Karlos Dansby to the Cincinnati Bengals

Nov 30, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns inside linebacker Karlos Dansby (56) returns an interception for a touchdown during the third quarter against the Baltimore Ravens at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports /

Volatile Cincinnati Bengals LB Vontaze Burfict will be suspended for the first three games of 2016. That leaves Rey Maualuga, A.J. Hawk and Vincent Rey to be the three starting LBs in the team’s 4-3 defense. The Bengals have a solid DL in front of them too but there’s just one problem here.

Hawk is done and could end up being the big liability, especially vs the pass in 2016 for those three games Burfict is suspended. And three games is a huge chunk of the season when you’re competing to with an AFC North with the Pittsburgh Steelers in it. The Baltimore Ravens appear ready to get up off the canvas after getting knocked down last year too.

The Cleveland Browns are heading in the right direction with new head coach Hue Jackson but have a ways to go. So it is the Ravens and the Steelers that the Bengals have to find a way to get through those three games with. And from the looks of things, the Bengals have found a way through those three games.

Karlos Dansby visited the team last week and is now on the verge of signing on the dotted line. Dansby isn’t the same against the run but is still a playmaker in the passing game, where Hawk suffers. The 34-year-old had a pair of pick-6s last season for the third time in his career in 2015.

Dansby has been a 3-4 LB over throughout his career so he will need to adjust to the new base scheme. But as he is now, he’ll be on the field more in nickel situations with his coverage skills. He could very well remain in that role when Burfict is back from his suspension so this is a good signing for the Bengals,

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