DAVIE, Fla. — Karlos Dansby said before the season he expects one day to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. So naturally the Miami Dolphins linebacker is now touting himself for the Pro Bowl. Dansby, 31, hasn’t made one in his first seven seasons. But, all his boasting aside, he does have a shot. Dansby leads the Dolphins with 85 solo and 111 total tackles. With two games left, he’s in on pace to top his career highs of 94 and 119, both set in 2007 with the Arizona Cardinals. “I should be,’’ Dansby said in an interview with FOX Sports Florida about being selected for the AFC for the Jan. 27 game against the NFC in Honolulu. “Turn on the film. I’m 15 tackles away from 100 tackles. Everybody ain’t doing that. Look at the stats. Everybody ain’t doing that. However you want to cut it, if you have 100 solo tackles, you’re doing the job.’’ Pro Bowl starters and reserves will be announced Wednesday. Balloting by fans, coaches and players each will count for one-third of the vote. Alternates will be named after players drop out due to injury and after the Super Bowl matchup is set since players from those teams won’t play. The Dolphins have one player all but certain to be selected in defensive end Cameron Wake, seeking to return after making his first appearance two years ago. Wake is fourth in the NFL with 14 sacks, so it can’t be called boasting when he stakes his claim to be in Hawaii. “I would hope so,’’ Wake said of being picked. “That would truly be an honor to be able to represent the AFC and my team.’’ Other Miami players with realistic Pro Bowl chances include punter Brandon Fields, center Mike Pouncey and safety Reshad Jones. Fields leads the NFL with a 50.6 average and was the leading vote-getter among punters in fan voting, which ended earlier this week. Three other Miami players who previously have played in Pro Bowls can’t be ruled out. They are defensive tackles Paul Soliai and Randy Starks and long snapper John Denney. Denney won’t learn his fate next week since the AFC coach will choose the long snapper, and it will be a few weeks before coaches for the game are known.
Players filled out their ballots Thursday and Friday. Pouncey revealed there is an agreement between Miami and Pittsburgh players to get both Pouncey and his twin brother, Steelers center Maurkice Pouncey, in the game. “I had all the guys (on the Dolphins) vote for my brother,’’ said the Miami center. “We can’t vote for each other … No question, (Pittsburgh players will be voting for Mike Pouncey). I’m friends with all those guys (on the Steelers). They respect my game and they watch it, so it’s not like they’re doing anything they aren’t supposed to.’’ Mike Pouncey admits his brother, a third-year man who made the Pro Bowl in his first two seasons, is “better than me.’’ Still, the Dolphins second-year man believes he’s worthy of his first selection. “I think I’ve had a Pro Bowl season,’’ he said. “I think I deserve it, but it isn’t my choice.’’ As for Wake, Mike Pouncey believes the guy he calls “one of the best defensive ends in the league’’ is a lock. Dansby also has little doubt Wake’s name will be heard when Pro Bowl teams are announced Wednesday night on the NFL Network. “He’s a no-brainer,’’ Dansby said. “He’s been balling.’’ Of course, Dansby also believes he’s a no-brainer. Chris Tomasson can be reached at christomasson@hotmail.com or on Twitter @christomasson
