I always find it fascinating when years after the fact a lot of actors talk about being a serious contender or turning down the role, etc. This article in particular sounds a lot like Adam West and Burt Reynolds being serious contenders back in the post-Connery days. It's one thing to know something solid like John Gavin was signed for DAF before Connery was lured back or Brosnan was signed for TLD until Remington Steele was renewed.
Neeson, on the other hand, said "heavily courted just as other actors were." That seems far from having signed on the dotted line. Besides Brosnan, it seemed the favored actor at the time from the general public and the mainstream press was Mel Gibson. "Heavily courted" seems more appropriate for somebody like Sam Neill, whose screen test we've actually seen and who was apparently almost signed until Cubby objected.
While it sounds good, the Neeson story sounds a little too good. Marry or be Bond. I just really have my doubts anybody but Brosnan was a back-up plan back in the 6-year hiatus.
Neeson is a fine actor, but one I've never been much of a fan of, so I can honestly say although I'm not a huge Brosnan supporter that he was the better choice for Bond. Neeson just doesn't seem like he could carry the Bond charisma, too tall and nothing really defining.. That's just my feeling.