Fast Break

NFL draft

Long signs with Dolphins

Michigan tackle Jake Long has signed a multiyear contract with the Miami Dolphins, who plan to select him with the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft on Saturday.

The Dolphins were interested in trading the top pick, but no suitors surfaced – so they decided to sign Long and avoid a possible holdout. Last year’s top pick, JaMarcus Russell, missed all of training camp before signing a $61 million contract with the Oakland Raiders.

The new Miami regime led by Bill Parcells began negotiations last week with Long’s agent, Tom Condon. Offensive line is considered the biggest need for the Dolphins, who went 1-15 last year, and new Miami coach Tony Sparano coached the offensive line with the Dallas Cowboys previously.

NBA

Garnett named top defender

Boston’s Kevin Garnett won the NBA’s defensive player of the year award Tuesday. He beat out Denver’s Marcus Camby and Houston’s Shane Battier.

The 6-foot-11 forward led the Celtics with 9.2 rebounds per game. He added 18.8 points, 1.2 blocks and 1.4 steals.

Garnett helped the Celtics to league-best records of 66-16 (.805) overall and 31-10 (.738) on the road. Boston held opponents to just 90.3 points (second in the NBA) after allowing 99.2 points per game a season ago. The Celtics had the biggest one-year turnaround in NBA history.

Garnett received 493 points, including 90 first-place votes. Camby, who won the award last season, finished second with 178 points.

SportsLink

Vandals’ Akey unplugged

Didn’t get your fix of spring football? Check out our SportsLink blog with more on spring football from Idaho, Washington State and Eastern.

The Vandals just wrapped up their spring practice with the annual Silver and Gold game. Staff writer Greg Lee turned on the tape recorder and let second-year coach Robb Akey go. He says the team is “a lot better than a year ago today. We’ve come a million miles and I’m very, very happy about that.”

Check out what else he has to say about the Vandals at spokesmanreview.com/sports.