Karlos Dansby
Updated: 8:20 p.m.
As originally reported by Pro Football Talk, the Bengals hosted linebacker Karlos Dansby on Wednesday, a veteran with 127 starts who would be a candidate to start at SAM backer.
The 6-4, 243-pound Dansby has played outside and inside during his nine seasons and worked in the middle of the new Dolphins 4-3 defense last year after playing inside backer in Miami's 3-4 defense the previous two seasons. During his six seasons in Arizona, Dansby played everywhere in a variety of 3-4 and 4-3 looks.
(It will be recalled as a WILL backer he had one of Arizona's four interceptions in a Paul Brown Stadium victory on Nov. 18, 2007 in which he victimized quarterback Carson Palmer over the middle when he moved inside.)
Dansby, who turns 32 during the season, was the victim of a youth movement in Miami, which moved his $6 million salary and $8 million salary cap number.
With the Bengals saying that Rey Maualuga is staying at middle linebacker and Vontzae Burfict at WILL, they look to have interest in Dansby replacing Manny Lawson at SAM. It's believed they plan to visit with other potential veteran starters at that spot. It seems as if the club's top two wish list items before the April 25 first round are a deal to re-sign right tackle Andre Smith and get a veteran SAM since the draft isn't teemng with the bigger backers.
It's thought the Bengals visited with former Jets and Cardinals safety Kerry Rhodes on Tuesday and not Wednesday, when they did release cornerback Jason Allen. Allen was not the victim of the cap (where he was scheduled to make $3 million this year) or a youth movement a week after the Bengals re-signed 34-year-old cornerback Terence Newman to a two-year deal.
Allen, 29, simply couldn't get back on the field after some training-camp injuries because of strong play by Newman and Adam Jones, and he ended up playing in just four games and three snaps from scrimmage, according to Pro Football Focus.
Also Wednesday, West Virginia wide receiver Tavon Austin tweeted as he left St. Louis that he's visiting Cincinnati next on his draft tour. But this figures to be his last flight into Cincinnati before he arrives with the Rams. The 5-8, 173-pound dynamo doesn't figure to get past St. Louis at No. 16.
Also expected here later this week is running back Bernard Scott off his visit with the Raiders. It's believed the Bengals are going to check out the ACL he tore in the fourth game last season, but if they do make a move with a veteran running back it probably won't be until after evaluating their take in the draft.
That seemed to be the upshot of a PFT report Wednesday night that said the Bengals have expressed interest in Ahmad Bradshaw, but that only a visit in the next week or two is possible.
