NFL Free Agency: 10 Teams Who Could Have Interest in Takeo Spikes
Takeo Spikes, 13-year veteran linebacker, used to be one of the very best inside linebackers the league had to offer. His time in the spotlight as a top tier defender is over, but he is still succeeding mightily.
Patrick Willis may be the star for the San Francisco 49ers defense, but Spikes is coming off his best season with the team. He recorded 109 tackles—82 of them solo— which is the most he’s had since 2002 with Cincinnati.
He is one of the best inside linebackers on the current free-agent market. As teams look to sure up their defenses for a Super Bowl run in 2011-2012, acquiring a veteran with 1239 tackles (893 solo), 27.5 sacks, 18 interceptions, 14 forced fumbles and three touchdowns seems like the right dose of medicine for any team hoping to contend.
Should San Francisco let Takeo Spikes go, these 10 teams could have interest in his ability and experience as they eye a Super Bowl Championship next season.
10. New York Jets
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I think after last season, the Jets should just be a given to have interest anytime a big-name free agent is available.
Rex Ryan and the Jets are constantly seeking big-name players who have something to prove just so they can turn around and put up a finger or two to the rest of the league.
While many teams look to bring in youth, Rex Ryan is always looking to bring in an intense veteran.
The team already boasts one of the best linebacking duos in the game in Bart Scott and David Harris. Still, the Super Bowl hopeful could use depth at the linebacker position as they look to make it to their third-consecutive AFC Championship.
9. Houston Texans
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Okay, so at this point, anybody seems to be an upgrade for this unit ravaged by injuries and a lack of talent altogether.
Although Brian Cushing is heading to the inside in Wade Phillips’ scheme, make no mistake about it—the defensive coordinator would love to add a player of Spikes’ caliber.
The Texans desperately need to improve the secondary, but strengthening the linebacker unit might make people believe that they can get it done with a great front seven. The Texans would have a deadly inside linebacking rotation with Cushing, DeMeco Ryans and Spikes.
Cushing has been in trouble for violating the league’s substance abuse policy and Ryans is coming off a devastating Achilles’ heel injury.
Adding Takeo to the mix would allow Phillips to maintain a solid rotation to keep them fresh and hopefully healthy for the entire 2011 season.
8. Baltimore Ravens
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Like the Texans, the Ravens need to upgrade their cornerback position more than anything else on the defensive side of the ball.
Still, could you imagine how fired up this entire defensive unit would be by putting Takeo Spikes with Terrell Suggs and the ultimate motivator, Ray Lewis? Spikes would manage to inject some intensity to even this unit!
Now that’s scary!
Spikes would perhaps be even more motivated than ever to play with linebackers the caliber of Lewis and Suggs. This trio would be one of the scariest in the history of the league.
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7. Kansas City Chiefs
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The Chiefs have one of the best young defenses in the league. I raved about them all season.
In my opinion, their secondary is out of this world, but they need help on the front seven. I predict them to draft a defensive tackle in April, but they need to add experience behind a fine defensive line.
Aside from Derrick Johnson, I’m personally not a fan of the rest of this linebacking unit.
Takeo Spikes would add a ton of experience to a young defense. Kansas City would have two defensive tackling studs in Spikes and Johnson that they could rely on for the entire year.
He would be playing for a fantastic defensive coordinator in Romeo Crennel and would be invaluable for the continuation of their 2010 success in 2011.
6. Miami Dolphins
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The Dolphins need to make a splash this offseason. They did so last year with Brandon Marshall, but as the offenses in the AFC East improve, they need to bolster their defense.
The dumbest player in this league may just be Channing Crowder.
He’s a fine football player, as evidenced by his first four seasons in the league. He posted two seasons with at least 100 tackles. He has struggled mightily the past two seasons. I could see the team trying to cut bait somehow this offseason.
Takeo Spikes would be a fantastic piece to add to a solid defensive unit.
Karlos Dansby will return from injury and is one of the better players at his position. Combining Dansby, Spikes and breakout player Cameron Wake would be a threesome most offensive lines would not like to see at any point in a season.
The Dolphins need to make moves to better the team and have them competing in 2011; this linebacking trio would allow them to do just that.
5. Denver Broncos
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The Broncos actually have a great opportunity to right the mess Josh McDaniels left this team.
They have a lot of draft picks in the early rounds and could form a great defense now that Elvis Dumervil is moving back to defensive end. Champ Bailey is also returning to a fine secondary of youth and experience.
The Broncos desperately need to stop the run in the AFC West with Jamaal Charles and Darren McFadden emerging as two of the top running backs in the game with their remarkable playmaking abilities.
Spikes and D.J. Williams would form a very reliable core to rely on in 2011. Restricted free agent Wesley Woodyard is showing potential and would be in line for even more playing time in 2011 if he returns, but Takeo Spikes would provide some much-needed glue to this defense together.
4. Detroit Lions
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The Lions are finally on the right track.
The defense really came together in 2011 but have a lot of tweaks that need to be ironed out. They do boast one of the best young safeties in the game in Louis Delmas. Even better, they have the luxury of putting the best defensive tackle in the league in Ndamukong Suh out on the field.
The Lions just need to add a few more pieces to truly contend for the NFC North division title as soon as 2011.
They are seeking help at the linebacker position and need to provide the unit with depth if they want to succeed in a tough division. DeAndre Levy could be headed to the outside, which would make room for Spikes to come in and provide a huge spark in 2011.
Putting Spikes behind Suh on this defense would be a nightmare for most offenses. They would make for a relentless duo capable of leading this team to the playoffs.
3. New York Giants
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Is it just me, or does it seem like the Giants are constantly battling issues at the linebacker position year in and year out?
The Giants have the potential to have one of the best defenses in the league, but they need to continue building depth to solidify their chances of that achievement. Michael Boley decimated Tony Romo but is dealing with a shoulder injury of his own.
The Giants signed Keith Bullock last season but that did not work out as well as they had hoped.
Clint Sintim has shown potential in his young career, but also landed on IR.
Jonathan Goff did a fantastic job, but he can’t do it by himself.
The Giants need a linebacker of Spikes’ caliber—badly. They have a great defensive line and secondary, but the lack of continuity at the linebacker position is truly holding this team back from being one of the best teams in the NFL.
2. Washington Redskins
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It appears to be a given that the Redskins will be without the services of Rocky McIntosh. Some, including myself, would say that they’re better off going this route.
The Redskins are looking to regroup, retool and rebuild, but every team needs a veteran captain to guide the youngins along the way. There may only be a handful of better veterans to sign on the free-agent market to help institute a sense of responsibility, accountability, intensity and experience.
2010-2011 Pro Bowl linebacker London Fletcher would team with Spikes to create one of the best veteran linebacker combinations in the game. The two would certainly wreak havoc on the rest of the NFC East.
1. Indianapolis Colts
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The Colts desperately need to upgrade their linebacking unit. There wouldn’t be many linebackers in Colts history with the name value and talent of Spikes—even now.
Indianapolis urgently needs a more experienced and talented player to captain this unit. He would provide a monstrous spark to this defense with his power, strength and intensity.
Playing behind two of the best defensive ends in the league in Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis would do wonders for Spikes and make things much easier on him as he continues to age.
Gary Brackett just is not as effective as the Colts need him to be. Spikes would be the anchor this defense has been desperately searching for.
This is a signing the Colts need to look into if they want to win the AFC South again.
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