Occasionally this offseason, we’re going to post something that we’d like to see the Patriots do, be it a free agent pickup, a draft choice, a coaching move, or even cutting ties with a player.
One thing I’d really like to see the Patriots do is pursue free agent inside linebacker Karlos Dansby.
As this bit by Joe Fortenbaugh on the National Football Post outlines, Dansby should be in demand this offseason, and to this point has had no talks with the Cardinals about a new contract.
Dansby has the size that Bill Belichick likes in his inside linebackers (6-4, 250lbs), he’s led Arizona in tackles each of the last three seasons, has been a defensive captain the last two years, and has plenty of postseason experience the last two years with the Cardinals. You might remember seeing Dansby recover an Aaron Rodgers fumble in OT and take it in for the winning TD in this year’s wild card playoffs. That’s the type of right-place, right time, big play moment that the Patriots have been lacking on defense.
Dansby is just 28 years old, and should have a number of good years coming up. From the outside, he seems to be a “character guy” who might be able to help with the much over-hyped leadership void on the young Patriots defense.
Gary Guyton is a nice player, but he’s woefully overmatched as a starting inside linebacker next to Jerod Mayo in the middle of the Patriots defense. Put this guy next to Mayo, and have Guyton as a jack-of-all-trades linebacker in positions where he can use his freakish speed and athletic ability, and the defense is better already.
Patriots Daily 
Seriously…this would be an immense addition, but could we afford him? He’s going to be punching a serious meal ticket this year and there’s a long list of R/FA’s on the team that need to be addressed.
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Agreed. That’s why this is a “wish” list instead of a “to do” list.
Maybe I should call it a “pipe dream” list.
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I’ve got a different, if unorthodox, suggestion: Let’s acquire Anqan Bolden instead or, better yet, both. We need help on both sides of the ball.
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THAT would be a huge pickup – what would the ransom be, I wonder? Would Arizona accept a 2nd rounder?
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Longtime Pats fan who lives in AZ. I’ve been to almost every Cardinals home game the past 5 years (hey, live football is live football). I have always said Dansby is one of the most overrated players on the defense. He makes the occasional big play that makes the highlight reel, but for every one of those he will make 4 or 5 stupid, undisciplined plays that cost his team field position and sometimes points. (When the Panthers beat the Cards at home this year DeAngelo Williams had an 80 yard run off tackle that was Dansby’s fault because he ran out of his lane and left the middle of the field wide open. Sound familiar?). Dansby has physical talent but lacks football intelligence and is undisciplined. Sounds like a Raven or a Jet to me, but not a Patriot. I hope the team looks elsewhere.
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Good feedback. Thanks for the info.
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Bruce, I’d say there are bigger holes to fill on the team than ILB, right? Big fan of Guyton and a healthy Mayo. OLB talent is the biggie.
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These are all kind of random. Just as they come to me. No particular order of importance.
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