I can be a player in the 3-4 defense. Hopefully I’m that decision.”

An intriguing element here is that Gholston and Long were diametric forces in one of college football’s biggest rivalries, they now are teammates of sorts. Their agents both belong to Creative Arts Agency, the powerful firm that represents many of the game’s top players.

The Palm Beach Post, citing an NFL source, reported today that a Dolphins-Long deal is imminent. The source said “there’s a very good chance” Long already will be under contract before the NFL Draft begins at 3 p.m. Saturday in New York.

But if the Dolphins-Long talks break down, Gholston could be the beneficiary.

Gholston decided to enter the draft after a stellar junior season in which he was named Big Ten defensive lineman of the year. Long, the Big Ten offensive lineman of the year, gave up only one sack last year — to Gholston.

While considered a potential top 10 pick when he declared, Gholston’s stock has soared to the point he is considered worthy of being the Dolphins’ top choice.

“I would love to be a Dolphin and to play for them,” Gholston said. “With me, winning is everything, so I’ll work my butt off to make that happen as much as possible.

“Me being potentially the No. 1 pick, I know a lot of responsibility comes with that, but I’m definitely up to living up to that responsibility.”

man i hope they take gholston. then we'll have a chance at dorsey or j.long. :D