The Untold Truth Of Howie Long

Unlike his son, Chris, who was one of the top collegiate players entering the 2008 NFL Draft, Howie Long's professional football career was not a guarantee. In the 1981 Draft, Long was a defensive tackle from Villanova who was projected to be, at best, a late-round pick, as Long recalled (also posted on YouTube). Instead, Oakland Raiders owner Al Davis decided to pick Long with the No. 48 pick in the second round at the befuddlement of the viewing public. ESPN analysts called Long's early selection, "a wasted pick" and argued that Long could have been selected in a much later round. Analysts did not even have films of Long playing and could not find much information outside of the lineman's size. However, as Long said, that may have been enough for the Raiders."The Raiders were famous for drafting bigger, stronger, faster, tougher ... I think I fit the mold with a lot of upsides physically, but a lot of untabbed potential," Long said.

Standing at 6'5 and 270 lbs, Long was certainly more than big enough to fit the mold of an NFL defensive lineman. Under the guidance of the Raiders, Long became one of the best players of his era. At his Hall of Fame speech, he made sure to credit owner Al Davis for his selection. "Many of the football experts viewed that pick as a stretch, a reach, a surprise. But Al Davis saw something in me that many, including myself, did not," Long recalled.