Dhani Jones Ranks Himself as a Top-10 Linebacker in the NFL

by Jason Garrison on Jun 19, 2011 2:00 PM EDT

Cincinnati Bengals free agent linebacker, Dhani Jones, recently spent some time on NFL Network where he shared his thoughts on the top-10 linebackers in the NFL.

Jones ranks Carolina Panthers linebacker Jon Beason in tenth place and Washington Redskins linebacker London Fletcher in ninth place. Jones says Chicago Bears linebacker Lance Briggs belongs in eighth place. He then ranked himself as the seventh best linebacker in the NFL.

"No. 7, my favorite one, is Dhani Jones," Jones said. "Just thinking about what he's able to do time and time again."

He also mentioned his offseason travel and his patented great-play dance, the air guitar.

Jones finished off his top-10 linebackers list in the following order:

No. 6 - New England Patriots linebacker Jerod Mayo

No. 5 - Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis

No. 4 - Green Bay Packers linebacker Clay Matthews

No. 3 - Dallas Cowboys linebacker DeMarcus Ware

No. 2 - Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison

No. 1 - San Francisco 49ers linebacker Patrick Willis

Of course Jones' list stirred up some controversy between the hosts. Jones was asked why he didn't put Chicago Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher on the list, to which Jones replied "When was the last time Urlacher got off a block?"

He was also criticized for leaving Steelers linebacker LaMarr Woodley off the list. Warren Sapp, an NFL Network host, sprayed Febreze on the piece of paper Jones had his list written on and said, " Now your list doesn't stink anymore."

Jones has led the Bengals in tackles for the last three seasons, but it's unclear as to whether or not the Bengals will re-sign him once the lockout finally comes to an end. Rey Maualuga seems to be primed to move to middle linebacker, where he belongs, to replace Jones this season, but that leaves question marks about who will play outside linebacker opposite of Keith Rivers.

If the Bengals decide to re-sign Jones, Maualuga will move back to outside linebacker, if not, they'll need to find a new outside linebacker, possibly Michael Johnson or Brandon Johnson, if they re-sign him.

If Jones truly is the seventh best linebacker in the NFL, maybe the Bengals should re-sign him.

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Comments

Pfft.

Dhani was garbage in 2010. I’d take Urlacher over Jones any day of the week. As I’ve said before, if he’s resigned, it should be in a veteran support/depth role. He is not the answer in the middle. He was consistantly graded miserably by PFF. Every single week. Something like 80+% of passes that targeted him were completed for something like 7 yards average. Yes he is a tackling machine, unfortunately, they come a little too late. PFF was calling for him to be benched after the week 4 loss to the Browns and every week thereafter.

He cannot hold down the middle. No one fears him or gameplans for him. He is a liability against almost every TE in the game. He is in no way a top 10 LB and he’s fooling himself if he really believes he is. His football IQ is off the charts, but his body is not capable. Mentor Rey, sure, but he wouldn’t start anywhere else in the NFL.

by Cry on Jun 19, 2011 3:58 PM EDT reply actions