Bengals Release Andy Dalton, Jaguars Could be His Next Team

Cincinnati Bengals released their long-term starting quarterback Andy Dalton earlier today. The person who was a franchise face for the last nine years will leave the team where he spent the entire career.

This news was confirmed by Mike Brown, the team president of the Bengals.

“Andy will always hold a special place with this franchise, and I know that he holds a special place in my heart. This is a hard day for our club because we know and appreciate what a consummate professional Andy has always been,” he said.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OIkSNaO9HxM

In nine seasons spent there, Dalton became the franchise leader in TD passes with 204, and one of the most popular players in the league. In the meantime, the 32-year old received three Pro Bowl selections, and also led the team to five straight playoff appearances in his opening campaigns. Sadly for the Bengals’ fans, the team didn’t win a single postseason game. As a starter, he had 70 wins, 61 losses, and two draws.

Over the previous four years, the team has become mediocre and posted losing records. They weren’t able to create good chemistry on the field, and a lot of people are pointing towards Dalton as the main man to blame. Since 2016, Cincinnati won just 20 matches under his leadership, and AD even managed to lose the starting job position in 2019.

The executives of the franchise didn’t have the slightest doubt after getting the No.1 pick at the draft, and even before it all started, they hinted Joe Burrow’s arrival. It is the primary reason for Dalton’s departure.

Also, his salary was one of the causes of such a radical move of the Bengals. With $17.7 million scheduled to earn throughout the next season, Dalton was creating a lot of problems in the salary cap, especially after an active free agency Bengals had. They would spend more than $145 million since the end of the previous campaign and are yet to make an arrangement with Burrow.

Dalton is highly valued among the QBs and is expected to find himself a new team pretty soon. Even though there are a lot of rumors that he might sign with the New England Patriots, according to Ian Rapoport, ESPN’s analyst, and one of the best insiders, chances for seeing Dalton in Jacksonville are also excellent.

With no trade market, the #Bengals move on. The #Jaguars and former head coach Jay Gruden as OC are a spot that would make sense. https://t.co/prtlwHAocQ

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 30, 2020

“With no trade market, the #Bengals move on. The #Jaguars and former head coach Jay Gruden as OC are a spot that would make sens,” Rapoport wrote on his Twitter account.

The Jags are in all sorts of troubles, with a few unhappy players, several big names released or traded, and a couple of more who want to leave Florida. Jacksonville has Gardner Minshew as the young prospect who already played very well last season, which is something that could prevent this deal from happening.

On the other side, New England doesn’t have anyone who would be competition to Dalton at the QB position, and Bill Belichick is now probably eyeing the 35th pick from the 2011 draft. The Pats’ coach knows that he can choose between him and Cam Newton and is probably waiting to asses the situation a bit better. Dalton’s advantage is his health, and injury resistance, which wasn’t the case with Newton in recent years.