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Chris Long still had to experience yesterday's NFL Draft, still has his first training camp and perhaps the humiliation he'll feel after getting schooled by an established NFL tackle.
But for the first time in the wonderful relationship he shares with his father, Hall of Famer Howie Long, son knew best.
In the days leading up to the draft, Chris, the high-motor, high-character and highly productive defensive end/outside linebacker from Virginia, had settled into a state of draft grace.
He knew he had done everything in his power, including running a 4.7 40 at the NFL Combine to improve his draft status, so why sweat it?
His father, however, knew no such ease.
"The other day he kept making peanut butter sandwiches," said Chris. "I asked him what he was doing. He said he couldn't relax. He had to keep eating. So he was making peanut butter sandwiches."
"I said, 'Dad, relax. Go for a drive or something," he added. "What's the worst thing that can happen? A couple of teams pass on me? 'Oh my God, the sky is falling! I'm an NFL draft pick.' "
Long was taken second by the Rams, who now have Leonard Little on one side and Long on the other. Long trained for the NFL Combine at Parisi's Speed School in North Jersey. His trainer, Martin Rooney, said he is impressed at how involved Howie was in his son's preparation.
"He's light years ahead of me in terms of his maturity," Howie Long said of his son. "He's probably mentally tougher than I was at that time."
lenn.robbins@nypost.com
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