1 of 3 | Cincinnati Bengals Linebacker Karlos Dansby celebratres a missed kick by the Washington Redskins in the third game of the International Series at Wembley Stadium, London on October 30, 2016. Photo by Hugo Philpott/UPI. |
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The Arizona Cardinals agreed to terms on a one-year contract with free agent linebacker Karlos Dansby and a two-year deal with 42-year-old kicker Phil Dawson, the team announced Friday.
The 6-foot-4, 250-pound Dansby rejoins the Cardinals for the third time after spending last season with the Cincinnati Bengals. He previously played with the Cardinals for six seasons (2004-09) after beginning his career with Arizona as a second-round pick (33rd overall) in the 2004 NFL Draft out of Auburn and then rejoined the team in 2013 for one season.
During his first six seasons with the Cardinals, Dansby appeared in 90 games (83 starts) and collected 623 tackles, 25.5 sacks, 10 interceptions, 27 passes defensed, 13 forced fumbles and nine fumble recoveries. In 2013 with the Cardinals, he was named second-team All-Pro after he started all 16 games and had a career-high 135 tackles to go along with 6.5 sacks, four interceptions, one fumble recovery and one forced fumble.
Entering his 14th NFL season, the 35-year old Dansby also played for the Miami Dolphins (2010-12), Cleveland Browns (2014-15) and Cincinnati Bengals (2016). Last season in Cincinnati, Dansby led the Bengals with 114 tackles after playing in all 16 games (seven starts).
For his career, Dansby has appeared in 196 games (179 starts), recording 1,405 tackles, 42 sacks, 19 interceptions (six returned for touchdowns), 18 forced fumbles and 11 fumble recoveries. He has nine career 100-tackle seasons.
Dansby needs one more interception to become just the fifth player in NFL history with at least 40 career sacks and 20 career interceptions (Ray Lewis, Wilber Marshall, Seth Joyner, Brian Urlacher). His six interceptions returned for touchdowns are tied with Hall of Famers Bobby Bell and Derrick Brooks for the most by a linebacker in NFL history.
Dawson, an 18-year NFL veteran, ranks 10th in NFL history with 404 career field goals and has the highest all-time field-goal percentage (84.5) in league history. He has made 404 of 478 field goals and 480 of 490 extra points in 279 career games.
Last season with the San Francisco 49ers, Dawson connected on 18 of 21 field goals. He converted 24 of 27 field goals, including all three kicks of 50-plus yards, in 2015 when he was named the 49ers team MVP.
Dawson entered the league as an undrafted rookie free agent with the Oakland Raiders in 1998. He was with the New England Patriots' practice squad as a rookie before signing with the Cleveland Browns in 1999.
Dawson went on to spend 14 seasons with the Browns and set a franchise record with 305 field goals and ranks second in team history with 1,265 points (Lou Groza-1,349). Dawson was selected to the Pro Bowl in 2012 with the Browns and was twice named second-team All-Pro (2007, 2012).
Dawson then signed with the 49ers in 2013 where he made 99 of 115 field goals over the last four seasons, including a franchise-best 14 field goals of 50-plus yards.
