Dansby Wouldn't Mind Being A Giant

From Ralph Vacchiano of The New York Daily News:

It wasn’t exactly a declaration of intent. Consider it more of a little nudge, just to make sure the Giants are paying attention. But Karlos Dansby, the Arizona Cardinals linebacker who figures to be one of the top players at his position on the free-agent market in a few weeks, said today he “wouldn’t mind” playing in New York next year.

Speaking on The Sirius Blitz, with Adam Schein and John Riggins, on Sirius NFL Radio, Dansby made it clear his intention is to return to the Cardinals. But with the Cardinals’ well-earned reputation for being frugal, a big offer is not assured. And Dansby most definitely is after big money.

If that big money comes from New York — a team that could use a little help at linebacker? Well, that’s apparently OK with him.

“Oh, that’s a whole ‘nother animal, man,” Dansby said. “Playing in New York? Who wouldn’t want to play in New York? That’s just like playing for the Dallas Cowboys, you know what I’m saying? It’s a big market. You’re going to get an opportunity to be prime time. It’s a huge market. I wouldn’t mind playing in a huge market. I wouldn’t mind at all.

“It’s a tough situation to be in for me. Like I said, I want to make sure I’m comfortable, my family is comfortable, and everybody’s happy with the situation. Like I said, Arizona is up first. They gave me the first opportunity so they are the first ones I’m going to take a look at.”

Don’t get too excited, though. The 27-year-old Dansby is going to be expensive. When asked if he’d consider bolting on the Cardinals if their first offer wasn’t “good,” he said “I hope they don’t do something to take that respect away, you know? I’ve laid a lot on the line, been here for five years and, like I said, I helped turn the organization around and I just hope to get rewarded for it.”

And when asked if he had a price in mind, Dansby made it clear his price is high.

“I kind of want to see what everybody else is going to do,” he said. “I feel like I’m one of the elite players in the league if you ask me. I want to see what the other guys in my position are going to get such as Ray Lewis and Bart Scott. You’ve got Terrell Suggs out there. You’ve got guys like Albert Haynesworth that is going to take the market up to a whole ‘nother level. I want to see where these guys are going to take the market before I do anything. If the deadline passes, then we’re in a bidding war now so it’s a beautiful situation to be in and it’s kind of stressful at the same time because you want to know where you’re going to be and make sure your family and everybody is taken care of.”

Dansby, by the way, had four sacks and two interceptions on a pretty crummy defense last year. He’s 6-4, 250 and has some speed. He did have eight sacks in 2006 and, in his five-year career, he’s got 24 1/2 sacks and nine interceptions. And, considering the Giants could use an impact player at outside linebacker, he could be a nice addition.

But Ray Lewis, Albert Haynesworth and Terrell Suggs? Maybe Bart Scott, but the other three are on “a whole ‘nother” level.

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