By Damon Knight, Tribune Correspondent
The Bengals selecting quarterback Joe Burrow with the first overall pick didn’t take anybody by surprise. It did, however, raise the question, what is to become of veteran signal-caller Andy Dalton? Cincinnati failed to trade Dalton with his one-year, $17.7 million remaining on his current deal. Suitors weren’t willing to pay him that money or give up the assets to gain his services. It wasn’t in their best interest. Ultimately, the Bengals released Dalton on Thursday, April 30th, after spending nine seasons with the organization. He would lead Cincinnati to five playoff appearances throughout his career and failed to make it past the Wild-Card round. He would become the franchise leader in touchdown passes with (204) and second behind Ken Anderson in passing yards with (31,594) yards. After Dalton’s release, team president Mike Brown released a statement, “Andy will always hold a special place with this franchise, and I know that he holds a special place in my heart,” team president Mike Brown said in a statement. “This is a hard day for our club because we know and appreciate what a consummate professional Andy has always been. We respect and appreciate Andy, and we thank him.”
Dalton responded by saying, “This city has been our home since I got drafted here, and this city’s meant a lot,” Dalton said. “I’m thankful for all the people that we’ve met. There’s been a lot of good people in Cincinnati who have pushed me, my wife and my family to be better people, and we’re grateful for that.”
Dalton would finish his time in Cincinnati with a record of 70-61-2 as a starter, lead the Bengals to the playoffs from 2011 to 2015. He also got selected to three Pro-Bowls. Since his release, there have been two teams that have shown interest in signing the 32-year-old QB. They are; the Jacksonville Jaguars and the New England Patriots. Yet, Dalton signed a contract with the Dallas Cowboys.
