FOLEY, Ala. — Football players from Foley High School and Fairhope High School received a pep talk Tuesday from NFL offensive lineman Jake Long about giving one's body the proper care needed to succeed on and off the field.

Long, the first overall pick in the 2008 NFL draft, spoke to Pirates and Lions players about meal plans, rest and training.

“Athletes, and especially us football players, we've got to take care of our bodies," Long said, noting it takes him around 3-4 days to recoup from a game and a healthy meal plan is important.

Long also touched upon performance enhancing substances and the dangers of illegal substances like steroids and HGH.

"Talk to your coaches first," Long said. "Get them and your trainers to give you the right stuff.

"Stay away from steroids and HGH," he said.

Long concluded the speech with two more pieces of advice.

"Take school very importantly. My two goals were to get my high school and college degrees…It helps you out so much in sports because it requires thinking.

"And listen to your coaches. Be coachable."

The talk was part of an initiative by Athletes Performance — an institution based in Gulf Breeze, Fla. which helps athletes with physical therapy, nutrition and training — to offer young area athletes tips on how to perform well.

Long is an offensive tackle for the Miami Dolphins. Another Dolphins offensive lineman — Vernon Carey — also was scheduled to attend, but Long said Carey had flight troubles.

Players from Colquitt High School, of Moultrie, Ga. and Oxford High School, of Birmingham, also attended the talk.