Dhani Jones ranks himself ahead of Urlacher and Briggs

FoulBalls- Jones appeared last week on the NFL Network's "NFL Total Access" show and was asked to rate the top 10 linebackers in the league. He wasn't shy about ranking himself at No. 7, one slot ahead of the Bears' Lance Briggs. Urlacher didn't even make the list, which was topped by Patrick Willis of the San Francisco 49ers. 

When Jones was asked how he could put himself on the list while leaving off a big-name linebacker such as Urlacher, the Bengals' bigmouth dissed the Bears' Bigfoot: "When's the last time Brian Urlacher got off a block?"

During his career, which began in 2001, Dhani Jones has had some solid seasons. His best year statistically came in 2010 when he made 125 tackles. He's eclipsed the 100 tackle mark four times in his ten seasons. Brian Urlacher has done so eight times in his eleven seasons, and that includes two years that Urlacher lost to injury.


   Why is Brian Urlacher consistently voted most overrated? Am I missing something? Because I'm usually the first person to recognize when someone is getting over-hyped by the media just because they are white (cough Jimmer cough). But with Urlacher, I don't see it. He makes plays in the run game as well as the pass game. The reason we run the Tampa 2 is because we have a linebacker like Urlacher who can cover running backs and tight ends 25 yards down the field. And sideline to sideline he is one of the best run stoppers in the game. 

Listen, I don't put Urlacher in the same group as Ray Lewis or Patrick Willis as far as the best current middle linebackers in the game, but he has to be in the group below them. He's probably around 8-12 best if you include inside and outside linebackers. James Harrison, DeMarcus Ware, Jerod Mayo, Clay Matthews and even Lance Briggs should all be ranked ahead of him. 


As far as Dhani Jones goes, I think Warren Sapp said it perfectly on the NFL network the other night, "His list sucks, he (Dhani) isn't even in the top 20."