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Could the New York Giants end up as a beneficiary of the Miami Dolphins' stunning move to sign linebacker Dannell Ellerbe away from the Super Bowl champion Baltimore Ravens? As a result of signing Ellerbe, the Dolphins released veteran middle linebacker Karlos Dansby, a player some thought would come to the Giants before he signed with Miami as a free agent in 2010.
Could the 31-year-old Dansby's next stop be with the Giants? He needs a job, of course, and the Giants need a middle linebacker.
Dansby had a career-high 134 tackles for Miami in 2012, after posing 103 tackles in 2011. In 2012 he also had a sack and nine passes defensed.
Dansby spent the first six seasons of his career with the Arizona Cardinals, playing inside linebacker is a 3-4. The past few seasons with Miami, however, the Dolphins have played mostly 4-3 with Dansby in the middle. Looking at the tackle numbers, and the Pro Football Focus grades, the 6-foot-4, 250-pound Dansby has held up just fine.
In 2012, PFF graded Dansby at +6.0 overall (+7.5 vs. run, +0.6 vs pass). In 2011, PFF graded Dansby at +8.9 overall (+4.9 vs. run, +3.8 vs. pass).
Kevin Nogle, editor of SB Nation's Dolphins web site, The Phinsider, offered the following thoughts on Dansby:
"He's lost a step from what he was when the Dolphins signed him, but he's a good middle linebacker. There was talk of moving him back to OLB, where he excelled, and he would probably be better there, but all around, a good linebacker.
"I wouldn't spend huge amounts of money on him, but it's a worthwhile move for the Giants if they need a surefire starter."
Your thoughts, Giants' fans?