Before the Bengals and linebacker James Harrison started talks on a new contract that appear to be heading nowhere fast, they had veteran linebacker Karlos Dansby in for a visit.
They may be getting back in touch. Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network reports that the team “remains interested” in Dansby, who was let go by the Dolphins earlier this offseason. Nothing has ramped up, according to the report, but it wouldn’t be surprising to see that change in the near future.
If Harrison and the Bengals aren’t able to agree on a price, it makes sense that the Bengals would then just move to the next name on their list in hopes of spending what they want to get the linebacking help they need. With Manny Lawson gone to Buffalo, the team is looking for a linebacker to go with Vontaze Burfict and Rey Maualuga. Dansby’s experienced enough that he should be up to speed quickly for the Bengals, who have made a habit in recent years of waiting out the market to find veteran additions to the roster at the prices they want to pay.
Dansby hasn’t drawn much interest from anyone other than the Bengals at this point, which bodes for the Bengals’ attempts to get him on an affordable contract unless another team emerges from the draft with a stronger desire to bolster their linebacking corps.